Hauling your crabbing pots out of the water can be an arduous process, especially if they’re full! While most recreational crabbers will make do with hauling their traps in by hand or with a manual line puller, commercial fishermen tend to use electric or gas crab pot pullers. These can be incredibly helpful if you find yourself out on the water often and can often be bought for less than you would think.
In this article we will review 4 of the top electric crab pot pullers available for commercial and recreational use, each of the pot pullers will be suitable for a range of different pot types.
No time to shop around? Here are our top crab pot puller picks.
Best Overall
Trac Outdoors Line Hauler / Crab Pot Puller
“A great pot puller if you’re looking for something reliable yet affordable. This guy can easily handle prawn traps or crab traps and will have you pulling in full traps of jimmies without a problem. It’s durable and built for the harsh environment of a boat. ”
Best Value
Scotty 2500 Electric Crab Pot Puller
“ The best value pot puller and line hauler available on the market today, The Scotty 2500 is durable, yet light and can fit every fishermen’s budget. Just be cautious when trying to haul in larger traps as this unit can struggle a bit under loads over 120lbs.”
Best Budget
Brutus Pacific Pro Crab Pot Puller
“One of the most durable pot pullers out there right now, The Brutus features great pulling capacity and line hauling speed as well as excellent customer service. Not much to complain about!. ”
The 4 Best Electric Pot Puller for Crabbing Pots & Traps
With so many electric crab pot puller and line haulers available (all looking relatively similar) it can be tough to determine what’s best for your boat and crabbing needs.
To help we’ve put together a list of some of what we think are the best electric pot pullers currently available, primarily for recreational crabbers and light commercial use.
1. Scotty 2500 Electric Line Trap and Crab Pot Puller
Features
- Weighs approximately 6.75 pounds.
- Can pull in 120 feet of line per minute.
- A 12 volt motor provides extra torque.
- Easy on/off switch.
- Durable stainless-steel and composite construction.
- Capacity to lift up to 100 pounds.
- Handles lines from ¼” to ⅜” inches.
Pros
- The unit can pull in line quickly, if you drop your pots or traps at the 150 ft level you can expect to be able to pull in your lines in 1 to 2 minutes.
- Easier to use than a lot of more commercial oriented pot pullers. Its safe construction and easy on and off control switch allow even the most novice users to haul in heavy traps with ease.
- Relatively powerful 12v motor (industry standard for recreational pullers).
Cons
- For some boats the line puller arm can be shorter than preferred, this makes it more difficult to easily pull in the trap.
- Can only pull in one crab pot or trap at a time. This contracts with some commercial options that have the ability to haul in 4+ traps at once.
Our Thoughts
The Scotty 2500 Electric Line Trap and Pot Puller is a pot and trap pulling machine for boat fishing that works well with crab pots and prawn traps. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller boats, and also allows for it to be easily stowed away.
What makes this electric pot puller nice is that it comes with a 2-year warranty and can easily be attached to existing Scotty downrigger mounts if you already have them.
It’s also more than powerful with up to 12v of power and torque, giving it the ability to pull in 120 feet of line per minute.
The unit can handle lines ranging from 1/4″ to 3/8″ and can easily be turned on or off.
Built to last out of heavy duty stainless steel with composite construction the unit is tough and can be trusted to be a solid tool in your crabbing toolkit.
2. Brutus Pacific Pro Crab Pot Puller
Features
- A simple 12 volt electric motor.
- Line hauling speed of 130 feet per minute.
- Pulling capacity of approximately 110 pounds.
- Aluminum frame construction provides water resistant build.
- Compatible with Scotty downrigger mounts
- Only weighs 20 pounds.
- One-year warranty.
- Collapsible frame allows for easy storage,
- Handles lines from ¼” to ⅝ ” inches.
Pros
- Has a reliable pulling speed and can haul in heavier pots than most of the smaller electric pot pullers.
- It’s durable mixed construction of aluminum and stainless steel allows it to remain relatively lightweight while maintaining a heavy duty feel.
- Can easily be stored away by folding up the arm and tucking it into storage.
- Quiet, yet powerful motor allows you to haul in 4 prawn traps or 1 crab pot at a time.
Cons
- Can only pull in one crab pot at a time.
- Heavier than some of the smaller units in this list.
Our Thoughts
The Brutus Pacific Pro Crab Pot Puller has a durable aluminum and stainless-steel construction that can easily handle any work you can throw at it. Whether your crabbing for dungeness, or red rocks this pot puller will be able to haul in your traps with ease.
Sporting a 12v motor and a 130ft per minute line hauling speed this unit is compatible with Scotty downrigger mounts and can be easily rigged up to most boats.
It’s not too heavy overall coming in at around 20 pounds and can be folded up for storage if you don’t want to have it permanently attached to your boat.
Overall this is a great electric pot puller but it’s higher price point can make it a tougher sell for those just starting to take their crabbing expeditions a bit more seriously. With that being said we still highly recommend it to those looking for a workhorse than can haul traps without a problem while only requiring a light touch to use.
3. Trac Outdoors Line Hauler / Crab Pot Puller
Features
- Recreational pot puller / live hauler with 12v motor, 110 pound capacity.
- Can handle 1 crab trap or 3 prawn traps at a time.
- Includes corrosion resistant coating to help the unit better withstand saltwater conditions
- Simple on and off switch
- Portable design, with swivel pulley and simple mounting.
- Comes with a 2-year manufacturers warranty.
- Quiet motor makes for silent crabbing.
- Line speed of 150 feet per minute.
- Approximately 22 pounds.
