Abstract: A crab trap for submersion in naturally occurring waters includes a flat reticulated member and a reticulated encaging member slidably mounted on a rod extending from the flat member. The encaging member also includes solid flotation means for maintaining the encaging member in spaced apart relationship with the lower flat member while entering and remaining in the water. The pressure of the water against the solid surface of the flotation member during the lifting of the crab trap overcomes the flotation forces and effects a tight engagement of the normally spaced apart flat and encaging members for trapping a crab. The amount of buoyancy of the flotation member is selected to cause the encaging member to have an overall density slightly less than the density of water, while the overall density of the entire crab trap is greater than the density of water.