Crab season '09

[gpc]

I went crabbing off the des moines pier yesterday from 4:30pm-7:30pm. In 3 hours we walked away with 2 red rock and 1 dungeness. We had 4 pots in the water.

There A LOT of huge females and huge soft shell males. The entire pier was slammed, but it seemed like everybody had the same luck.

One of my friends little brothers has ben crabbing 12 hours a day, every day since the opener and has only caught 12 red rock and 5 dungeness keepers.

[Dave]

Great crabbing again in area 8-1. After an all night soak (11 hours) we (6 of us on board) pulled only 4 pots and harvested exactly 30 big male keepers. We handled a few females and a couple males that were barely under legal size. Other than that, they were all oversized males. It’s a nice change from years past in this area and it was nice to send everyone home with some nice big crab.

[Pradeep]

Nicely done Dave!!

OMG!!! Look at all that crab!!

[Dave]

Thanks. It was a great two days of crabbing.

[cobrar543]

Over night soak off Mabana beach resulted in 12..small females....sigh

[Rollin with Rolland]

Area 7 opener on wednesday was plentiful. A bit foggy (dodged a couple ferries at about 75yards) but good as expected. 4 keepers in about 1 hour 15 min. Medium pressure outta WA Park. Off the water by 9am :-"

[fishnislife]

Hit up Shorewoods by LittleBoston and got two keepers and two monster rockcrab. Wrong spot, bad bait. Tried catfood and and an old trout. I know, I know, I should have thrown some clams in there but that's all we had at the time. Help my A9, I want some killer crabn. Good eat's fo sho. Had crad omletes in the morning.
Man O man, you guys are killn it. Nice catch'in Dave. Dinner at your house.





fishnislife

[A9]

Help my A9, I want some killer crabn.




fishnislife

Shoot me a PM. I have a few spots down there in MA 10 around you that should fill your pots....I'd love to help a fellow member out!

Meanwhile, if I can keep those big sunstars outta my pot I seem to do alright on the crab....

You definitely can't complain much when you see a pot like this!

[Dave]

Good to see you here A9...... Hey Fishinislife, that would be fun! I didn't get to go crabbing this set of days off but I did take an amazing trip up to Diablo Lake which is on Hwy 20 about 65 miles east of I-5. Paradise!!!! Buzzed around in the boat for a few hours and visited one of the 3 “boat in only” camp sites. It was absolutely amazing there. I will post a forum topic on it here in a bit. Anyway, I definitely feel the need to eat some crab but sometimes timing is everything. I think we are going camping next Tuesday through Sunday if I can get the spot we are hoping for. I called to see if it was available for a reservation. If it's not available, I’ll be crabbing for sure. At least crabbing is good in my area this year unlike last year. It’s nice to just launch down the street from the house and be on the crab. Last year I had to drive to Everett every week to get crab. Such is life!

[Pradeep]

We crabbed area 8-1 and let the pots do a 10 hr soak. By the time they were picked up, we scored 18 keepers. Some were very nice size. Hardly any females and threw back about 20 shorties. My neighbors were loving us on Friday night when we went around and shared with them.

[racfish]

I just thought that overnite soaks werent legal anymore.I thought it said you have to retrieve by sundown???

[BentRod]

racfish,
Overnight is ok within the legal crabbing days, i.e. Wednesday - Saturday. They have to be out the water by sunset on the last day of the weekly crabbing period (i.e. Saturday). However, I understand that it is illegal to pull pots after dark.

[Pradeep]

Rac -

Open for all fishing methods at 7:00 a.m. on the opening date for each Marine Area.
Crab gear must be removed from the water during each weekly closure period.


Exactly what bentrod said. As long as your willing to assume the risk that your pot may be gone (stolen, current takes it, etc) when you come back the next day.

[racfish]

It took me a minute to remember what Mr Warden said .Bent is correct. It was on A sat. That I went and asked if I can leave it till Wed.

[A9]

Overnight soaks are legal, and they are LETHAL on the crab. My overnight soaks are best. Pick em up when your done salmon fishing in the morning and go back in to clean crab and salmon!

[Rollin with Rolland]

Crabbing is still good in the Juans. More commercial's/tribal's showing up, but luckily you can still find those outta the way spots where no one goes. 7 south still plenty strong, and 7 north opens aug. 1. No problem getting keeprs. A friend of mine did an overnight set with part of a ling carcass, he said he got his personal best, 15 keepers in one pot (kept 5). With females and undersized, a total of 29 crab! and the pot 40 yards away....0 crab. Not even a sun star fish or even weeds!! Time to lay off the crab, and really focus on salmon.

[Dave]

Went out crabbing this morning in area 8-1. Same spot as last time (referring to earlier posts on this topic) out 3 weeks ago. I've been so busy doing projects at home that I haven't been able to get out there. So this morning a friend and I went out and set 4 pots which soaked for 2 hours. We harvested 10 keepers and tossed back many that were just under size and some females. This spot is starting to get crabbed out but still a nice quick trip and some nice fresh crab to enjoy over the weekend. Will be out in area 8-2 & 9 tomorrow morning to wet a line and let some crab gear soak. Looking forward to being out there and maybe even taking a fish.

[racfish]

Agreed Dave. Been out twice in 8.1 and got 15 total. Last weekend only a few and lots of females.I change areas after the females move in.Im trying a lil closer to home in area 10 off Bainbridge.

[flippinfool]

Agreed Dave. Been out twice in 8.1 and got 15 total. Last weekend only a few and lots of females.I change areas after the females move in.Im trying a lil closer to home in area 10 off Bainbridge.

STOP BY AND DROP SOME OFF$$$$$$$4:compress:

[racfish]

My niece is comming in from New York next week and wants to get some crabs.Hahaha..Really though I'm taking her out and Flippin I will bring you some when we go.Im a lil crabbed out myself.Crab is really high in calories unfortunately and I'm limmited on how many I should eat.