Got out the Golden Gate crabbing today… (Page 2): If the commercial guys are still soaking their gear, there are still enough legal size crabs out there to warrant their time. It is...

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

40GRIT wrote:

Thanks Hal, I didn’t think about needing two hands to properly eat them, but you are correct on that. Yes I believe the commercial guys are killing them out there and they aren’t leaving very many for the rest of us either. But we had our opportunities in December, can’t be greedy…….

If the commercial guys are still soaking their gear, there are still enough legal size crabs out there to warrant their time. It is not about fun for them. It is about $$$

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Fredfish wrote:

Nice catching and great report Denny!
They look delicious, and I'm drooling here. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Fred, if you ever get out this way, you’ll have to see me and I’ll get you hooked up with some!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Jarheadfishnfool wrote:

Nice haul Denny ! Looks like you were rockin & rollin out there but you certainly have the right pic there (Rewards) Thanks for sharing ,I still think that's a Bay Nessie 😁 !!👍👍🤙🤙That's a Beautiful photo 👍🤙

Thanks Jarhead, that meal was certainly a reward, and that pic, when I looked at it, had me double taking at first.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

bapabear wrote:

Great job. I envy you. Our season ends in December and does not open again until july, even for rings.

Thanks Bapa, that’s kind of a weird season, maybe your crab matures and migrate earlier than ours, I’m sure there’s a reason or a science behind it.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

40GRIT wrote:

Thanks Bapa, that’s kind of a weird season, maybe your crab matures and migrate earlier than ours, I’m sure there’s a reason or a science behind it.

Yes, I agree, but the second molt leaves the crabs soft up to july and even then I have to throw some back. Like everything sea related, seasons and limits are greatly related to the Judge Boldt decision that gave half of everything to the "indigenous people".

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

bapabear wrote:

Yes, I agree, but the second molt leaves the crabs soft up to july and even then I have to throw some back. Like everything sea related, seasons and limits are greatly related to the Judge Boldt decision that gave half of everything to the "indigenous people".

Ah, forgot about that reason……..

FishermanLeeSonoma

Nice catching!!! Great job hunting them down!!!!

Jeremy Loc: America

40GRIT wrote:

So I texted all my fishing buddies to go crabbing and had only one bite. Was worried I wouldn’t be going today because my wife’s rule is “You don’t fish alone!” It’s a fair rule and I love her……..

My Alaskan fishing buddy Joe and I headed out early, about 6:30, I had all the bait cups and bags set up and the boat gassed up the day before, so we could make a quick getaway. The temp was 38 degrees, cold but clear, conditions out were good until we got to the lighthouse just out the gate, then it got a little snotty.

We got to our “new” numbers, out deeper from our original honey hole, and there’s commercial buoys all over. We set out a little deeper in between a couple of commercial strings. Their pots are soaking, we’re setting and pulling within a couple of hours, so……………

It’s cold and choppy and we’re bouncing around like a pinball, but we got 4 crab pots set and then set 4 hoop nets that we pulled after a quick soak and to see if there’s any life. After 2 sets of the hoop nets and only 1 MONSTER keeper among many small females, we stacked the hoop nets and headed for the first pot of our string. They had been soaking about 2 hours at this point and we hoped for better results than our hoop nets. We weren’t disappointed, at the end of pulling the string of 4 we were now up to 11 keepers and 2 JBs (just barly). We re-baited (Mackerel hanging, bait bag and cup of squid) and reset. Let them soak an hour and pulled them. Finished with 20 keepers overs 6” (many well over) and were able to return the JBs to the sea.

Our pots would have up to 20 crab in them, but only averaged 2 1/2 keepers per pot, although they were larger.

At one point, a boat pulled up with a couple of younger guys (in their 20-30s) and asked how we were getting so many crab, they had only gotten 1 crab! I asked about their bait and they said “Turkey thighs”, I told them what we were using and to try that. They thanked us and headed off………

All in al,l a successful trip of hard fought limits and thoughts about a new strategy for the next trip.

So I texted all my fishing buddies to go crabbing ... (show quote)

It is a Mermaid not Nessie. Nice haul.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Jeremy wrote:

It is a Mermaid not Nessie. Nice haul.

Ha! Thanks Jeremy!

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

FishermanLeeSonoma wrote:

Nice catching!!! Great job hunting them down!!!!

Thanks Ben! It took some effort but we found some. Not as plentiful (keepers) as our old spot, but they are big.

Roger Renne Loc: Washington state

Yumm! very envious of your crab treat. Here in Sumner, WA i found fresh crab $8.00/lb at Fred Myer; hopefully will go down in price as the commercials bring more in. What is the time limit on saving frozen crab, in your opinion? i have eaten frozen crab that wasnt very tasty. Thanks for beautiful photo of SF at dawn.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Roger Renne wrote:

Yumm! very envious of your crab treat. Here in Sumner, WA i found fresh crab $8.00/lb at Fred Myer; hopefully will go down in price as the commercials bring more in. What is the time limit on saving frozen crab, in your opinion? i have eaten frozen crab that wasnt very tasty. Thanks for beautiful photo of SF at dawn.

Thanks Roger! Since the commercial has started here I’ve heard the crab is going for $6 a pound, so yours will probably drop as well. As far as the frozen freshness length of time, I’ve been told up to a year if vacuum packed and frozen. I catch, clean, cook, vacuum pack and freeze the same day (makes for a long day) and currently have only eaten frozen crab a month old. So far so good, so we’ll see as I have enough to hold me over for quite a few months and plan on catching more!

Bobfromfremont Loc: Fremont Ca

saw1 wrote:

Not to worry brother. I'm glad you didn't. I'm pro... (show quote)

Some drugstores sell elastic bands with a button on them that work better than Dramamine

FishermanLeeSonoma

40GRIT wrote:

Thanks Ben! It took some effort but we found some. Not as plentiful (keepers) as our old spot, but they are big.

Bigger is better!!!! LOL!

Rayjay425 Loc: Mill Creek, Washington

nice! i miss not going crabbing. we did a lot when we were going on cruises in the san juan islands and desolation sound which is on east side of vancouver island. one time me and my buddy were dingying to get our crab pots and had to see a women taking a shower on the back of their boat. it was disgusting!