I fear the wost happened

[gasman]

Set out my pots yesterday for a 24hr soak. When we went today to pull them, they were completely empty, not even a rock crab 

I suspect someone pulled my pots and took the crab but can't be sure, but sure is suspicious 

On a side note, I seen some pellet crab bait at Sportco the other day. Any one ever use them? do they work?

[luvtohnt]

My in-laws just got back from crabbing and came home empty handed except the one they bought on the way home!! Maybe the crab just arent taking the bait.

Brandon

[BigD]

Sounds like the crab theives got to you, since you had so many the other day you needed to freeze some.  At least they didn't take your gear.

[gasman]

Sounds like the crab theives got to you, since you had so many the other day you needed to freeze some.  At least they didn't take your gear.

Aint that the truth...

My in-laws just got back from crabbing and came home empty handed except the one they bought on the way home!! Maybe the crab just arent taking the bait.

Brandon

I don't think so. fresh bait (chickenin one pot and smelly hearing in the other) yesterday, moved up the shore line a little, and did excellent all weekend 

[jeepster]

try smashing up cockles and some frozen herring... if everybody in the area is using the same couple types of bait, the crab arent going to be inclined to climb into pots... but pots do get picked.

[SemperFidelis97]

We used chicken drumsticks, and bacon grease had one pot get a gate stuck open bait was gone the other had 23 dungees  . 

[Gringo31]

If anyone needs some shad....I got a few extra.

[lokidog]

Zipties on the pot work wonders to know whether you got picked or not.     Annoying to have to do so though.

[Ripper]

Thats what I do Lokidog, yup, thieves. I hate people!

[jeepster]

Hey Gasman

if you are worried about people pickin pots, you can buy "timers" that release your bouy/line almost to the hour.not really sure how legal they are here, but they look like a giant fishing swivel, but are made out of zinc.
 
the concept is simple, you toss your pot in, so everything goes to the bottom, even the bouy. after a while the electrolosys eats away the zinc release and the bouy is free to float to the surface for you convience

you coil your line and put it in the pot, zip-tie your bouy to the zinc on top of the pot, and depending on what zinc release you bought you can have your bouy pop up anywhere from 24 hours to 4 days.

you have to do a little tinkering with figuring out how the line will release properly as once your pot is in the water you either get it back or you dont... but ive used these a few times and they have worked on my shrimp/prawn pots...

when using these guys however, it definatley doesnt hurt to have a grapple onboard, and to mark them on your gps.........just incase and it doesnt hurt to use these guys on your worst pots

just remember to put on a double bouy (for extra pull to get the line to the surface) and to add extra weight to compensate for the bouys attatched to the pot

oh yeah forgot to mention they are like a dollar or so, but ive only seen em at holiday

[PolarBear]

Zipties on the pot work wonders to know whether you got picked or not.     Annoying to have to do so though.

I do the same with mine.
If you are worried about having your pots stolen or picked through and want a good 25 hour soak, try setting them just before the lowest tide of the day with only enough line to have your bouys showing.  The next 2 tide cycles  (high and higher low) will keep your bouys under water and out of reach of sticky fingers.  Make sure your pots are plenty heavy (mine are 25-35 pounds).  Bait the hell out of them.  Show up an hour or so before the lowest tide the next day and pull them.  It works like gangbusters out at Nisqually where the tribe takes as many pots as the tide does.

[gasman]

Thanks guys for the idea's 

I like the zip tie idea, but they would probably just take the whole pot, but I will start doing that any ways.

Cockels,  where or how can I get them?

[BallisticsNut]

Set out my pots yesterday for a 24hr soak. When we went today to pull them, they were completely empty, not even a rock crab 

I suspect someone pulled my pots and took the crab but can't be sure, but sure is suspicious 

On a side note, I seen some pellet crab bait at Sportco the other day. Any one ever use them? do they work?

I had the same thing happen two years ago up near the San Juans.  Locals told me that thieves would steal your crab and take your bait for good measure if you left the pot out overnight.  That explains why two pots not more then 300 yards from each other, one full the other empty and no bait. 

Love the zip tie idea.  Willl be using that one in the future.

[CP]

I didn’t even buy a crab license last year because I was still fuming over having my pots stolen the year before.  Beautiful stainless steel wire over stainless rods, round pots weighted with stainless bars, very high end, high $$$$.

This year I’m using $15/pot garage sale, rusted out rejects and they are catching crabs just as good as they expensive pots did.    I have one of the $$$$ pots left but I'm scared to put it out, but it isn’t doing me much good in my shed.

I haven’t left my pots unattended for more than an hour this year.  Even at that I caught a guy throwing my buoy back once.  He claimed he thought it was his and threw it back after reading it.  It’s easily read while in the water, no need to pick it up read, but I must have showed up in time because it still had crabs in it.

Everyone needs to watch their pots!  There are plenty of thieves out there.

[BallisticsNut]

I didn’t even buy a crab license last year because I was still fuming over having my pots stolen the year before.  Beautiful stainless steel wire over stainless rods, round pots weighted with stainless bars, very high end, high $$$$.

