11/29 Sf coast crabbing! Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups…….. Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay...

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups……..

Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay then rough when we got to Point Bonita and then settling down a bit at the crabbing grounds, although still on the nautical side and plenty of wind. Set our first string and after 45 minutes started pulling, got 1 keeper per pot, pretty slow for the first 3 sets. Did notice that one end of the string was producing better and reset some from the middle out nearer the end. At the beginning of fourth pull we had a total of 23 keepers, at the end of the fourth pull we had 43 keepers, the difference you ask? At the time of the fourth pull it was high/slack tide, lesson learned, crab during slack or very, very low tide differential. And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story”……….

On the last pot of the third pull I was at the puller and had the pot line threaded, told the “pilot” to go into idle reverse to help relieve the tension of the line and bring us more directly in line with the pot. Had been doing this method all morning and on previous trips, only this time I was pre mature on my request and you guessed it, wrapped the line around the prop……. Before the pilot could hit neutral the pot puller was ripped down off the rail and hit the back deck, puller mount bolt pulled through the rail (luckily) and the Delrin plastic mount broke in half. There we were, dragging the pot while the wind blew us out, no engine, no functional puller (luckily my safety cable did its job and kept the puller on board) and about 8 wraps of line around the prop. Using the boat hook I was able to unwrap about 3 wraps of the line, then during a hand off of the boat hook from the swim step back onto the boat, you guessed it, it was dropped overboard. I started to think this was an episode of the 3 Stooges……. So we rigged up a hook using a gaff and fishing net handle extension to continue the unwrapping of the line, but in the meantime the pot bouys had neatly wrapped and tied themselves around the prop and line. After another 30 minutes or so of trying to unwrap things the filet knife was brought out and taped to the end of the makeshift boat hook and it was goodby to the pot and the line wrap around the prop. We did manage to recover the bouys.

So the last 6 pots were all pulled up by hand and it wasn’t easy because 3 of the remaining 6 were stuffed full of crab.

So you can guess what I’m doing before we go crabbing again on Sunday! Another lesson learned the hard way……

On our way out
On our way out...

A nice pot of crab! You’ll notice no pot puller and by the thigh of the guy on the right the broken puller mount.

Nice pot!

Smiles with limits of crab, despite the trips struggles

David likes his cooked whole
David likes his cooked whole...

My dinner of crab chowder, garlic bread and crab with butter (be still my cholesterol filled arteries!)

florida Loc: Southwest Florida/ Virginia

WOW, WHAT A DAY BUT ENDED GREAT WITH A LIMIT.IS DAVID FROM THE EAST COAST? WE COOK OUR CRABS WHOLE WITH A LOT OF "OLD BAY" SEASONING, WOULD BE GREAT ON THEM ALSO, TRY IT, "YOU'LL LIKE IT"

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

40GRIT wrote:

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups……..

Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay then rough when we got to Point Bonita and then settling down a bit at the crabbing grounds, although still on the nautical side and plenty of wind. Set our first string and after 45 minutes started pulling, got 1 keeper per pot, pretty slow for the first 3 sets. Did notice that one end of the string was producing better and reset some from the middle out nearer the end. At the beginning of fourth pull we had a total of 23 keepers, at the end of the fourth pull we had 43 keepers, the difference you ask? At the time of the fourth pull it was high/slack tide, lesson learned, crab during slack or very, very low tide differential. And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story”……….

On the last pot of the third pull I was at the puller and had the pot line threaded, told the “pilot” to go into idle reverse to help relieve the tension of the line and bring us more directly in line with the pot. Had been doing this method all morning and on previous trips, only this time I was pre mature on my request and you guessed it, wrapped the line around the prop……. Before the pilot could hit neutral the pot puller was ripped down off the rail and hit the back deck, puller mount bolt pulled through the rail (luckily) and the Delrin plastic mount broke in half. There we were, dragging the pot while the wind blew us out, no engine, no functional puller (luckily my safety cable did its job and kept the puller on board) and about 8 wraps of line around the prop. Using the boat hook I was able to unwrap about 3 wraps of the line, then during a hand off of the boat hook from the swim step back onto the boat, you guessed it, it was dropped overboard. I started to think this was an episode of the 3 Stooges……. So we rigged up a hook using a gaff and fishing net handle extension to continue the unwrapping of the line, but in the meantime the pot bouys had neatly wrapped and tied themselves around the prop and line. After another 30 minutes or so of trying to unwrap things the filet knife was brought out and taped to the end of the makeshift boat hook and it was goodby to the pot and the line wrap around the prop. We did manage to recover the bouys.

So the last 6 pots were all pulled up by hand and it wasn’t easy because 3 of the remaining 6 were stuffed full of crab.

