Crabbing/Halibut Westport (pics added)

[C-Money]

FF4607 and I are going out on a halibut trip from Westport. We plan on crabbing the dock when we are not on the boat. Any tips? I plan on buying a pot and renting a few rings to keep us busy while the pot soaks. Do you think the pot would get stolen if we leave it overnight? Is that legal? Thanks Hunt WA friends. C

[jackmaster]

IT WILL GET STOLEN, if you want use ring pots because you have to tend them, DO NOT put crab pots out over night there, unless you can keep an eye on them

[brokenvet]

Westport docs used to be productive for crab, but not in the last few years that I have gone there. 

Lots of crab, however they are small, maybe I am just going the wrong time of year.  Oh! watch for the sea lion, he made that harbor his home. 

Yup I would not leave net or pots unattended. 

[Becky]

We were out there a couple weekends ago... I don't think they'd get stolen off the docs as we seen plenty tied off overnight and the only people wandering the docs at  night were us  .. but man, the crabs are abundant, but ALL TOO SMALL and every single one was a female. We did a quick 10 minute test soak with a piece of chicken leg and pulled up 12 little suckers and the chicken was almost down to the bone. It was fun/funny at first but then got frustrating after all was said and done. We got ONE keeper off the rock wall side, I think the sea lions have been mowing through the big ones maybe. It seems in the last couple years since they've shown up in force, the crabbing has been horrible.

[wildmanoutdoors]

No keepers in that basin.

[Becky]

Playing around with a snap trap the first night there... but yea, they all looked like this. SUCKED so I wouldn't waste money on buying a pot just for that trip.

[Noiro]

I would never eat a crab out of that nasty water. Boat anti-fouling covers the bottom of all the boats there. Storm drains pour straight from the street into the marina.
If you must crab and want to catch a few keepers crab off the end of dock 5 at the marina entrance.
Smossy's Girl. Were you two dressed out in green rain gear on dock 7?

[C-Money]

Well glad for the posts. Thank you all. It sounds fun to crab a little, as I've never done it, being a dry side'er. Keep the advise coming....

[jackmaster]

I would never eat a crab out of that nasty water. Boat anti-fouling covers the bottom of all the boats there. Storm drains pour straight from the street into the marina.
If you must crab and want to catch a few keepers crab off the end of dock 5 at the marina entrance.
Smossy's Girl. Were you two dressed out in green rain gear on dock 7?

why? Crab have the best filtering system, if they are alive they are fine to eat, unless they are soft shell....

[Becky]

Smossy's Girl. Were you two dressed out in green rain gear on dock 7?

No actually now that I looked at a calendar it was last month lol so I guess 4 weeks ago..

why? Crab have the best filtering system, if they are alive they are fine to eat, unless they are soft shell....

Yea they're cleaner than the crabs we catch and eat out of the sound :/ haha..

[Becky]

Well glad for the posts. Thank you all. It sounds fun to crab a little, as I've never done it, being a dry side'er. Keep the advise coming....

Ohhh well if you're just doing it for fun, there's a hotel at the end of the drive to the right called Harbor Resort that rents out crab rings for cheap. It doesn't look like it's a gift shop or any kind of store but they sell bait etc, and we noticed the rings I'd just do that. Throw some chicken in it and you'll get some little sea spiders for sure! There's lots of bait shops/gift stores to buy gear and rent from, but this one looked cheaper than the major one on the main docks everyone goes to.

[Noiro]

On float 8 I think it is the charters have a big garbage can full of seabass carcass for the dock crabbers to use for free. It is where the little store out on the dock sells seafood.

[metlhead]

I was told that most of the crab in the basin were commercial culls that are undersized and that they also have a slighty smaller slot size. Eventually, they migrate out to better waters, before they get to legal size for sporties. Hence the tremendous number of little females.

[gasman]

I would not waste my time in the boat basin. I would get a crab trap that is cast-able with a fishing pole and go off the jetty 

You dont have to go to the big Jetty, there are a few smaller ones that get almost completely ignored.

[buckhorn2]

You might check the regulations but I think it's illegal to fish off the docks at night or leave pots out overnight.

[Becky]

You might check the regulations but I think it's illegal to fish off the docks at night or leave pots out overnight.

It's open year round to any gear except crab pots.

[Noiro]

The notice at the entrance to each float is that the docks are closed to the general public after dark. I have seen the WP police down there several times late at night. Mostly always guys drinking, crabbing and being loud.

[Encore 280]

I was at the Tokeland marina a couple years ago and there was a warden on the docks pulling pots that were unattended so not a good idea to leave them unattended.

[elkoholic]

yep Westport boat basin has no keepers, Oh except these ones. day 1 and day 2 

[sirmissalot]

Thats pretty stellar elkaholic. Keepers are certainly hard to come by in the harbor.

[elkoholic]

That was 3 years ago, But we always manage 3-5 keepers daily. been going for about 15 years definitly gone downhill but kiddos still have a great time...

[C-Money]

Nice! Glad you nailed some keepers. Are those some red rock crab mixed in? I bought a pot today, and am getting it all rigged up. I got the Eagle Claw on with 6 doors from Bi Mart. Any pics on how you guys rig your rope? Ill post pics of mine when I'm done.

[C-Money]

Here is my eagle claw pot. I tied a figure 8 on a bite knot and put the running end threw the loop. I have a bait box bungied on the top. hope we get a few keepers.

[Kc_Kracker]

why wouldnt you lift from the top so all trap doors stay closed and it lands flat on the bottom?

[C-Money]

why wouldnt you lift from the top so all trap doors stay closed and it lands flat on the bottom?

Rookie crabber here.....so tie the rope in above the bait box?

[C-Money]

Well, it was a great afternoon crabbing, almost had a few keeper dungeness and red rock...but just shy.. so close. was checked by the warden, so was glad we diden't chance any, just a hair shy. great fun, caught a crap ton of small crab, good times.

[C-Money]

We had a great time in Westport. We crabbed Monday afternoon. No keepers, but did get a few that were very close. Just a hair short. Had a blast catching a ton of smalls, and just enjoying being there. The fishing trip on the Ranger was unreal. FF4607 and I each got a dandy halibut, slayed the rock fish, and FF4607 got  a keep ling. Mine was just a hair short. The Ranger Capt did everything he could to give us a great tip. I would recommend the Ranger to anyone. Great boat. We had dinner after getting back at the Fish Shack, and that was a great meal. The combo halibut and clam strips was yummy, and more than I could eat. Never had clam strips that huge!! 

[poopooheaddad]

Hey C-Money  if you don't mind how big was the boat? how many people were allowed, phone # ect.   you can pm me if you want, I am just looking for a good small charter not the big meat pole charters, thanks,  looks like some great eatin....

[C-Money]

http://www.oceansportfishing.com/

There was 18 people on our trip, and it was a blast. Hope you can get out. They had some openings on May 20th. The Rock & Roll may be a better option for fewer fisherman on a boat. Hope that helps!

[sirmissalot]

Wooooo look at that water! Glad you had a good trip

[firefighter4607]

Wooooo look at that water! Glad you had a good trip

Yes the water was very calm Tuesday. I was very surprised and happy to see the water like that.

[C-Money]

Wooooo look at that water! Glad you had a good trip

Yes the water was very calm Tuesday. I was very surprised and happy to see the water like that.

Me Too!!! Water was a s calm as I have seen it! Looks like the quota is almost reached....Sunday the 18th may be the last day.