How to Catch a Turtle. The soft-shelled turtle is one of the only "fish" to display a different capture message when caught while the moon is out in New Leaf. Soft shelled turtles require a very particular habitat and regular, diligent care. Find a large tank. Texas spiny softshell turtle photo by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS. Can be set below the surface to drown quarry or partially submerged to keep turtles alive and fresh. Sean Donohue Photo/Shutterstock. The potentional for a Large Channel Cat in this spot is too great for me to fish in a different spot. It doesn't mean this will the same for you but you should eventually catch all three of them. Soft-Shelled Turtle Information And Care. This article explains how to catch one and handle him without harm. Now you go fishing and hope for the best. It is illegal to sell wild turtles Many native, wild-caught turtles are still sold as pets, even though this practice is illegal in Indiana. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated … Soft-shelled turtles aren't safe to hold because they are so prone to biting at the slightest movement. In the current I get softshell turtles that will eat my whole live bluegills. Turtle Hoop Nets - Especially good for Snapping Turtles. The spiny softshell turtle will eat almost anything in the water that will fit into its mouth, which may include aquatic insects, crayfish, and the occasional fish. Other Tips for Taking Care of Softshell Turtle. Turtle traps capture turtles without injuring them, but you must be careful to ensure the captured turtles can reach the surface to breathe. It is a nocturnal feeder that attacks and eats fish, crustaceans, insects and molluscs. If you're going for soft-shell turtles over breeds like terrapins, you may be able to catch the turtle by simply baiting a net. Turtle Hoop Nets - Especially good for Snapping Turtles. Snapping turtles and other types of soft shell turtles reside in rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and ponds. Fisherman and farmers can remove the turtles by hooking them on fishing line or through a process called noodling, in which swimmers dive and catch the turtles by their tails. Florida softshell turtles are found in marshes, lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers with sandy or muddy bottoms throughout the state. It is similar to the Northern Softshell Turtle which inhabits mainland Asia. While softshell turtles are not the easiest to take care of, with the right knowledge, you can be sure that it will grow healthy. This image is available for media use. However, no tank is too large for a soft shelled turtle. Trivia. This is an alternate opportunity to catch those water type turtles. Floating box traps are best used if you're trapping turtles to use for food later, as you can catch quite a few turtles at once using these traps. These species live in water predominantly. It is probably best to have just one softshell turtle living in the tank. As with all other softshell turtles, the Trionyx triunguis has a fleshy and leathery shell..