2010 Summer Crab Season is Almost Here!

[The Quadfather]

I go to La. about 3x a year. My advice.... put all Dr's caution to the side, and just eat your way on through. It's outta this world. Nicest people too, in those small towns. I remember going into like a 7-11 type store to ask for directions.
I'm this Seattle city guy.... I don't even want to stop and ask directions. My wife is from there. She is saying not to worry about asking. ............ The guy comes all the way out of his business, to the Hwy. and is pointing up and down the street trying to tell me where to go. Very nice folks. However as far as civil rights go... they are still living in 1968.

[Dave]

Great Pics Prady. Nicely done bro!

[Pradeep]

Thanks Dave. Would have been a blast to have had you out there with us.

Chris - You are correct. Very very nice people. It's all about the "Sir and Ma'am's" for sure. Fast food certainly is not fast. Even McDonalds is SLOWWW. hehehe. You'll starve to death if you show up hungry and in a rush but man o' man is there some good cookin! Yes, you are correct, Civil rights are still behind and in the small towns like Leesville, you can feel it's undertone. But, I have not had a bad experience yet. Hope to keep it that way too!

[racfish]

The Blue Crabs are soft shelled crabs. You cook them and eat as is.Im not a big fan of edible soft shells myself but I have to think that I've eaten way worse stuff.

[saltyseadog]

remember on the north end its 15 bucks to launch on camano for non residence go to the state park for 7

next year 30 bucks per launch:-$

[Dave]

remember on the north end its 15 bucks to launch on camano for non residence go to the state park for 7

next year 30 bucks per launch:-$

Wow! I haven't heard of that till now. How does it work? Is there someone there to check each person to confirm residency? Just curious. I guess if you live on Camano Island then it's a good thing as it will very likely reduce the amount of boat traffic there is at the 2 north end public launches. Very interesting! Thanks for the info. I will take a drive to Utsalady Bay and check out Maple Grove Launch which I sometimes use. Still 7 if you are a resident I take it?

[saltyseadog]

yeah dave it 5 bucks for camano residents 15 for non. i talked to a maple grove resident all about it.... their trying to free up the launch for guys like myself who have lived 10 mins away and still cant get a parking spot....

their trying to make it 30 bucks per launch next year that should keep the mt vernon guys out:dwarf: :jocolor:

[racfish]

OOOOOO Thats where I launch too at Utsalady.I use my Hdcp parking decal.I'm gonna check on the legitamacy of these charges. Private home owners cant charge unless they maintain and build the launch.There is another launch there for smaller boats. Now I'm gonna drive out there too. I wanna see for myself.Thats seems like a lil BS to me.

[flinginpooh]

Well went and caught alot of crabs. Red rocks and dungys. I think it was like 6 red rocks and around 20 dungys dont remember between everyone. Either way they lasted all of about 8 hours. We got back to the camp site and the feast was on. Man we caught so many crabs but had to let them go of course due to size. Talk about fun for the kids. All done right off the westport marina docks with crab rings.

[racfish]

When after you drop your pots in can I legally attach a large round orange float on with it. My problem is my vision in choppy water when the sun shines.Is it legal to do I guess I'm asking.

[Dave]

Hey Rac,

I believe you may attach a large float to your main crab line as long as the required red and white buoy with your info on it is also attached and in plain view. Looks like the regs on page 139 say "no bleach, antifreeze, detergent bottles, paint cans ect." So I believe that one of those big orange floats would be fine. I have attached a smaller white float to my gear so they are a little easier to differentiate from the others making it easier to spot my gear in a crowd of buoys. If you've watched Deadliest Catch they have a main buoy and a secondary buoy that trails off of it. This allows for them to throw the hook and grab the rope that is in between the two buoys. Same concept for you as far as rigging goes except the secondary larger float wouldn't have to be but maybe 3 feet from your main red and white buoy since you aren't "throwing a hook" so to speak. Hope this helps. Good luck out there.

Dave

[BentRod]

rac, from my interpretation of the regs, I agree with what Dave wrote. Word of caution though when adding extra flotation. Make sure you leave enough rope and have enough weight in your pot to handle the tide change (both change in depth and strength of current) as the extra flotation can make your pot change location unwantedly. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything.....oh wait, yes I am!

[nickbell]

Just went crabbing for my first time today. Brought my new ring net to the les davis pier. Lots of small ones but a couple nice ones. Nothing was kept, i was just testing the new net. I will bring a bucket saturday and take some home. My report should come up soon.

[Pradeep]

Took the kiddo and father in law out this morning. Crabbed for 3 hrs and took home 9 very nice keepers in 3 hrs. First time for the father in law crabbing and he was stoked to see pots full (even though most were female or small) of crabbies. Good times indeed. Headed back out tomorrow and Saturday.

Good luck to you guys heading out.

[crappiemaster]

That is amazing! I would love to be a crabmaster. Problem is I haven't found a rope long enough to throw a pot from Sunnyside. Crab is hands down my favorite seafood, hands down. My top ten favorite seafood are:
1. Dungeness
2. Crappie
3. Walleye
4. Steamer clams
5. Shrimp
6. Bluegill
7. Perch
8. Crayfish
9. Mussels
10. Salmon

[Pradeep]

Man, gettin my crabbin fix for sure this week. Went again today. Had a tough go for sure. We only got 5 keepers using 3 pots and 4 hrs. Lots of small males and females but the males legals were tough to come by today. BUT!!, yes, there is a BUT.

A big fat thanks to all the great folks at WALAKES that gave me tips on flounder fishing last week!!! The water was calm as can be and we took advantage of it. We caught 3 flounders (I think they are flounders) and the kids had the best time! I was hoping for a doggie but that didn't happen. Once the water started to get going, the fishing died off quick but no matter what, everyone had a great time. Thanks so much!

[BentRod]

Very nice Pradeep! Glad you had success.

[Matt]

Today was a very nice morning on the water. Ultra long tide swing and an ultra low-low. Got my pots in the water (alone) at 7am, pulled them at 9am with 8 keepers between 2 pots.... wish my dog had a license! Threw back 3 and went on home :chef:

[Pradeep]

Looks awesome Matt! I like the added touch in the picture of making sure the beer bottle was in it! lol!!

[Dave]

Well, after a few outings and having to work hard to get limits of crab, my buddy and I finally found em on Friday the 16th in an old spot I use to crab all the time before the State of WA decided to allow tribal crabbing prior to the public season opener in July. It was nice to see so many keepers and after retaining 7 limits (35 nice keepers) in 3 hours we actually threw back (honestly, no exaggeration) over 20 keepers that had soft shells and easily another 20+ that were just a hair under legal size. Even the females were over six and a quarter inches which is unusual, at least in my experience. I posted a report this morning for more info.