Steve-o Loc: Nor.Cal. Sacramento Area

I'm heading to Bodega Bay to (hopefully) get some Dungeness, Rock and Blue crabs from off the pier. Anyone having any luck Ofc the pier? I hear box traps are out and it's only hoop nets and snares. Any pointers for a newby?

And if the crabbing does not pan out, I'll fish. I understand the best area is at the end of the road before you go up to the headlands. Where do you fish? Thanks.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Good morning, Steve-o, sorry I can't help you with your questions, I'm in MN. ya know.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

I don’t know about Bodega bay Steve, I go off a boat out of Berkeley and out the gate for my crab, no pier crabbing. Steady quick pull up on the nets when you retrieve, otherwise the crab will crawl or float out. I like the Type “B” nets, they’re conical, the bottom ring is a bait ring, the large middle ring is attached to the smaller top ring with fixed bars, helps keep the crab in the net vs the Type “A” loop nets which sit flat on the bottom. In the attached pic are both Type “A”, “B” and box traps.

As far as bait, fish carcasses, squid, smelt, anchovies and sardines all work and in combination. Some people use chicken but I never have so couldn’t say. Good luck!

The 3 in the middle are the Type “B”, we weight them, but then again we are offshore in the current & swells.

Steve-o Loc: Nor.Cal. Sacramento Area

Thanks guys. I'll go a couple times before the week ends so I'll update you.

Jeremy Loc: America

If sealions are a problem bird can reduce the problem. If bait (fish) is scarce bird or mink can be good. Bird is usually cleaner and convenient. Shad is my favorite fresh bait.

Isaac Hamilton Loc: Lake county CA

I was there and caught two rock crab accross from Doran beach.
What pier are you talking about?

Steve-o Loc: Nor.Cal. Sacramento Area

Spud Point, near the small marina where they have a few restaurants. There is a pier there. It's on the road that passes the campground/boat ramp on the way to the headlands.

Steve-o Loc: Nor.Cal. Sacramento Area

Nice crabs. Did you use a hoop net or a snare? And you were at Doran Beach? Whereabouts at Doran?

anmlcrkrs1 Loc: Sebastopol, Ca

How much weight do yo use for those type B? I just got some 14# nets and want to try them in Tomales. Friday is looking calmer.

Jeremy Loc: America

There is zinc weights at some sporting good stores or online as a sacrificial device to save the trap or rings from corrosion. Lead or scrap solid steel can be used. You only want enough to hold the trap in the current unless you have electric davit. 40g will give you good info.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I used rebar for both weight and homemade rings. I now have an electric puller. My wife said I earned it when I hit 70. It is awesome. I now pull about every 30 minutes even with a box trap. I now use box traps exclusively, as six traps stack well for three of us in the boat. For weights, I have found 12 lb. barbell weights at garage sales. They tie well in the center of the trap. For bait, I catch staghorn sculpin, ie. bullheads and freeze them whole. When I go crabbing, I partly filet each side through the ribs and gut when they are thawed enough to cut. Thus leaving the meat and guts on the fish.
This out fishes anything I have used in the past 50 years of crabbing, with maybe the exception of albacore heads. If I do not have any bullheads left, I use chicken legs, then add bullheads as I catch them in the same spots as crab. Sandabs or sole filleted work almost as well if the guts are still attached. Gutless, all the fish suck as bait.

So now my secret is out of the bag. I am really not concerned as most fill forget this post by next summer, don't really believe it will improve what they are already doing, or are to lazy to catch their own bait. For the few who go for it, enjoy some great crab feeds and a good time getting your bait. You may even get a flatfish meal or two thrown in as a bonus.

Jeremy Loc: America

I use the shad but really good info Bear. I have an electric davit too. A guy up north of Seatle makes them with mobility cart motor/wheels. I did the purchase for same reason. Can crab solo as old guy. I have heavier round pots.


Leftover DEER or ELk Roadkill ELK and DEER is the best bait I have ever found. Even tiny bit on bones. They go crazy on it.

Have fun.

One thing about bait. They don't like anything cooked. Bacon is talked about. It has sugar and been smoked etc but not cooked yet.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Shad is great. It is also my number one halibut bait. Unfortunately, It gets a little expensive, my being so far from shad water up here in Blaine. When I used it in California back in the dark ages, I did the same thing with it. I did not cut open the body until I was ready to crab. I then partly fileted it. It kept things so much neater. I have never used roadkill, but then again why would I when I can use a couple of nice clean fresh bullheads rapped in a ziplock bag. No mess, no smell and no fuss. I almost always limit including culling in one or two 30 minute delay pulls. Note: I always clip off the staghorn spikes as soon as I catch a bullhead. It makes them harmless to me and the ziplock. I bought a stainless wire cutters just for that purpose. That is another trick I learned for catfish back in the dark ages.

Isaac Hamilton Loc: Lake county CA

Oh the siknny one.

Isaac Hamilton Loc: Lake county CA

The skinny one.