Pink Crab.....a dungie....and an answer!

[h20hunter]

Ever see a pink one? This crab was crazy looking. Not sure if the pic does it justice but you get the idea.

[Skillet]

That's a new one on me...

How's crabbing in the spot this year?  Only been out once so far.

[h20hunter]

Slow one pull then loaded up the next. Here is a bit more of what I'm learning with the GoPro.............See the bait bag? I'm using them and am liking not going through the bait as fast. However, I see on the camera that since they aren't really shredding any bait some of the crabs lose interest. They mill around and basically walk out when another is coming in. I added just two flounder slided open and hanging next tot he bag and pulled more than 4 times as many crab per pot. When they are shredding on and eating the exposed bait it is more like a frenzy. They stay in the pot and don't try and leave. They only try and get to the bag and hanging bait. We had 5 over 7 inches out of our 14.

[CoryTDF]

Is that Padilla Bay?? spelling

[Skillet]

Slow one pull then loaded up the next. Here is a bit more of what I'm learning with the GoPro.............See the bait bag? I'm using them and am liking not going through the bait as fast. However, I see on the camera that since they aren't really shredding any bait some of the crabs lose interest. They mill around and basically walk out when another is coming in. I added just two flounder slided open and hanging next tot he bag and pulled more than 4 times as many crab per pot. When they are shredding on and eating the exposed bait it is more like a frenzy. They stay in the pot and don't try and leave. They only try and get to the bag and hanging bait. We had 5 over 7 inches out of our 14.

That's some good crabbing, right there.  Got a couple of those bait bags as well that I use for chumming halibut. Drock and I actually used them in the pots for the Crab-B-Que.  As you know, we didn't catch a lot, tho... it was probably somehow his fault   

[h20hunter]

Is that Padilla Bay?? spelling

South east corner of Hat....

[CP]

Nice photo.  But now we all know your secret pink crab spot. 

Was it soft?  The pink tint might be from a recent molt.  Or it could be radioactive glow from the Navy ships across the way.

[h20hunter]

Not soft at all. It looked in everyway like a nice solid healhy male. If it was legal I would have kept it just to be able to take it back to the dock legally.

[h20hunter]

These are not very common, but I have seen a couple of these now over many years.  When a color other than white shows up, it seems to be pink.  It sure looks like Hat (Gedney) Island in the background..

Apparently it is a condition where an algae/microorganism bloom occurs in the open circulatory system of the crab, lending a pink color to the meat.  I have attached a photo of another crab opened up with the pink meat visible.  Again, this is not very common, and thanks for sending the picture.  It is very apparent in the photo.

Regards-

Donald E. Velasquez
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
16018 Mill Creek Blvd
Mill Creek, WA 98012-1296
Phone: (425) 775-1311 ext. 112
FAX: (425) 338-1066
Email: Don.Velasquez@dfw.wa.gov

[h20hunter]

A pic....

[Smossy]

Pink meat to? Weirrdd. Radioactive crab!

[Becky]

Pink meat to? Weirrdd. Radioactive crab!

  no comment.

[lostbackpacker]

that is funky.  never seen that before....cross breed of somehow???

[Widgeondeke]

Well it have looked great on your pink FJ 

[h20hunter]

Yep....pretty neat catch....