Rookie crabbing move

[Angry Perch]

Ah, the saltwater/ crabbing learning curve continues! We have a place in Sequim, and recently picked up a 15' Smoker Craft for close to home crabbing. Took the wife out Saturday for the maiden voyage to drop some pots and do a little fishing. Gorgeous day, and she really enjoyed it. Go out Sunday morning, and as we get closer to the traps, the wind starts building. Get to the first one and there is no way it's safely getting in the boat, so we head back to our place. About an hour later, the Small Craft Advisory is lifted, and we head back out. The wind isn't as bad, but the swells are worse, and she wants to abort mission. We both have to work this week. So now I've got 4 pots out off Dungeness Spit, and no way to get to them until at least Friday, when the season is over. I emailed the WDFW regional office, and will wait to see what they say. It's good to get a firm blow to the ego occasionally!

[WSU]

Lesson learned!  I've also had to abandon retrieving my pots when the wind kicked up and tide was wrong (wind and tide can make for some bad conditions).

You made a good choice not to risk it though.

[Angry Perch]

Lesson learned!  I've also had to abandon retrieving my pots when the wind kicked up and tide was wrong (wind and tide can make for some bad conditions).

You made a good choice not to risk it though.

I asked my wife, as she was clinging to the bottom of the boat, "is it worth 500 bucks to keep going?" 

[Brushcrawler]

No regrets erring on the side of safety. Especially if you want your wife to keep going out on the boat with you.

[Angry Perch]

The concern now is having derelict gear out after the season. Hopefully I'll get a hold of the local warden and at least give a heads up.

[WSU]

I've got to think they'd work with you given the circumstances. 

[Angry Perch]

I've got to think they'd work with you given the circumstances.

Just got a call from Sgt. Rosenberger with the WDFW. Said no problem. Pull them when you can. Email is on file so you won't have any issues. As usual, a good experience with WDFW.

[Stein]

Yeah, you absolutely did the right thing.  Glad WDFW got back to you with a solution.  I had to leave some out one time when I had a 14' Smokercraft and pulled them on a closed day and just rail dumped everything.

[Mech]

Hats off to you Angry Perch for doing the right things.

I’m close by and am also a water dog so if ya need a mate to go out in the rough and pull them I would be glad to help.

All the best.
Andy.

[Dan-o]

Smart move on your part.

I retrieved pots in rough water with one of my sons once.    He was bailing full speed to keep us afloat on part of the return trip.

Definitely among the dumber things I've ever done.
It wasn't that fine a line between adventurous and stupid.   It waasjust stupid.

You'll never regret doing the smart thing.       

[Stein]

Were you in Sequim Bay?  If not, it's obviously more protected than outside and we used to do pretty good in there but it was 15 years ago.

[Blacklab]

👍😉🥃🇺🇸

[Angry Perch]

Were you in Sequim Bay?  If not, it's obviously more protected than outside and we used to do pretty good in there but it was 15 years ago.

Silly Stein. That would be way too smart! X marks the spot. The launch is only a couple miles from our place. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out what a stiff SE wind will do to this place.

[Stein]

Yeah, spent a bunch of time out there and really miss it.  I fished on the other side of the spit on days where I maybe saw two boats and remember being all hot and bothered when I had to wait for one boat ahead of me to launch at John Wayne.

Much different story here in MA 8-10.

You can also shrimp Discovery Bay if you can beach launch the boat or it's nice enough to poke around from Sequim Bay.  Dropping pots and then going ling or hali fishing was really fun.

[Angry Perch]

Yeah, spent a bunch of time out there and really miss it.  I fished on the other side of the spit on days where I maybe saw two boats and remember being all hot and bothered when I had to wait for one boat ahead of me to launch at John Wayne.

Much different story here in MA 8-10.

You can also shrimp Discovery Bay if you can beach launch the boat or it's nice enough to poke around from Sequim Bay.  Dropping pots and then going ling or hali fishing was really fun.

I'm looking forward to all that stuff. Lot's to learn in a new area. Have the 15' Smokercraft and a 21' Hewes Craft, so should be pretty well covered.