This year I’m using $15/pot garage sale, rusted out rejects and they are catching crabs just as good as they expensive pots did.    I have one of the $$$$ pots left but I'm scared to put it out, but it isn’t doing me much good in my shed.

I haven’t left my pots unattended for more than an hour this year.  Even at that I caught a guy throwing my buoy back once.  He claimed he thought it was his and threw it back after reading it.  It’s easily read while in the water, no need to pick it up read, but I must have showed up in time because it still had crabs in it.

Everyone needs to watch their pots!  There are plenty of thieves out there.

Though I havent lost any pots I have had them raided on more then one occasion.  Now, I usually dont leave them out more then a couple of hours.  That is usually long enough to limit out with the right bait and location.

[Rob]

Easy answer:  SCUBA.  We had our limits in 11 minutes.

[jeepster]

Cockels,  where or how can I get them?

go to the beach at low tide with a rake or a shovel and just poke around in the sandy muddy muck.

 you only really need 4 or so to do the job. smash em once or twice on something hard and then put them in a scotty jar (or something with lots of holes) shells and everything, so the scent flows well but so the crab cant get to em. should take like 15 minutes to find a few, might need a clamming lisence juuuuuuuuusst incase, but cockles are really easy to find.

http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/fishing-supplies/VentedBaitJars.htm these bait jars are awesome

[CP]

Next to thieves, the 2nd biggest problem with long soaks is this guy.  To a crab he’s a hideous monster and once he globs on to the pot no more crabs will come and when he squeezes in the crabs will do their best to get the hell out of the pot.  Given long enough, and enough incentive, they will find a way out. 

Happy crabs have no reason to leave, feed them well and check the pots often to keep the starfish away. 

[pips4bucks]

Years ago I used to fish the salt with a friend of mine.  If we forgot to bring the pots or just didn't feel like bringing them we would pick an occasional pot or two.  BUT, we felt like we had to give back to whose pot it was, so we only took a couple crab making sure there were enough keepers left, cleaned out the shorties and females, re-baited, and left a full beer for each crab we took.

It was just our way of sayin' Thanks for the effort!  Too bad this doesn't happen anymore.  People probably wouldn't get so pissed.

[gasman]

Cockels,  where or how can I get them?

go to the beach at low tide with a rake or a shovel and just poke around in the sandy muddy muck.

 you only really need 4 or so to do the job. smash em once or twice on something hard and then put them in a scotty jar (or something with lots of holes) shells and everything, so the scent flows well but so the crab cant get to em. should take like 15 minutes to find a few, might need a clamming lisence juuuuuuuuusst incase, but cockles are really easy to find.

http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/fishing-supplies/VentedBaitJars.htm these bait jars are awesome

Thast what ai thought you were talking about. Just comcerned if a clam lic. is required for getting them as bait or in a closed area. i will have to look in to it.

Thanks

[Alchase]

If you were crabbing Nisqually, it is almost guaranteed you got ripped off. We won't leave our pots more then a couple hours there anymore. We set them then motor over to shore just North of the bay along the railroad tracks. Break out the BBQ and lets the kids play for a couple hours, insight of our buoys. We use to see the same native boats going through the area pulling peoples pots regularly. We reported it many times, but they can't do anything unless they catch them red handed.

[gasman]

We have been hitting Commencement Bay, but was thinking of trying around Steilacum area this weekend. Any one been there lately?

[lokidog]

I always wanted to put a sign on my buoys saying "If you can read this, I can see you in my scope...."

This is also one reason I put a big red buoy on with my red and white one.  I figure whoever might try to pull it will feel less anonymous when motoring up to a 2' diameter float.  Too bad you can't load them with a dye pack.  CA used to put ultraviolet markers on lobsters and then put them in commercial pots to try to catch thieves in boats and SCUBA gear.

[FC]

I always wanted to put a sign on my buoys saying "If you can read this, I can see you in my scope...."

I love it!

[d-rock]

We had Two pots stolen last weekend.  I am just getting into it and will never buy super nice expensive ones.  I will be looking at it like I do my Trail Cams.....expendable hardware just hope they pay for themselves before they get jacked.   

I know lets all start putting trail cams on the buoys.......

[gasman]

I know what you mean D-Rock. the pots I have are 20+ years old. One is due for replacing but it is going to be replaced with another $20 fold up crab trap. 

[YoterHunter]

hey Pete sportcop has them for 14 bucks if you have a member ship. and you need a shell fish license to get any clam .   p.s. next time dont tell me were you put you pots .  thanks for the crab.

[gasman]

hey Pete sportcop has them for 14 bucks if you have a member ship. and you need a shell fish license to get any clam .   p.s. next time dont tell me were you put you pots .  thanks for the crab.

Yeah Dale, I know. I will heading there tommorow to get a couple.

And as for you steeling my crab, i guess it was pay back for all the Chantrells I took from you last year 

[jagermiester]

Make sure and use a bait container I thinks sometimes the little crab and other sea creatures that can move in and out of the pot will take away your sent trail before the keepers have a chance.