Trying to find a crabbing spot in zone 13

[ogpudding]

Hey everyone, just recently moved here and am trying to take advantage of the last few weeks of the crabbing season.  I started off having great success down by solo point (fort Lewis area) in zone 13, but the last few times have been pulling up nothing but Sea Stars.  I have tried everything from salmon heads to chicken drumsticks with very little success.  Does anyone know any areas in zone 13 right now that still have crabs?  anyone crab near the mouth of the Nisqually?  Thanks for your help....

Ben

[BigGoonTuna]

the nisqually tribe really hammers on them out there.  i know that there are some really nice dungies to be had, but i don't know where to get them.

we always crabbed off the mouth of the nisqually and did OK.  keep an eye on your pots!

[Dmanmastertracker]

 It's actually the Squaxin's that started hammering them about 3-4 years ago, when they first cashed in the right to something like 1.5 million pounds of crab they were entitled to, since then it's been completely crap. We used to get 10" dungie limits off the delta no problem prior to that, only 5 years ago. I have only had sporadic success since then and I've fished from near Heron Island all the way down around the bend past Ketron Island. It just sucks, I wish I could tell you different. The pot thieving has also gotten out of control, when the crabbing is decent you still have to watch your pots 100% of the time or they will be gone. I don't know what areas are still open, but I would head just about anywhere else.

[Alchase]

Dman, we use to crab at the Nisqually mouth allot. As stated the tribe hits that area pretty hard but there are allot of Dungys there. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR GEAR UN PROTECTED! We would beach on the north side of the bay along the rail road tracks and build a fire. We could see our pots and watch the suspect thieves. We used drum sticks sometimes but the frozen carcases or our filleted salmon (what is left after filleting) worked allot better as bait.

[toe-jam]

I did pretty good this summer out front of chambers creek.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Much of any success now depends on when you go. I spoke with the DFW Regional crab fishery manager two years ago about MA13, that's where I got my information on the tribal harvest. I suggested letting sportee's have first crack each year, since the tribes have the majority of the MA13 harvest. He seemed to agree and said they were already thinking of doing that due to complaints since the Squaxin fishery opened. Nothing every became of it. If your lucky enough to get a window in between tribal fisheries (they know where the crab are at any given time), you will find success. I don't get out much any more, though we didn't used to have to experiment to find a decent spot. I managed one decent crab last year in one trip. I've "lost" 5-6 pots in the last 3 years there. It's pretty easy to see who is going to try something when you start watching. A few pretend fishermen out there just doodling around in the vicinity of your gear, when your in like 80 feet of water and the best fishing is out at 150-200 feet .

[ogpudding]

Wow, had no idea pot stealing was that much of a problem!  Thanks for the input, Im hoping to try and drop at least 2 more times before the season ends.  Looks like Ill be staying in the Ketron/solo point area for now.  Thanks for the input.

-Ben

[fishcrazy]

A little bird told me that it has been really good around Anderson Island.

The best crab bait is shad. Catch them in the Big C and freeze them up. #2 for crab bait would be Tuna carcasses and the trimmings from them. but I didn't tell you that.


Kris

[ogpudding]

Well I went and tried one more drop in between Chambers Bay and Solo Point, Can't complain....hit my limit plus in one pot, smallest one measured just over 6 1/4" !!!!





-Ben

[Dmanmastertracker]

Well I went and tried one more drop in between Chambers Bay and Solo Point, Can't complain....hit my limit plus in one pot, smallest one measured just over 6 1/4" !!!!





-Ben

NICE JOB!

[PolarBear]

I am one of those guys who had 4 pots taken by the Nisqually tribe.  There is still good crabbing you just have to go deeper.  Go a little East of the green can, drop a pot at the 80-100' line and one or two out into 200'.  Make sure to weight your pots with at least 20 lbs (mine are at 35).  The best fishing is 1- 2 hours before, through and 1/2 hour after slack.  The tide rips through there hard enough that it is usually a waste of time to fish during the main flood or ebb.  I use salmon heads and chopped herring.  Watch your pots like a hawk not only for thieves but to keep them from being swept off of the shelf into deep water.  Make sure you have plenty of extra line out, but not floating.  Also using 2 buoys will help as well.  There are also dungies in front of Fish Trap (but don't tell anyone!)