Post by: Angry Perch on August 05, 2020, 07:37:17 PM
Post by: rainshadow1 on August 05, 2020, 08:48:43 PM
Look for mud, or open areas in between the grass. Sand is ok but mud is best. Grass chokes them out (like above) so it isn't a good idea. Rock and gravel will bring rock crabs and starfish.
Clams are good for longer soaks, a couple days of fishing. Squid is awesome for fast results, but you won't want those pots around your house after a three day soak or better! Those are 24 - 36 hours max! (Worst possible stink on earth!) Hanging bait, like filleted carcasses or etc, are great for several day soaks, keeps them in there and interested... but longer soaks leave you vulnerable to the thieves... the boat launces are full of them. Almost guaranteed to visit you if you leave a pot unattended for 2 days or more.
Be careful your baiters or hanging bait don't impede the tunnels, or aren't up against the side of the pot, or they won't even go in. (I've looked down and seen that in the shallows out in front of you there.... where there's several crab up against the side of the pot eating off the hanging bait, and none inside the pot.)
Depths vary by area. Right in Dungeness bay there you can have great fishing in 6-12 ft of water, out to 30 +. (Probably average 20ish.) Other spots in the strait can be 60-80 ft. (Spots in hood canal and the coast we'd use 2, 15 fathom lines...) Each area is absolutely unique.
If you have dissimilar metals in your pots, make sure they're grounded together well. (Tight wires.) Electrolysis can actually make a tiny electrical charge that they don't like to touch.
There's tiny secret spots everywhere, and large areas where everyone will go. Just have to learn the area. My Dad had tens of dozens of honey holes between Pillar Point and Admiralty Island, focusing around Dungeness, but he never marked up a chart for me before he died. (Would have been gold!)
Good Luck!
Post by: Magnum_Willys on August 05, 2020, 08:59:26 PM
A wire pot with 100 ft line in 85 ft water with two floats will have floats pulled under and pot drift away in tides. You will blame on pot thieves til u figure out you need more line, and weight on pots.
Post by: hookr88 on August 05, 2020, 09:58:05 PM
Post by: h20hunter on August 05, 2020, 10:10:37 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 06, 2020, 05:37:32 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on August 06, 2020, 09:00:11 AM
Curious as to how you snare a kangaroo?
Me too. I have no idea, but I bet it would be fun to watch!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 06, 2020, 09:40:07 AM
:chuckle:Curious as to how you snare a kangaroo?
Me too. I have no idea, but I bet it would be fun to watch!
Post by: magnanimous_j on August 06, 2020, 09:45:21 AM
Drop a gopro in there and take a look
Post by: rainshadow1 on August 06, 2020, 10:04:05 AM
Post by: Stein on August 06, 2020, 10:44:09 AM
Another option is exploring on your own, look for flat or slightly sloped sandy slopes in 20-80' and give it a try.
We picked up a crab ring for exploring, they can get on that right away and you can pull in 15 minutes and know if there are at least crab in the area.
Tons of people out this year, probably double from last year in the places I have been.
Post by: Mech on August 09, 2020, 09:35:55 AM
Just started doing that this year and it’s a blast.
There is a little learning curve.
When new to pulling pots on a kayak until you are comfortable use a spotter yak and pull the pots up between the yaks.
The first pot I pulled was loaded up pretty full and my dumb ass got bit up because my legs were in the way.
I bought the $120 crab pot kits from amazon.
Added the metal bait box from Walmart for $7 each but might just the elevated bait net that came with the kit.
I used a large trash bag this year because I hadn’t brought up my game bags.
My “honey hole“ is just outside of the grass at about 50-60 feet deep maybe 50 yards from shore.
I am still learning how to use cheap bait but haven’t quite dialed that in yet.
I’m thinking chicken legs with a punctured can of cheap oily tuna.
The can of tuna does work well as a supplement but I think my cheap salmon fillets and whole mackerel are a bit of over kill.
Anyway if you are having less than stellar luck I could take you out.
Good luck.
Mech.
Post by: lokidog on August 09, 2020, 10:07:36 AM
Post by: Mech on August 09, 2020, 10:56:34 AM
That is why I want to go back to them hanging bait bags that the kits came with.
These critters steal bait like no others.
My spot is actually in my back yard.
We can see our pots from our living room :) .
My neighbors and I watch our crab pots closely and when we see a new person motoring around the area we nicely wave at them and then they go away.
I have not been robbed yet and I think that is because the neighbor network system we have
Our spot has no public access by land.
We normally soak for 2 hours during daylight and overnight at the end of the day.
If we soak longer than 2-3 hours our bait is gone.
I would just love to make our bait last longer.
I would also like to learn how to properly freeze and store the harvest.
There several good posts on this subject that I have read and want to implement.
All the best.
Mech.
Post by: rainshadow1 on August 09, 2020, 12:04:13 PM
I totally agree with what lokidog said .
That is why I want to go back to them hanging bait bags that the kits came with.
These critters steal bait like no others.
My spot is actually in my back yard.
