Kayak Crabbing

Spent the last 10 days at the cabin on the oregon coast in the town of Netarts.  Decided with the price of fuel to leave the ocean boat at home, didn't take the sled either.. this was to be a kayak only week.  decided to put some ideas I had about crabbing in the ocean off a kayak to the test.  The wife and I launched off the beach at Cape lookout state park and paddled out about 1/2 mile to set the pots.  Went for about a 4 hour tour checking out the sights along the cape.  Lots of seals, sea lions, a pair of peregrine falcons, and several sea caves.  We checked the pots (3) after the 4 hour soak and were rewarded with heavy pots.  All said and done we managed 10 keepers.  I have a couple refinements to the system but all and all it worked great.  Was not much of a hassle at all and Damn those crab taste good.

Nice haul!

Z

That sounds like an awesome time!

Mmmmm Crab!

Nice job!! what type of traps are those? Danielson?

I need to get out crabbing soon I suppose.  I'm still new to the state, when's prime crabbing time here in Oregon?

Brian

The rule for Oregon is crabbing is best in the bays in months that end in "R".  Good in the ocean any time, but getting out in winter is a challenge.

GI Joes has Danielson's on sale right now for $15 bucks or so.

I have to put in another plug for these Crab King coil up rings, however.  If you are in a position to check your rings every hour or so, and use bait bags, these work terrific.  Really easy to manage and stow in the kayak.

http://crabkinginc.com/

they are the danielson's traps.  I normally use traditional commercial pots in ocean on the boat but obviously they are to big, these  worked great and folded down nicely where I could bungee them to the back deck.  Going to come up with a cheap roller of some type make them easier to pull. Could buy one of the scotty rod holder mount ones but I know I can come up with something that works for less than the 35 bones they want for the scotty

I used to use the metal rings down in California (Bodega Bay) from my kayak, but the crabs there are usually found in about 60-120 ft of water in the winter.  Hauling up rings every 20 minutes or so from those depths can be a pain.  I eventually switched to Promar collapsible traps.  I may just get some danielson's for the bays around here.

I don't know about Washington, but I was just looking over the Oregon regs for crabbing and thought I'd share..

• Max 3 traps, rings, or baited lines per person (or you can catch them by hand, dip net, or rake)
  and you may leave pots out over night.
  
• Dungeness Crab Daily limit, 12 male crabs 5 3/4" or larger measured across the back in front of but not including the spines, no females
• Ocean closed of dungeness between Aug 15 and Nov 30, bays open all year
• Red Crab Daily limit 24 any sex any size
• Up to two daily limits in possession

A friend of mine, ChuckE wrote a nice article for NCKA on kayak crabbing. I'm sure much of it could be adapted to the Northwest.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=18

I'd love to throw the Wa regs out there but are way to complicated to write out w/ all the different areas here in the sound. Here is the link to all the info you'll need: http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/index.htm

Z

Z,

You mean the part where each of these numbered regions has it's own regs for crabs.



I don't think anyone really knows why Washington fishing regs are so complicated, but I have some ideas.

1.) increases the likelihood of collecting fines, kind of like sheriffs in the deep south with their speed traps.
2.) a form of classism, only those with an advanced degree can understand all the regs
3.) the biologists and managers at WDFW are just sadistic

I can't imagine what it must be like for the ODFW to have to meet with the WDFW to agree on regs for the Columbia River.

Brian

1.) increases the likelihood of collecting fines, kind of like sheriffs in the deep south with their speed traps.
2.) a form of classism, only those with an advanced degree can understand all the regs
3.) the biologists and managers at WDFW are just sadistic

Yep, you nailed it!

It's absolutely insane. You really need to be into fishing/crabbing to be out there. There's still a lot of people on the water on any given day so I can't imagine what it would look like if the regs were any more lenient. I literally print out and laminate each areas regs and throw it in the tackle box when I go fish. Too much too remember.

Z

What style of the Danielson's traps do you guys recommend?  Star?  the rectangle?  Thanks

I believe most use the 24" x 24" x 13" Danielsons..which run about $30 each.


If I had money to burn, I'd get the flex fold crab traps .. very nice looking traps with very small form when folded down, but $160 each.  Here's a video...
[youtube=425,350]rK7YvJblS54[/youtube]

Brian

What style of the Danielson's traps do you guys recommend?  Star?  the rectangle?  Thanks

I use the same as B and pelagic paddler. Simple, cheap, and effective.

Z

I'd recommend the traps where the crabs can get in but can't get out, unless you plan on hanging around and pulling them often. If i was gonna crab i would drop the traps, go fish for a few hours and then come back and pull the traps. Then you could reset and go fish more or head in for a awesome fish and crab feed!!

I looked at the Danielsons, i think there one size fits all, and there pretty big, especially when collapsed and not too light either. I couldn't lean over and pull these traps too easily with my back.