Abstract: A trap for catching crabs or other crawling underwater animals; the trap including a pair of frames hinged to upstanding portions of a central frame, each hinged frame being fitted with a rope net, and the hinged frames are spring biased to a set position resting spread open on a bottom of a water so a crab or animal can walk thereupon to reach bait on a rod mounted between the upstanding portions of the central frame, after which the free ends of the hinged frames are pivoted upwardly by a tethering line so to trap the animal between the hinged frames, the trap then being pulled up out of the water.