Case of the Crabs

Dungeness crab opener today and I had the fever. Launched at my friends house at Priest Point around 7:30am and thought it was going to be a quick run to just off Jetty Island. Problem was is that's not where Mission Bar is. It's way closer to Hat Island. Depth goes from about 15' at the navigation tower to over 200' in a very short distance. Tide was ripping with a -2' low so i dropped 2 pots with extra lead to hold them down in around 45-50' of water. Limited out on nice sized males and am now melting the butter and cooling the brewsky. Lots of boats out but not as many as I would have thought. Will skip tomorrow because it will probably be a zoo if the weather stays nice. No pics.Wife has camera in Spokane and cell phone made them blue. Still amazes me how people freak over a yak out on the sound fishing or crabbing.

I didn't really read your thread.  I'm in a different time zone, and have had some strange homemade wine.  Makes reading tough.  But I wanted to help a brother out.  Go to a Fred Meyer if there's one near you.  Ask the pharmacist for a shampoo called Rid.  You'll be cured, bro. 

Thanks Andy. Is that a different time zone you're in or is it the Twilight Zone? My suggestion for you bro....massive doses of Lithium and Thorazine

Don't forget the little fine toothed comb!

Shave your head, pits, and pubes!  Your back too if necessary.

Thanks for the nits, whoops, I mean tips guys. I see you all have had experience in this area. it means alot to me to know I'm not alone Got to run and do a hot load of laundry!

Not me personally, I had this friend once.........

Funny how folks don't like to take personal responsibility for their actions, Craig. This is fun between friends.

I dropped a couple traps yesterday off RB and came out with 5 keepers, 4 dungies and a rock.  3 of the dungies were over 7".  TLW and I ate the two biggies last night.  I rebaited and left the traps in overnight.  Gonna pull them this morning. 

Has anyone here ever gotten a limit of both dungies and rocks? 

Nice haul Dominic. Did you try for salmon also like you had mentioned? They are hitting on a Kone Zone flasher, 36" leader with a silver/green nit comb . Allkidding aside. Ain't those puppies good eats?!! I like them more than lobster.

Question regarding full limits...

In all the years of crabbing, I've never bothered with targeting a full limit.  I can only eat one or two crab fresh from the cooker, my son can handle one, the wife and daughter don't like crab.  My experience is that crab doesn't keep that great for days afterward so I keep it minimal. If I ever do get more than my household needs, I share with my neighbors so they don't go to waste. 

I like to keep a few on board alive and just high grade if possible.

I'm with you Insayn on how crab keep. If they are not eaten within 3 days or so max, then they get mushy. Vacum sealed and froze a bunch years ago and they weren't very good. As for limits, I like to get them because I always enjoy giving it to friends who are just jazzed to get it. Wow!! For me? You're kiddin? Love it. I always eat 1 or 2 fresh out of the boiler after they have cooled with some french/sourdough bread and a good brew or white wine. Of course this is not following the docs orders on a very low sodium diet for a medical condition, but w ;Dhat the hell

I dropped a couple traps yesterday off RB and came out with 5 keepers, 4 dungies and a rock.  3 of the dungies were over 7".  TLW and I ate the two biggies last night.  I rebaited and left the traps in overnight.  Gonna pull them this morning. 

Has anyone here ever gotten a limit of both dungies and rocks?

Saw you out there yesterday. Sorry I couldn't stay to chat. Was just out clearing my traps. Does seem like the crabbing is a bit slow this year.

got 11 yesterday in 2 pots, only 5 legal males, brought them home and popped the tops off and stemaed them right away.  They are sweet and delicious, but only for an hour or so after cooking---so we eat a meal's worth, then pick the meat out and vacuum pack and freeze the rest.  But the frozen stuff is never as good as fresh, so we make crab pasta or crab cakes with the frozen stuff, or scramble with eggs.

Doh! I may have to drag Janni over the hill for our last chance at WA Dungies.

Any left over crab is sealed and frozen and used for Maryland-style crab cakes.