Commerical crabbing Westport

[salmon]

Have heard that will be setting pots in ocean Feb 15-16. Anybody know?

[Stein]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2021/wsr_21-05-027.pdf

[trophyhunt]

But no crabbing for recreational users.

[Stein]

We have different seasons.  Not too many recs want to go out in February vs July.


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[salmon]

So why not also open for sportsman in Grays harbor. Could we not also clean them at the docks after catching and show WDFW if they are there as proof?

[WSU]

We have different seasons.  Not too many recs want to go out in February vs July.


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Lots of recs crab the bays all winter.

[Stein]

Commercial and recs have independent quotas WDFW manages to.  When we hit our quota, we're done.  When they hit their quota, they're done (in theory anyway).  So, what the commercials are doing has zero impact on what recs are doing and vice versa.  WDFW adjusts each of the seasons according to their respective harvest.

Rec crab is one place I'll say WDFW does a good job, maybe even great (given the number of people vs number of crabs).  Prior to 2000, it was something like 70/30 commercial/rec split when it was open all year.  Then, it was 50/50 and now I think it's 80/20 in favor of recs?  I might be wrong there, but things have been going our way for a while now and the commercial fleet got the short end of the stick for sure.

If WDFW opened crab on Jan 1 for recs, they would have to shut it when the quota was reached and that might be in the middle of summer when everyone wants to be out enjoying the weather, fishing and crabbing.  There is a limited resource and they actually do a pretty good job of making the highest percentage of people happy.

We can't go back to open all year, there are just too many people. 

[rooseveltkiller]

the commercial crabbing is at a 30 year low all down the coast from cali to washington not looking good for the fisherman. mid feb is a very late start may not even be worth it to some fisherman and may just rig up for shrimp!
 

[snarkybull]

Commercial and recs have independent quotas WDFW manages to.  When we hit our quota, we're done.  When they hit their quota, they're done (in theory anyway).  So, what the commercials are doing has zero impact on what recs are doing and vice versa.  WDFW adjusts each of the seasons according to their respective harvest.

Rec crab is one place I'll say WDFW does a good job, maybe even great (given the number of people vs number of crabs).  Prior to 2000, it was something like 70/30 commercial/rec split when it was open all year.  Then, it was 50/50 and now I think it's 80/20 in favor of recs?  I might be wrong there, but things have been going our way for a while now and the commercial fleet got the short end of the stick for sure.

If WDFW opened crab on Jan 1 for recs, they would have to shut it when the quota was reached and that might be in the middle of summer when everyone wants to be out enjoying the weather, fishing and crabbing.  There is a limited resource and they actually do a pretty good job of making the highest percentage of people happy.

We can't go back to open all year, there are just too many people.

The Pacific Ocean (including Grays Harbor bay, Willapa Bay, and the Columbia) have no crab quotas whatsoever.

[Stein]

Oh maybe I misunderstood, the debate is on the domoic acid closure?

[GWP]

Dang it you guys! You are making me very hungry with this topic!

[WSU]

Oh maybe I misunderstood, the debate is on the domoic acid closure?

Yes. And specifically opening commercial and keeping rec closed.

[Stein]

That I can't help you with.  Follow the science.....

[GWP]

Been 'wistfully' watching the 'live' Westport camera. Sigh... Watching boats heading out earlier this morning. Sigh... While stuck here in the snow. Sigh...
 

[elkaholic123]

Been 'wistfully' watching the 'live' Westport camera. Sigh... Watching boats heading out earlier this morning. Sigh... While stuck here in the snow. Sigh...
 

Almost all of them came right back in I heard! Too much wind/weather!

[GWP]

Looks pretty calm on the cam. Not bad at all. Course, that is right at the jetty.

[elkaholic123]

They are heading out now!

[elkaholic123]

I was told that 2 boats sank today! 😳

[GWP]

Geez I hope not!

[Tbar]

I was told that 2 boats sank today! 😳

Where did you hear this?  It was really rough earlier.

[elkaholic123]

I was told that 2 boats sank today! 😳

Where did you hear this?  It was really rough earlier.

1 that I know of is the Terry F! A friend of mine is a crabber and they lost 50 pots  also

https://www.newsbreak.com/washington/westport/news/2163640579006/coast-guard-rescued-three-people-and-one-dog-from-a-commercial-fishing-vessel-taking-on-water-saturday-morning-off-willapa-bay

[GWP]

“The ocean is a fickle lover.”
Sorry to hear that. Hope the two that sank is incorrect. Have not heard anything about them yet.

[Tbar]

Thanks for the update.

[Tbar]

Talk about a horrible day for that boat and crew.  Sounds like his day got worse after he lost his business, home and livelihood. Reports say the dog did not survive the car accident.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/westport-fisherman-loses-livelihood-home-at-sea?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

[GWP]

I miss read your post. Sorry to hear the Terry F sank. Glad they got rescued. How horrible.

[GWP]

Talk about a horrible day for that boat and crew.  Sounds like his day got worse after he lost his business, home and livelihood. Reports say the dog did not survive the car accident.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/westport-fisherman-loses-livelihood-home-at-sea?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

I could not find anything further than the sinking?

[Tbar]

Talk about a horrible day for that boat and crew.  Sounds like his day got worse after he lost his business, home and livelihood. Reports say the dog did not survive the car accident.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/westport-fisherman-loses-livelihood-home-at-sea?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

I could not find anything further than the sinking?

I do not have Facebook but if you look up his sister, she is the one who organized the gofundme. I have several friends in the fishery.

[92xj]

Talk about a horrible day for that boat and crew.  Sounds like his day got worse after he lost his business, home and livelihood. Reports say the dog did not survive the car accident.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/westport-fisherman-loses-livelihood-home-at-sea?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

I could not find anything further than the sinking?

I do not have Facebook but if you look up his sister, she is the one who organized the gofundme. I have several friends in the fishery.

I think he was looking for info on the car crash after the sinking that you mentioned in your post

[Tbar]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/142696435833234/permalink/3033145760121606/?sfnsn=mo

Not sure if that's the correct link but it's one of many posts I think.

[spoonman]

Commercial and recs have independent quotas WDFW manages to.  When we hit our quota, we're done.  When they hit their quota, they're done (in theory anyway).  So, what the commercials are doing has zero impact on what recs are doing and vice versa.  WDFW adjusts each of the seasons according to their respective harvest.

Rec crab is one place I'll say WDFW does a good job, maybe even great (given the number of people vs number of crabs).  Prior to 2000, it was something like 70/30 commercial/rec split when it was open all year.  Then, it was 50/50 and now I think it's 80/20 in favor of recs?  I might be wrong there, but things have been going our way for a while now and the commercial fleet got the short end of the stick for sure.

If WDFW opened crab on Jan 1 for recs, they would have to shut it when the quota was reached and that might be in the middle of summer when everyone wants to be out enjoying the weather, fishing and crabbing.  There is a limited resource and they actually do a pretty good job of making the highest percentage of people happy.

We can't go back to open all year, there are just too many people.

Sorry but I have to disagree with the dept doing a good job at a managing the fishery.  The south sound has been a waist land for a while now do to miss management of the  fishery. They saw a steady decline in commercial, tribal, and sport caught crap for a few consecutive years and never did anything to help with that. I can’t remember the exact years but look up if you want the sporties caught in say 2015 and the following year it was half, then the following year again it was half of that, and so on. Then they close it to sport fishing but commercial and tribal still get to go at it out there. Now there are no dungies to speak of and hardly any red rocks. I know this topic was about the grays harbor/ocean area but that won’t be far behind, just wait and watch!  The dept is a failure at best!