Tanner or "Snow" Crab in Puget Sound?

[NRA4LIFE]

Oops, hadn't downloaded the latest regs.  This is interesting. 

[Rainier10]

Snows, could be Tanners, Opilio or Bairdi?

That is what I was told at some point. 
This post is not being stated as fact, just something I was told once. 

This should be part of your new disclaimer, totally cracks me up.  I might even use it.  I think I applies to 50% of what I post and 95% of that is true.

[Mfowl]

If snow crab applies to all the species listed above then they are a deep water species. They fish all the above mentioned crabs on deadliest catch and they fish hundreds of feet deep, like 3-500'.  You might check out the Alaska Outdoors Forum, there is probably some info there since they have a recreational tanner crab fishery in Alaska.

[Mfowl]

If snow crab applies to all the species listed above then they are a deep water species. They fish all the above mentioned crabs on deadliest catch and they fish hundreds of feet deep, like 3-500'.  You might check out the Alaska Outdoors Forum, there is probably some info there since they have a recreational tanner crab fishery in Alaska.

I found a thread quickly on the Alaska Outdoors Forum about Tanner's. It suggested finding a muddy bottom in atleast 30 fathoms but more like 50 fathoms. Apparently you need specific pots for them, I couldn't see the pics as I'm not a member there. I'll bet there is plenty more info you just need to scroll through the back pages of the shell fishing forum. That was just the first thread I opened. Good luck, report back if you give it a try!

[jmscon]

Bairdi is the scientific name of Tanner crab.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chionoecetes_bairdi
180-300' is a long way down if you don't have a puller! I've hand hauled spot prawn pots before, not much fun! Daily limit of six sounds like something to look forward to!!

[Mfowl]

This is a recreational tanner crab pot, they also have pyramid style pots. From other pics I looked at they are big, way bigger that dungeness pots.

[chester]

Wonder what that thing weighs. Any guesses?


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[wildweeds]

I know someone who commercial test fished them last year in the San juans, there are Lots and LOTS of them. As has been said they are deep, he fished them at 400 feet. I saw them in a live tank at the Seafood outfit by my house.  They are opilio . Don't worry they won't be bountiful once the natives claim their 50 percent.

[luvmystang67]

I know someone who commercial test fished them last year in the San juans, there are Lots and LOTS of them. As has been said they are deep, he fished them at 400 feet. I saw them in a live tank at the Seafood outfit by my house.  They are opilio . Don't worry they won't be bountiful once the natives claim their 50 percent.

Was this all near bellingham bay as mentioned in the research articles I've seen?  Test fishery for commercial?

[wildweeds]

 Not even close to Bellingham bay. But they are there, different guy from work stopped in the fog one day and hand pulled a pot from 400 feet and there were 9 or so in it. And yes my understanding of it was the test fishery was to see about numbers for a potential commercial harvest. The thing that was odd was the money grubbing state wasn't going to make a separate license for them. A Dungeness license holder was going to be good to go. The commercials can keep them and sell them as by catch when caught in dung gear.

I know someone who commercial test fished them last year in the San juans, there are Lots and LOTS of them. As has been said they are deep, he fished them at 400 feet. I saw them in a live tank at the Seafood outfit by my house.  They are opilio . Don't worry they won't be bountiful once the natives claim their 50 percent.

Was this all near bellingham bay as mentioned in the research articles I've seen?  Test fishery for commercial?

[trophyelk6x6]

I caught one shrimping this year, the reason he got in is because I open up my "openings" to my pots because I find I catch more shrimp as the bio mass moves easily into the pot   Never caught one before but it stood out for sure. 

[snake]

what is the bio mass?

[trophyelk6x6]

bio mass   Actually a commercial crabbing term meaning huge large waves of crab that can actually be stack up on top of each other.  If you are on great shrimping they can move into your pots in large groups like waves and not one by one. So the idea is make it as easy as possible for them to get in. In my opinion most shrimp pot openings are way to small. 

[lokidog]

what is the bio mass?

Is actually the mass of all living things in an area and would include starfish, urchins, prawns, crabs, shrimp, the little crawly thinks that get in your bait, plankton, fish, worms, etc.

Before the starfish die-off, one reason for restricting the size of the entry holes on shrimp pots was to keep the sun stars out. From our experience locally, the sun stars seem to be pretty much gone. Also, be aware, depending on design, the larger the hole, the easier it is for critters to find their way out.

[CastleRocker]

Bairdi are bigger, buck toothed looking, different eyes, (Bairdi are red, Opi are green), and if you have a chance to compare the taste, I personally think Bairdi are WAY better eating. 

Used to fish them commercially.  WAY before Marco came out with the King Coiler, there were no cranes, and before it was the "Deadliest Catch".  Back then it was just what you fish for between Blackcod in the fall, and Halibut in the spring.