Post by: EmeraldBullet on August 15, 2021, 09:23:26 AM
Post by: Stein on August 15, 2021, 09:24:43 AM
Post by: steeleywhopper on August 15, 2021, 01:56:52 PM
Post by: RB on August 15, 2021, 02:19:43 PM
I've caught them in crab traps and once in a shrimp trap I modified by making the openings bigger. I have no idea how a guy would target them.
:yeah:
One in a crab pot and usually get one or more a year Shrimping, not sure other than diving how to target them.
Post by: Jake Dogfish on August 15, 2021, 03:20:23 PM
Post by: Sundance on August 15, 2021, 03:53:14 PM
Post by: Alchase on August 15, 2021, 07:31:31 PM
Post by: Stein on August 15, 2021, 10:49:15 PM
I have heard of people trapping them in Canada. Don’t know if it would be legal here.
Quote
OCTOPUS Must be caught with hands or instrument which does not penetrate the OCTOPUS, except that octopus taken while angling with hook and line may be retained.
I'll ask my attorney if a bucket is an "instrument which does not penetrate the OCTOPUS", but I'm thinking it is. Daily limit 1, no irritants like bleach allowed. There are no regulations around how many traps or how the traps are constructed which to me means that a) it isn't allowed or b) nobody does it so they aren't worried about over-harvest. I'm going with B.
You guys are getting me interested, might have to give it a try as they are tasty buggers for sure. I would have thought you need bait, but the hiding place method seems to make sense. I've had the privilege of seeing several during night dives and they are fascinating for sure, almost to the point where I feel guilty eating one.
Post by: h20hunter on August 16, 2021, 07:38:43 AM
Post by: steeleywhopper on August 16, 2021, 08:50:56 AM
My 2 cents....do not harvest an octo at popular beach dive sites. Legal or not it's simply not cool.
Could make for some great YouTube content :chuckle:
Post by: RB on August 16, 2021, 08:54:23 AM
My 2 cents....do not harvest an octo at popular beach dive sites. Legal or not it's simply not cool.
Could make for some great YouTube content :chuckle:
All kidding aside, it actually made the news before, and is why there was a change in the harvest rules for Octopus.
Post by: Igor on August 16, 2021, 08:58:46 AM
My 2 cents....do not harvest an octo at popular beach dive sites. Legal or not it's simply not cool.
Could make for some great YouTube content :chuckle:
Way before YouTube, octopus wrestling was a big deal in the Puget Sound:
In the early 1960s, thousands of people turned out on the shores of Titlow Beach near the Tacoma Narrows for the World Octopus Wrestling Championships.
https://www.knkx.org/post/world-octopus-wrestling-championships-once-attracted-audience-thousands-shores-tacoma
Post by: Angry Perch on August 16, 2021, 09:31:02 AM
Post by: Stein on August 16, 2021, 09:34:10 AM
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/mpa/octopus-preserve
Quote
Alki Beach Junkyard
Alki Beach Seacrest Coves 1, 2, and 3
Days Island
Deception Pass
Les Davis
Marine Area 12
Redondo Beach
Three Tree Point
Post by: jackelope on August 16, 2021, 12:02:09 PM
I'm also intrigued.
Post by: h20hunter on August 16, 2021, 12:03:58 PM
Anyone care to explain how the bucket/pot thing works?
I'm also intrigued.
They just crawl in. That's it.
Post by: Stein on August 16, 2021, 12:04:35 PM
Post by: jackelope on August 16, 2021, 12:14:41 PM
Anyone care to explain how the bucket/pot thing works?
I'm also intrigued.
They just crawl in. That's it.
I just realized this is done along with diving for them I guess.
So you're making hidey holes for them, then dive to them and grab them.
Correct?
Post by: h20hunter on August 16, 2021, 12:18:47 PM
Anyone care to explain how the bucket/pot thing works?
I'm also intrigued.
They just crawl in. That's it.
I just realized this is done along with diving for them I guess.
So you're making hidey holes for them, then dive to them and grab them.
Correct?
Most bucket traps sre set and pulled like pulling xlcrab or lobster pots.
You could easily grap a 10 pomder...kinda....but a big one would be rough!
Post by: Rob on August 16, 2021, 12:44:35 PM
We have two kinds of Octos here. the Giant Pacific Octos (AKA GPO) are the large ones. The Red's are small - probably only a pound or two and grapefruit sized when full grown.
Always had a soft spot for GPO's. Something about an animal that will come out and check you out, climb all over you and then try to swipe your dive light on the way back to it's cave is endearing!
Post by: Jake Dogfish on August 16, 2021, 12:50:05 PM
Actually it was a Octopus caught by a diver at Alki In 2012, and put on the news that created all these protection areas.My 2 cents....do not harvest an octo at popular beach dive sites. Legal or not it's simply not cool.
Could make for some great YouTube content :chuckle:
All kidding aside, it actually made the news before, and is why there was a change in the harvest rules for Octopus.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 16, 2021, 01:23:50 PM
Post by: Stein on August 16, 2021, 01:43:18 PM
I have no idea how you would wrangle one of them into a bag if they didn't want to be there.
Post by: Rob on August 16, 2021, 01:52:01 PM
Standup guy who use to (may still) make dry suits. I bought a couple and they are amazing!
Anyway, Eric wrote a story about a free diving buddy of his who was tagging along while they were diving and spotted a large GPO on a cobble bottom. He dove down to harvest it. When he grabbed it, it grabbed him back - and hundreds of rocks! Basically if his scuba buddies had not seen the situation it probably would have drowned him.
Found the story here:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/02-13/72140_an_octopus_s_garden.html
Post by: Rob on August 16, 2021, 01:54:37 PM
It's funny watching someone try to pry one off their face, 8 arms beats 2 arms. Not so funny when you are the guy trying it. They can do a number on your mask since they can suction the flat glass and pull on it pretty good.
I have no idea how you would wrangle one of them into a bag if they didn't want to be there.
Totally agree - they stick to everything, and are basically slimy jelly!
Post by: luvmystang67 on August 16, 2021, 02:03:33 PM
https://soranews24.com/2014/07/31/we-go-octopus-hunting-learn-how-to-turn-octopus-heads-inside-out/
Post by: Alchase on August 16, 2021, 06:01:27 PM
And a huge 6” diameter octopus can fully climb into a pop can sized container. It is amazing to see a huge octopus slowly come out of a small container.
Post by: Alchase on August 16, 2021, 06:05:30 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on August 16, 2021, 06:10:31 PM