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Crabbing again 11/21
California Fishing
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Nov 21, 2022 23:38:22   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one of them was my friend that got me onto the Alaska salmon trip. Went out the gate hoping it wouldn’t be too rough, it was all good until we got past the light house and the seas began to pick up. On the way in the bay we sighted a whale “spouting” a couple of times (no pic, too far and random) and then just past the golden gate there were hundreds of birds flocking and apparently feeding on some massive bait concentrations. I’ve never seen such a quantity of birds feeding, soooo many.

Got to our GPS numbers and began to set our loop nets that we pre-baited at the dock in anticipation of rocky seas (glad we did that!) We set “in the trough” of the waves on the first set as that was the direction I wanted the string to lay, not a good idea…….we were rocked around quite a bit (see attached video). Halfway through the first set my buddy driving thought he had the motor in neutral, he didn’t, and guess what, yup-loop net line wrapped the prop. Caught it early, no damage except the 30 extra minutes to unwrap it from the prop and untangle the line. It was a bit sketchy standing on the swim step/motor bracket leaning out and unwrapping the line with the boat hook fully extended. We finished the set, pulled them about 45 minutes later and reset with 17 keepers in the cooler. Second set we zig zagged in and out vs. in line in the trough, pulled them the same way, much less rocky. The seas did lighten up as well and we ended up back at the dock at 12:30 with our limits.

Taking Ben (fishermanleesanoma) and Hal (Nook)out tomorrow 11/22, we’ll peek our nose out the gate and decide if the conditions are within our (and the boats) limits before proceeding.

Hard to tell but the birds were everywhere, cant see the ones off in the distance or to the left and right.
Hard to tell but the birds were everywhere, cant s...

Doesn’t look that bad in the distance, but you can see how we’re rocking and rolling.
Attached file:
(Download)

The days take, bigger crab on average this trip.
The days take, bigger crab on average this trip....

Cleaning the crab with the “crab cracker”….efficient!
Attached file:
(Download)

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Nov 21, 2022 23:55:21   #
Jeremy Loc: America
 
I love the crab crackers. I got them for a few buddies. One buddy used to use a rock. Now uses the cracker.

I usually steam the bugs myself. Less time needed. Less water boiling. 20 minutes of steam or boil. yum yum Denny

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Nov 22, 2022 00:00:55   #
Jeremy Loc: America
 
Should be able to read the ocean forecast and compare to today's record. Be safe.

Reply
 
 
Nov 22, 2022 02:41:44   #
saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor
 
40GRIT wrote:
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one of them was my friend that got me onto the Alaska salmon trip. Went out the gate hoping it wouldn’t be too rough, it was all good until we got past the light house and the seas began to pick up. On the way in the bay we sighted a whale “spouting” a couple of times (no pic, too far and random) and then just past the golden gate there were hundreds of birds flocking and apparently feeding on some massive bait concentrations. I’ve never seen such a quantity of birds feeding, soooo many.

Got to our GPS numbers and began to set our loop nets that we pre-baited at the dock in anticipation of rocky seas (glad we did that!) We set “in the trough” of the waves on the first set as that was the direction I wanted the string to lay, not a good idea…….we were rocked around quite a bit (see attached video). Halfway through the first set my buddy driving thought he had the motor in neutral, he didn’t, and guess what, yup-loop net line wrapped the prop. Caught it early, no damage except the 30 extra minutes to unwrap it from the prop and untangle the line. It was a bit sketchy standing on the swim step/motor bracket leaning out and unwrapping the line with the boat hook fully extended. We finished the set, pulled them about 45 minutes later and reset with 17 keepers in the cooler. Second set we zig zagged in and out vs. in line in the trough, pulled them the same way, much less rocky. The seas did lighten up as well and we ended up back at the dock at 12:30 with our limits.

Taking Ben (fishermanleesanoma) and Hal (Nook)out tomorrow 11/22, we’ll peek our nose out the gate and decide if the conditions are within our (and the boats) limits before proceeding.
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one o... (show quote)


Dang, looks rougher than what I want to do.
Glad you boys don't get seasick.
I don't even like lookin at the video of the boat rockin.

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 05:47:23   #
flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
 
40GRIT wrote:
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one of them was my friend that got me onto the Alaska salmon trip. Went out the gate hoping it wouldn’t be too rough, it was all good until we got past the light house and the seas began to pick up. On the way in the bay we sighted a whale “spouting” a couple of times (no pic, too far and random) and then just past the golden gate there were hundreds of birds flocking and apparently feeding on some massive bait concentrations. I’ve never seen such a quantity of birds feeding, soooo many.

Got to our GPS numbers and began to set our loop nets that we pre-baited at the dock in anticipation of rocky seas (glad we did that!) We set “in the trough” of the waves on the first set as that was the direction I wanted the string to lay, not a good idea…….we were rocked around quite a bit (see attached video). Halfway through the first set my buddy driving thought he had the motor in neutral, he didn’t, and guess what, yup-loop net line wrapped the prop. Caught it early, no damage except the 30 extra minutes to unwrap it from the prop and untangle the line. It was a bit sketchy standing on the swim step/motor bracket leaning out and unwrapping the line with the boat hook fully extended. We finished the set, pulled them about 45 minutes later and reset with 17 keepers in the cooler. Second set we zig zagged in and out vs. in line in the trough, pulled them the same way, much less rocky. The seas did lighten up as well and we ended up back at the dock at 12:30 with our limits.