Pros
- The Trac outdoors pot puller features a corrosion resistant coating that makes it great for those looking to mount this to their boats permanently. Often the saltwater can eat away at metals over time and this coating ensures the line hauler will stay looking new for a while.
- Solid 2 year warranty, similar to the Scotty 2500 Electric Pot Puller.
- Fast line hauling speed of 150ft per minute making it one of the fastest when compared to the Five Oceans and Brutus Models.
Cons
- The unit’s design makes it slightly difficult to mount on and off the boat.
- Heavier than some of the other units while boasting similar power output.
Our Thoughts
The Trac Outdoor T10250 Pot Puller and Line Hauler is a powerful and durable unit that’s capable of hauling in any single crab trap or up to 3 prawn traps at a time.
It sports a 12v motor and a 150ft per minute line hauling capacity making it the fastest puller in this list when compared to the Scotty 2500, Brutus Pacific Pro and Five Oceans, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best.
It can be a bit cumbersome to use, is slightly heavier than some of the other options and comes in on the higher range in terms of price.
Overall this is a good pot puller for crabbing if you value something that can get your lines and traps in fast. It’s built to last and is worth the investment if you’re looking for something that won’t necessarily break the budget but will still pack the power you’re looking for.
4. Five Oceans Power Line Hauler Pot Puller for Crab, Shrimp and Lobster Traps
Features
- 35 meters a minute line hauling speed
- 190lb load / trap capacity.
- 12v motor that provides 900 w of power.
- Comes out of the box with a foldable hauling arm.
- Designed for small and medium sized boats.
- Free rotating arm makes the pot puller easier to direct and handle.
Pros
- Durable construction with an easy to move, freely rotating pulley arm.
- Powerful motor with really capable hauling capacity of 190 pounds, making pulling in larger traps less of a hassle.
- Can easily be transported from boat to boat, with its foldable design and detachable arm/ base.
- Great for recreational crabbers with smaller boats who demand something with a good capacity yet lightweight.
Cons
- It’s folding arm and freely rotating base make for more parts to maintain.
- Heavier than smaller partial composite options.
Our Thoughts
The Five Oceans Power Line Hauler is a great pot puller for a range of different trap types including crabs, lobsters, prawns and shrimps. This is the most powerful electric pot hauler in our list and for good reason, it sports a 12v motor that can output 190 lbs of hauling capacity.
In addition to the powerful motor the unit has a durable yet portable construction featuring a lightweight design and a folding arm that make this easy to transfer between boats.
Designed for small to medium boats, this line hauler / pot puller has a rotating arm that can come in handy at times, but also makes it something to keep a lookout for on board if you forget to lock it in place.
Coming in at a slightly more affordable price than the Brutus Pacific Pro this is a great product to consider if you are looking at that option but don’t have the budget yet.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best crab pot puller will depend on your needs and the type of boat you have. If you’re on the lookout for something lightweight and affordable the Scotty 2500 Pot Puller can be an excellent choice, if you’re looking for something with more heft and durability to it the Brutus Pacific Pro can be a good option.
Whatever you end up with, make sure it fits your needs and helps you maximize your catch this coming season.
To help you learn more about electric pot pullers our team has put together a brief guide below featuring tips on lifting capacity, pulling speed and more.
Buyers Guide
Electric pot pullers are relatively simple machines that can help you have a better overall crabbing experience by making pulling in your traps significantly easier.
The main components to consider when purchasing an electric crab line hauler are as follows.
Lifting Capacity
When purchasing a puller you’re going to want to consider the average weight of the pots you pull in. If you are constantly pulling in 110lb + traps you will want to consider a more heavy duty electric pot puller.
Most electric pot pullers on the market today made for recreational crabbers will have a capacity ranging from 110lbs to 200lbs.
Line Hauling Speed
The hauling speed or pulling speed is the speed at which your pot puller will pull in your line. Most recreational line haulers will have a speed of 120 ft per minute to 150 ft per minute. If you’re looking for something faster a commercial option may be more suitable.
Weight
Weight is important if you are mounting your pot puller or line hauler to a smaller boat. Most recreational electric crab pot pullers will range in weight from 10lbs to 30lbs with some being lighter and some being heavier than that.
Motor Power
The output of your motor will be an important factor in determining how fast (and easily) your electric crab pot puller can draw in your traps. Most pot pullers on the market that make use of an electric motor will have a 12v motor.
Warranty
Crabbing can be tough on your gear. Having a solid warranty can provide some peace of mind that if something goes awry you won’t be out your investment.
Trusted providers will typically include a 1 or 2 year limited warranty on their electric line haulers.
Mounting & Compatibility
Mounting your crab pot puller is one of the most important parts or properly setting up your new tool. Many larger electric pullers will have compatibility with a range of mounting hardware including Scotty downrigger mounts.
You typically want to have as many options as possible when it comes to mounting your puller so cross-compatibility can be a valuable feature to look out for.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you pull in your crab traps?
There’s no right or wrong time but it will typically depend on how long your traps have been soaking. If these are the first locations for the day you’ll likely want to pull your traps after about 2 hours to check and make sure the area is active. Once you’ve found a solid place to locate all your traps you can drop them and let them sit for up to 12 hours.
Some states and provinces will have regulations stipulating how long you can let your traps sit in the water as well.
Should I use a manual or electric crab pot puller?
There is no right choice here. Ultimately, whether you choose to make use of a manual or motorized crab pot puller will depend on your preferences and the weight of the pots/ traps you’re hauling in.
References
https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/time-for-a-pot-puller.651164/
https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/74115-what-crab-pot-puller-get.html
