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!