Taking Ben (fishermanleesanoma) and Hal (Nook)out tomorrow 11/22, we’ll peek our nose out the gate and decide if the conditions are within our (and the boats) limits before proceeding.
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one o... (show quote)


Good morning, 40GRIT. Very, very, interesting, I have never done any of those fun things, and I have wondered how they did it. Now I have a clearer picture of how it is done. I do love crab. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

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Nov 22, 2022 07:17:57   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
Jeremy wrote:
Should be able to read the ocean forecast and compare to today's record. Be safe.


Yup, love the cracker as well and check the ocean reports religiously.

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 07:19:11   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
saw1 wrote:
Dang, looks rougher than what I want to do.
Glad you boys don't get seasick.
I don't even like lookin at the video of the boat rockin.


Started that way Steve, then smoothed out, opposite of what it usually does. Today should be interesting!

Reply
 
 
Nov 22, 2022 07:20:28   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
flyguy wrote:
Good morning, 40GRIT. Very, very, interesting, I have never done any of those fun things, and I have wondered how they did it. Now I have a clearer picture of how it is done. I do love crab. Thank you and have a wonderful day.


Thanks Flyguy, I’ll be posting another after today, then gonna take a break for a bit.

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 08:16:45   #
bknecht Loc: Northeast pa
 
40GRIT wrote:
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one of them was my friend that got me onto the Alaska salmon trip. Went out the gate hoping it wouldn’t be too rough, it was all good until we got past the light house and the seas began to pick up. On the way in the bay we sighted a whale “spouting” a couple of times (no pic, too far and random) and then just past the golden gate there were hundreds of birds flocking and apparently feeding on some massive bait concentrations. I’ve never seen such a quantity of birds feeding, soooo many.

Got to our GPS numbers and began to set our loop nets that we pre-baited at the dock in anticipation of rocky seas (glad we did that!) We set “in the trough” of the waves on the first set as that was the direction I wanted the string to lay, not a good idea…….we were rocked around quite a bit (see attached video). Halfway through the first set my buddy driving thought he had the motor in neutral, he didn’t, and guess what, yup-loop net line wrapped the prop. Caught it early, no damage except the 30 extra minutes to unwrap it from the prop and untangle the line. It was a bit sketchy standing on the swim step/motor bracket leaning out and unwrapping the line with the boat hook fully extended. We finished the set, pulled them about 45 minutes later and reset with 17 keepers in the cooler. Second set we zig zagged in and out vs. in line in the trough, pulled them the same way, much less rocky. The seas did lighten up as well and we ended up back at the dock at 12:30 with our limits.

Taking Ben (fishermanleesanoma) and Hal (Nook)out tomorrow 11/22, we’ll peek our nose out the gate and decide if the conditions are within our (and the boats) limits before proceeding.
Went out again and took a couple of friends, one o... (show quote)


Oh my, that looks like fun and some fine eating!

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 15:16:03   #
Doughackett Loc: California
 
Great haul!

You all braved rough conditions to limit out.
Impressive...

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 15:28:14   #
Gardener47 Loc: SF Bay
 
Naive question? I'm going out for the very first time ti try crabbing. I'm going out the gate then I'm kinda lost as to go north/south etc? Druxbury/stinson/bolinas any help is appreciated w/o giving away any of your "secret" spots would greatly be appreciated! Would like to come home with at least a couple of crab. Thx for any info. and help

Reply
 
 
Nov 22, 2022 15:36:24   #
Gardener47 Loc: SF Bay
 
Aslso, where do i get the ocean forecast to see the weather out there?

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Nov 22, 2022 20:58:12   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
bknecht wrote:
Oh my, that looks like fun and some fine eating!


Thanks BK, it was/is!

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 21:09:47   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
Gardener47 wrote:
Naive question? I'm going out for the very first time ti try crabbing. I'm going out the gate then I'm kinda lost as to go north/south etc? Druxbury/stinson/bolinas any help is appreciated w/o giving away any of your "secret" spots would greatly be appreciated! Would like to come home with at least a couple of crab. Thx for any info. and help


We’ll, how long are your lines and do you have a pot puller? That makes a difference on how effective you’ll be at different depths.You want a minimum of 20’ more line than the depth you’re fishing and the pots/loop nets get heavy, so the deeper you are the harder it will be to pull it in consistently (necessary when using the loop nets, otherwise they’ll crawl or float out). If you know where rocky point is, go there and out towards deeper water. We’re fishing in 65 or so feet, find relatively flat bottom. You can go another 2 miles or so out (total of 3 or so) to deeper water (80-100’) as well. Again, find relatively flat bottom. Use fresh bait, fish carcasses, squid, herring, anchovies. Hang the carcasses, bait bag the rest. Make sure you have 10Lbs, give or take, weight on your loop net or it’ll just walk across the bottom with the current and/or the swells. Let them soak for an hour and haul in and see if you have anything. If the carcass is all chewed up and no crab, then it was soaking too long or you lost them on the way up. If the carcass isn’t touch, no crab there.

Thats the best I can give you without being there.

Good luck and tight “pot lines”!! Let us here on the stage know how you do.

Reply
Nov 22, 2022 21:12:29   #
40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA
 
Gardener47 wrote:
Naive question? I'm going out for the very first time ti try crabbing. I'm going out the gate then I'm kinda lost as to go north/south etc? Druxbury/stinson/bolinas any help is appreciated w/o giving away any of your "secret" spots would greatly be appreciated! Would like to come home with at least a couple of crab. Thx for any info. and help


Also, Rocky point is just before Stinson Beach and many people do crab Duxbury, but you have to find sandy or muddy flat bottom and Duxbury has its fair share of flat shale rocky bottom.

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