So you can guess what I’m doing before we go crabbing again on Sunday! Another lesson learned the hard way……

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate b... (show quote)

Another awesome haul Denny, albeit a scary one. Anytime you get something fouled in the wheel, it's a dangerous situation. Luckily the tide wasn't ripping, because being stern to the seas is a bad position to be in. Glad it turned out well, and hopefully there's not too much damage to repair. Thanks for sharing your adventure, and rewards.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

florida wrote:

WOW, WHAT A DAY BUT ENDED GREAT WITH A LIMIT.IS DAVID FROM THE EAST COAST? WE COOK OUR CRABS WHOLE WITH A LOT OF "OLD BAY" SEASONING, WOULD BE GREAT ON THEM ALSO, TRY IT, "YOU'LL LIKE IT"

He used to live on the east coast, so yes, the blue crab is what he grew up on, cooking whole and eating “the butter”. My crab boil is spiced with Old Bay and Zatarain’s Louisiana Boil, doesn’t overpower the crab, but adds a bit of zing to it!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Fredfish wrote:

Another awesome haul Denny, albeit a scary one. Anytime you get something fouled in the wheel, it's a dangerous situation. Luckily the tide wasn't ripping, because being stern to the seas is a bad position to be in. Glad it turned out well, and hopefully there's not too much damage to repair. Thanks for sharing your adventure, and rewards.

Thanks Fred and the wind overpowered the direction of the swells but as soon as I cut the pot line (of course it was dragging from the aft) the boat twisted sideways to the seas and it was a bit rocky while cutting the rope out of the wheel.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

40GRIT wrote:

Thanks Fred and the wind overpowered the direction of the swells but as soon as I cut the pot line (of course it was dragging from the aft) the boat twisted sideways to the seas and it was a bit rocky while cutting the rope out of the wheel.

Glad everything worked out buddy, and you got to enjoy some tasty treats.

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

40GRIT wrote:

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups……..

Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay then rough when we got to Point Bonita and then settling down a bit at the crabbing grounds, although still on the nautical side and plenty of wind. Set our first string and after 45 minutes started pulling, got 1 keeper per pot, pretty slow for the first 3 sets. Did notice that one end of the string was producing better and reset some from the middle out nearer the end. At the beginning of fourth pull we had a total of 23 keepers, at the end of the fourth pull we had 43 keepers, the difference you ask? At the time of the fourth pull it was high/slack tide, lesson learned, crab during slack or very, very low tide differential. And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story”……….

On the last pot of the third pull I was at the puller and had the pot line threaded, told the “pilot” to go into idle reverse to help relieve the tension of the line and bring us more directly in line with the pot. Had been doing this method all morning and on previous trips, only this time I was pre mature on my request and you guessed it, wrapped the line around the prop……. Before the pilot could hit neutral the pot puller was ripped down off the rail and hit the back deck, puller mount bolt pulled through the rail (luckily) and the Delrin plastic mount broke in half. There we were, dragging the pot while the wind blew us out, no engine, no functional puller (luckily my safety cable did its job and kept the puller on board) and about 8 wraps of line around the prop. Using the boat hook I was able to unwrap about 3 wraps of the line, then during a hand off of the boat hook from the swim step back onto the boat, you guessed it, it was dropped overboard. I started to think this was an episode of the 3 Stooges……. So we rigged up a hook using a gaff and fishing net handle extension to continue the unwrapping of the line, but in the meantime the pot bouys had neatly wrapped and tied themselves around the prop and line. After another 30 minutes or so of trying to unwrap things the filet knife was brought out and taped to the end of the makeshift boat hook and it was goodby to the pot and the line wrap around the prop. We did manage to recover the bouys.

So the last 6 pots were all pulled up by hand and it wasn’t easy because 3 of the remaining 6 were stuffed full of crab.

So you can guess what I’m doing before we go crabbing again on Sunday! Another lesson learned the hard way……

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate b... (show quote)

Oh my 40, what a haul!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

bknecht wrote:

Oh my 40, what a haul!

Thanks BK! It was an interesting but successful day!

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

40GRIT wrote:

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups……..

Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay then rough when we got to Point Bonita and then settling down a bit at the crabbing grounds, although still on the nautical side and plenty of wind. Set our first string and after 45 minutes started pulling, got 1 keeper per pot, pretty slow for the first 3 sets. Did notice that one end of the string was producing better and reset some from the middle out nearer the end. At the beginning of fourth pull we had a total of 23 keepers, at the end of the fourth pull we had 43 keepers, the difference you ask? At the time of the fourth pull it was high/slack tide, lesson learned, crab during slack or very, very low tide differential. And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story”……….

