Crabbin in the Northwest!!

[hogsniper]

Went out and got a few..Tons of people and not many crabs!!!

[Jackjr]

at least you got some.  Better than nothing i guess

[MIKEXRAY]

We crabbed squim bay, dropped three pots & soaked for six hours. Only four red rock crabs only. Last year two pots caught 11 dungeness and 1 red crab.  Like Jackjr said better than nothing. One of my pots the bait box came loose and propped door open. None in that one.

[jackelope]

my neighbor got 4 dungies yesterday and that was it....you did well.

[Huckleberry]

Just got back from diving the mukilteo oil docks ~ picked up 19 that were worth throwing in the bag to high grade at shore and saw quite a few more keepers. Nothing real big this time but kept 5 with the smallest being just under 7". Buddies did about the same. Lots out there it's just a matter of tide (so they aren't buried, and location). Didn't grab any rocks but saw some real nice ones.

[PolarBear]

I've gotta get out and hit my favorite spot.  I like to wait until the tides are not as severe because I fish at around 200'.  You lose your bouys for a while but if the tide is on a strong turn around it is tough to give them some slack time before the current pulls them back under and then you are screwed.

[Huckleberry]

Polar bear ~ if you use multiple buoys spread apart 10-20 feet you can fish the heavy tides. The first one will get sucked under but often times it's not that far below the surface so the other ones won't. We run 3 sets of 2 buoys out shrimping with 30 pounds of lead per pot in 300+ feet of water and have never had all the buoys go under. The fishing drops in heavy currents because the animals seek shelter but this will allow you to have longer soaks and not be in such a rush to pick up your pots again. Just a thought anyways.

[Jerome]

Where have you been going hogsniper?  I have been pulling good numbers since the opener.

[PolarBear]

Huckleberry, this winter I re-configured my lines an added another buoy to my shallow pots and two more to my deep ones.  I havent tried them out yet.  My pots are between 30-45 lbs.  One of my friends ties a couple of old lifejackets on his lines to keep them up.  His pots are 60-70 lbs and uses a locking pulley on a diver bag to pull them up.  He just hooks the line onto a cleat and drives the boat until the pot locks a couple of feet under the bag.  Works pretty slick, saves your back and eliminates the need for a puller.

[robb92]

Looks better than the blue crabs they have in Maryland.

[Ellensburg]

i use to paddle out my rowboat at whidbey island and our group of 6 people could limit out just from my rowboat every day! I just had some crab my grandpa brought back from whidbey. I like the east side but sometimes miss being able to vacation at our beach cabin (burned down)

[Dman]

 It was a slow opener everywhere (again). Look for the State to go to alternating sport/ tribal/ commercial short season's very soon.

[billythekidrock]

I guess it was great in 13. Some people didn't even need pots to limit on both dungies and rocks.

[Dman]

I guess it was great in 13. Some people didn't even need pots to limit on both dungies and rocks.

? You mean they took everyone else's?

 The report I got from DFW check station at Solo Point on the opener was less than two keepers per boat for about 50 boats.

[billythekidrock]

Guys were scooping them up in nets during low tide.

[Dman]

 OK, ya I heard of folks doing that. I'm almost tempted to give it a try, perhaps the commercials and tribes missed the shallows....

[bullcanyon]

Hopefully they will close it all together for a year or two.  Worst I've ever seen it in the canal.  Tribes have been out in fool force.  Not much of a sport turn out in the canal this year.  Way less than last year.