Crabs in the bucket

Today I heard the phrase, "Like crabs in a bucket."  You ever heard that?  Generally, crabs in a bucket can individually escape, but they pull each other back down into the bucket and ensure their collective destruction.  Humans, sadly, can react the same way. Sometimes members of a group can pull down others who find success and ridicule them and pull them back to mediocrity.  Not good.  We should work together as a team and provide encouragement to one another, so that everyone can attain success.

This past summer, like most summers, we went crabbing.  We drive down to the coast armed with cotton string, chicken necks for bait, nets, and sunscreen.


Crabbing!

It is usually stifling hot, and you want to be sure to bring plenty of water to drink and a way to get out of the sun, but it is a lot of fun.


Shady looking characters

Basically, you tie a chicken neck on the end of a string and throw it out in the waters of the marsh.  Pretty soon, your line starts to tighten as a crab is trying to pull the meat off the line.  You begin to gently pull the string so as not to pull the crab off.  Your assistant holds a net and you pull the crab slowly into the net and he scoops it up in the net, catches the crab and deposits him in the bucket.  Benjamin is an expert with the net.  In fact, we nicknamed him Benjamin Net-an-Yahoo, after his watching his prowess with the net!  

Benjamin Net-an-Yahoo exhibiting his skills

Here are the first crabs going in the bucket.  As we catch larger ones, we throw the smallest ones back in the marsh to grow some more.  When you pull the small ones out, though,  you've got to be careful.  Crabs don't have pinchers for decorations, they use them!  You can't go crabbing without a little blood-letting.  They get me every time.  But you can see the whole crabs in a bucket thing going on as they pull one another back down as one of them tries to escape.


Crabs in the bucket

We set out a number of lines and then run back and forth checking lines that are taut, catching the crabs in the net and repeating.  It gets really busy and you hear, "Net! I need the net.  Got a big one on the line!" all along the banks of the marsh.  Usually at the beginning, you miss a few, but you quickly develop your skills and teamwork.  Lots of high-fives going on as the bucket fills up.  The string puller and Benjamin Net-an-Yahoo work closely together and make everyone successful by filling the ice chest with crabs that will be boiled and enjoyed by all.   

Crabbing off the bridge.  Got him!

Although hard work, there is always downtime for some visiting.  Here the cousins are discussing weighty issues, I'm sure.  You just have to keep a close eye on things.
 

Swamp People

The brackish water is teeming with alligators.  None of us wants to end up being gator bait or have Swamp people have to yell, "Choot 'em!" to get a gator off your leg.  That would put a serious damper on a crabbing trip for sure. 

Alligator infested waters

Before you know it, your ice chest fills up and it is time to head home and get a big pot of water boiling with some crab boil seasoning and throw the fresh crabs in along with some corn and potatoes, onions and lemons.


Ice Chest full of crabs



Nice Louisiana Blue Point Crabs

Back to the 'crabs in a bucket' phrase, we should probably all strive to encourage and lift one another up, so we get out of the bucket and don't end up being trophies of those who want to devour us like below.


The devourers