We can see our pots from our living room :) .
My neighbors and I watch our crab pots closely and when we see a new person motoring around the area we nicely wave at them and then they go away.
I have not been robbed yet and I think that is because the neighbor network system we have
Our spot has no public access by land.
We normally soak for 2 hours during daylight and overnight at the end of the day.
If we soak longer than 2-3 hours our bait is gone.
I would just love to make our bait last longer.
I would also like to learn how to properly freeze and store the harvest.
There several good posts on this subject that I have read and want to implement.
All the best.
Mech.
Clams will fish for many days. I've soaked them two weeks, but likely they quit "fishing" sometime before that. Round hanging baits (whole fish) are kind-of a time release bait. But little will really produce longer than a week or so. (Not relevant to inside sportfishing anyway.)
Cleaned cooked frozen come back nice if you just kinda "re-cook" them. Salt (or salted) water, boil, but not as long, just reaching re-boil then they're good. Last a year or so before they get dry and break down.
Post by: Stein on August 09, 2020, 12:25:18 PM
The ones we have are secured by a bungee to the top of the pot, it keeps the bait up a bit higher for better scent circulation and in my mind it will hold more crab and keep the doorways more open for others to join the party, but we did fine with the crab on the bottom too.
https://johnssportinggoods.com/product/crabbing-shrimping/crab-shrimp-gear/trap-accessories/smi-crab-trap-bait-box-19285/
Post by: Mech on August 09, 2020, 12:31:45 PM
We have tons of clams here.
Do you just fracture and bag them?
Are there any special tricks?
Is it legal to harvest and use local clams for bait?
Thanks.
Mech.
Post by: WSU on August 09, 2020, 12:43:18 PM
Post by: throwingsticks on August 09, 2020, 01:18:10 PM
So how do you use clams for bait?Yes that is a legal use of clams and fun facts, the Department of Health shellfish closures are not legally binding so you can dig clams during the health closure for bait.
We have tons of clams here.
Do you just fracture and bag them?
Are there any special tricks?
Is it legal to harvest and use local clams for bait?
Thanks.
Mech.
Post by: Mech on August 09, 2020, 01:52:32 PM
I am a frugal guy so this helps a lot.
Thanks.
Live crab at the PA fish buyer cost $68 for 4 large ones 2 years ago.
I paid that once.
Angry Perch,
I have a boat as well.
I also have a bunch of kayaks.
Kayaks are so much easier to deal with on short trips.
The cheap ones at Walmart work just fine for short runs.
I am totally interested to hear your tales on this adventure.
Maybe we could swap notes?
If I might recommend,
Look for clam water.
Lots of that here.
Look at what others are doing.
Binoculars help.
Go cheap.
Lots of good used gear up here.
And have fun.
Mech.
Post by: Angry Perch on August 10, 2020, 12:23:58 PM
So how do you use clams for bait?Yes that is a legal use of clams and fun facts, the Department of Health shellfish closures are not legally binding so you can dig clams during the health closure for bait.
We have tons of clams here.
Do you just fracture and bag them?
Are there any special tricks?
Is it legal to harvest and use local clams for bait?
Thanks.
Mech.
Does that apply to pollution closures as well as biotoxin closures?
Post by: Stein on August 10, 2020, 12:46:54 PM
WDFW closures are legally binding, you can't harvest shellfish on beaches closed by WDFW. Their website shows what beaches are open and closed.
Post by: Jpmiller on August 10, 2020, 01:01:15 PM
Post by: hard hunter on August 10, 2020, 08:32:53 PM
Post by: throwingsticks on August 11, 2020, 10:54:50 AM
What Stein said, some pollution closures are WDFW legally mandated closures some are not, it would depend on the area. I think there are some sewage outfalls that might permeant legal closures.So how do you use clams for bait?Yes that is a legal use of clams and fun facts, the Department of Health shellfish closures are not legally binding so you can dig clams during the health closure for bait.
We have tons of clams here.
Do you just fracture and bag them?
Are there any special tricks?
Is it legal to harvest and use local clams for bait?
Thanks.
Mech.
Does that apply to pollution closures as well as biotoxin closures?
good luck, got limits for seven cards yesterday...
Post by: Angry Perch on August 17, 2020, 07:39:12 AM
Thanks for all the advice.
Post by: rainshadow1 on August 18, 2020, 02:15:55 PM
3 nice keepers in a couple hours is just fine! (Move the other pots over there!) Enjoy!
Post by: Angry Perch on August 18, 2020, 02:48:02 PM
AP, I can tell you where to catch shrimp, out on Dallas Bank, but it's a bit big open water, and deep... not sure if you're looking for that...
3 nice keepers in a couple hours is just fine! (Move the other pots over there!) Enjoy!
Hey, I'll take any info i can get!I wasn't too far away. Off the SW tip of Protection island. I know my bait was way too thick.
Post by: Stein on August 18, 2020, 04:40:47 PM
They are smaller than spots, but you can keep 10 pounds a day.
Post by: Angry Perch on August 18, 2020, 05:47:01 PM