Oly area crabbing?

[Jamieb]

Crabbing opens up here in the sound July first. I've always set pots out at westport or on hood canal but I'd like to try around here. I've been out in the south sound playing around and know my way around ok but I've never crabbed out there, I dont know much about where to go.
Heres my plan, let me know if I'm off base here. I'm going to set pots off the Nisqualy, looking for a sandy bottom, 40'to 100' deep.
It would be nice to crab this year close to home and save a few bucks.

BTW, I'm looking for dungees.

[Wacenturion]

I see that no one has replied.  I too I'm planning on crabbing in the south sound.  From what I understand, you thoughts are pretty much right on.  Both dungeness and red rock are caught.  Most I have talked to use 150 of leaded line, plus or minus.  Nisqually area is supposed to be one of the better spots.

Sorry that not a lot of help, but hopefully others will chime in.

[wraithen]

Not too far off solo point used to be good. Gonna get lotsa red rocks though.

[Wacenturion]

Here's something I clipped from an article....

"It has been a windfall of a new sport fishery in South Sound, and the greatest populations of crab are in the Nisqually Delta, which is a wonderful habitat for crab," Floor said. "It is different from most other areas in Puget Sound, and the best success comes from 130 to 190 feet in the northern section of the delta and that depth range has been money for the past few summers and winters now."

Floor says the delta isn't the only place to find huge populations of crab, and points out the southeast corner of Anderson Island, and the region from the Puget Marina and off Zittel's Marina are good crabbing zones."

[wraithen]

Soooo... I'm hearing don't expect to get in those areas very easily anymore due to massive overcrowding, likely due to the newspaper.

[Jamieb]

130'to190' deep, thats a lot deeper then I had planned. I set pots in 60' at westport and only have about 100' of line on each pot. I might have to take along the spools of line from my hood canal shrimp pots. Opening day is on a Sunday so I'll only have one day to look for crab that first weekend.

[ICEMAN]

Keep a good eye on your gear in that area.

[BigGoonTuna]

+10 on that one, iceman.  i used to fish that area all the time and heard a lot of stories of guys watching several other people pulling their pots, not to mention outright gear theft.

lots of rock crabs out there.

[fishinmike]

Fish the last hour of the incoming tide, the outgoing tide really stirs up the kelp which tangles around your line and pot. You will do fine with your 100ft pots. Fish them 50-70 and you should be fine. Tide movement will "steal" your pots, so pay attention. Every year people complain of pots being stolen, they are just washed away by the current and end up all over the south sound.

[WSU]

Fish the last hour of the incoming tide, the outgoing tide really stirs up the kelp which tangles around your line and pot. You will do fine with your 100ft pots. Fish them 50-70 and you should be fine. Tide movement will "steal" your pots, so pay attention. Every year people complain of pots being stolen, they are just washed away by the current and end up all over the south sound.

That is no joke.  I put a lot of extra weight in my pots, and an extra bouy.  I've watched dozens of pots go under as the tide starts to rip, and then come back to get mine at the next slack tide and only a few came back up.  About 99% of the people who get their pots stolen have just lost them to the tide.  It really rips through there. 

[Jamieb]

I cleaned out the boat.


I'm ready.

[wheels]

me and my dad crabbed down there  yes 100-130 good  but tide rips hard i would get rebar  to weight down your pots and if you GPS mark pots should get back no problem there also  couple  70 foot spots keep you  out of current 

[WSU]

JamieB - You need a lot more weight in your pots.  If you don't, they will get "stolen."

[WSU]

I just checked, and the tides are terrible this weekend.  I'm willing to bet hundreds of pots will be lost on the opener at Nisqually.  And, crabbing will mediocre at best.

[Jamieb]

I've got 2 pieces of 3/4" rebar 2' long in there right now, I've got some 12oz lead weights so I'll ziptie one of those in each corner.