Oly area crabbing?

[WSU]

When are you planning to crab?  If it were me, I would make sure to have my gear out of the water and in the boat within an hour of slack.

[Jamieb]

When are you planning to crab?  If it were me, I would make sure to have my gear out of the water and in the boat within an hour of slack.

The season opens at 7:00 AM on Sun. low tide is at 10:00 AM. I'm planning on setting pots at 7:00 and pulling every 3 or 4 hours or until I have 5 keepers.

[sirmissalot]

There are areas nearby Nisqually that produce well and you won't have to chase your pots or lose them in the current. I will just say west of the delta. I also pick shallower water than suggested above.

It can be hit and miss. I would go home with a limit of rock crab before i went home empty they eat great  just a pain to clean. There are plenty of rock crab everywhere in the south sound.

[wraithen]

Anyone ever try near the ship? I kinda want to get my diving certification just to explore that thing.

[WSU]

When are you planning to crab?  If it were me, I would make sure to have my gear out of the water and in the boat within an hour of slack.

The season opens at 7:00 AM on Sun. low tide is at 10:00 AM. I'm planning on setting pots at 7:00 and pulling every 3 or 4 hours or until I have 5 keepers.

Let us know how it goes.  If you are in the crabs it won't take long to get 5 keepers.

[MP123]

Wow, you guys crab pretty deep down south.  Bellingham/San Juans we knock 'em dead in 30-50 feet.  And those little red rockies have very tasty claws, just a pain to get open.

Happy crabbing all!

[Alchase]

Nisqually Delta has lots of crabs. As others have said, thieves are thick down there and it ain't the tides, it is a few well known tribal members and their white friends or family.

We quit fishing the Delta for crabs after seeing the same boat pull over twenty pots that did not belong to him and take the crabs. After contacting the Game officer at the boat ramp, we were told basically it would be their word against ours. I told him he is still out there stealing now, go watch him! His reply was "that would be considered racial profiling" 

[PolarBear]

Last year the bigger crab were caught more towards Zittle's in the 150' line,  Off of the old barge was dead for us.  Also, run over to Orro Bay for some BIG rock crab.  Weight your pots, double buoy them and DO NOT let them out of your sight or they will more than likely be picked up.  We usually crap out to 300 feet but last year everything was 150 -80'.  We caught several dungies in the 9-10" range. 
Good luck!

[jackmaster]

we use to go straight across from pt defiance lauch and fish 25 to 40 feet of water and did damn good all the time, we always brought some ring nets while we were soakin are big pots, and i agree watch your stuff, alot of people with sticky fingers out there.......

[Jamieb]

I got out the lead pot and melted up some lead flashing I had.

I cut some 1/2" copper 16" long, smashed one end shut and poured them full of lead, about 1 1/2 lb's each.


A couple of those in each pot and hopfuly the pots will stay put.

[wraithen]

To avoid spillage of lead when I make pier gaffs I learned to us a little high temp rtv. IDK how much you care but if anyone else wants to do something similar. I had to pour lead on an apartment balcony so I had to get creative

[DoubleJ]

Wish I had a boat

[PolarBear]

I use those old timey cast iron widow weights and weight my pots to about 25-30 pounds.  Sure it sucks pulling them by hand (especially at 300 feet) but they will not get swept away by the current into deeper water!

[jackmaster]

I use those old timey cast iron widow weights and weight my pots to about 25-30 pounds.  Sure it sucks pulling them by hand (especially at 300 feet) but they will not get swept away by the current into deeper water!

well when you get tored of pullin those pots from that deep let me know i have a 4horse motor i can sell, aint know way i would be pullin pots from 300 ft, go to john wayne marina, ya only gotta fish 30 60 ft, i am useally around 35ft, are boat gets are limits evry time, sometimes though it gets pretty picked through when you are competing with the natives

[Jamieb]

A couple of pictures from today, a nice day on the water.
flat water

I beached the boat at solo point.

A couple of the victums

I set pots in 100' water at Hogum bay, I pulled the pots twice, each time after a 3 hour soak and got 5 keepers.