On the last pot of the third pull I was at the puller and had the pot line threaded, told the “pilot” to go into idle reverse to help relieve the tension of the line and bring us more directly in line with the pot. Had been doing this method all morning and on previous trips, only this time I was pre mature on my request and you guessed it, wrapped the line around the prop……. Before the pilot could hit neutral the pot puller was ripped down off the rail and hit the back deck, puller mount bolt pulled through the rail (luckily) and the Delrin plastic mount broke in half. There we were, dragging the pot while the wind blew us out, no engine, no functional puller (luckily my safety cable did its job and kept the puller on board) and about 8 wraps of line around the prop. Using the boat hook I was able to unwrap about 3 wraps of the line, then during a hand off of the boat hook from the swim step back onto the boat, you guessed it, it was dropped overboard. I started to think this was an episode of the 3 Stooges……. So we rigged up a hook using a gaff and fishing net handle extension to continue the unwrapping of the line, but in the meantime the pot bouys had neatly wrapped and tied themselves around the prop and line. After another 30 minutes or so of trying to unwrap things the filet knife was brought out and taped to the end of the makeshift boat hook and it was goodby to the pot and the line wrap around the prop. We did manage to recover the bouys.

So the last 6 pots were all pulled up by hand and it wasn’t easy because 3 of the remaining 6 were stuffed full of crab.

So you can guess what I’m doing before we go crabbing again on Sunday! Another lesson learned the hard way……

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate b... (show quote)

Man Denny , Sorry to hear about the lost Pot, but better that than having your prop stuck ,, Great Catching Guys !!🦀🦀🦀Thanks for the great photos my Friend 🤙🤙👍

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 👍

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

40GRIT wrote:

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate bridge, but not without some hiccups……..

Started out pretty much like all the other trips, fairly smooth bay then rough when we got to Point Bonita and then settling down a bit at the crabbing grounds, although still on the nautical side and plenty of wind. Set our first string and after 45 minutes started pulling, got 1 keeper per pot, pretty slow for the first 3 sets. Did notice that one end of the string was producing better and reset some from the middle out nearer the end. At the beginning of fourth pull we had a total of 23 keepers, at the end of the fourth pull we had 43 keepers, the difference you ask? At the time of the fourth pull it was high/slack tide, lesson learned, crab during slack or very, very low tide differential. And as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story”……….

On the last pot of the third pull I was at the puller and had the pot line threaded, told the “pilot” to go into idle reverse to help relieve the tension of the line and bring us more directly in line with the pot. Had been doing this method all morning and on previous trips, only this time I was pre mature on my request and you guessed it, wrapped the line around the prop……. Before the pilot could hit neutral the pot puller was ripped down off the rail and hit the back deck, puller mount bolt pulled through the rail (luckily) and the Delrin plastic mount broke in half. There we were, dragging the pot while the wind blew us out, no engine, no functional puller (luckily my safety cable did its job and kept the puller on board) and about 8 wraps of line around the prop. Using the boat hook I was able to unwrap about 3 wraps of the line, then during a hand off of the boat hook from the swim step back onto the boat, you guessed it, it was dropped overboard. I started to think this was an episode of the 3 Stooges……. So we rigged up a hook using a gaff and fishing net handle extension to continue the unwrapping of the line, but in the meantime the pot bouys had neatly wrapped and tied themselves around the prop and line. After another 30 minutes or so of trying to unwrap things the filet knife was brought out and taped to the end of the makeshift boat hook and it was goodby to the pot and the line wrap around the prop. We did manage to recover the bouys.

So the last 6 pots were all pulled up by hand and it wasn’t easy because 3 of the remaining 6 were stuffed full of crab.

So you can guess what I’m doing before we go crabbing again on Sunday! Another lesson learned the hard way……

Another successful crabbing trip out the SF gate b... (show quote)

Quite the venture with the pot issue 40. But what a good looking harvest for you efforts that you are showing.

Do you eat the entire crab or just the legs? I have only had Eastern shore crabs and its eat the entire crab.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Jarheadfishnfool wrote:

Man Denny , Sorry to hear about the lost Pot, but better that than having your prop stuck ,, Great Catching Guys !!🦀🦀🦀Thanks for the great photos my Friend 🤙🤙👍

Thanks Bobby! If a lost pot is the worst of my day then it’s still a good day in my book!!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

NJ219bands wrote:

Nice 👍

Thanks NJ!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

It was Plumbob! I eat the entire crab except the “butter” (guts n gills). Some folks swear by the butter, my father in law for one. I’m a Midwest boy and can’t get past the look of the butter so it’s strictly the leg and body meat for me. I suppose if I was stranded on a deserted island……….

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

40GRIT wrote:

It was Plumbob! I eat the entire crab except the “butter” (guts n gills). Some folks swear by the butter, my father in law for one. I’m a Midwest boy and can’t get past the look of the butter so it’s strictly the leg and body meat for me. I suppose if I was stranded on a deserted island……….

I bet that is where eating crabs and oysters started. Some guy on a deserted island,