Northwest Fishing Reports

Went out on Friday, 7/4/14, in the morning and used the public dock at Manchester to launch the boat. We went straight out from the dock and dropped 3 pots in 90', 100', 110'. We let them soak overnight and picked them up the next morning at about 9am. Pot 1- 0; Pot 2-1 female Dungy; Pot 3-1 keeper Dungy. We were using discards from a salmon we filleted. Some friends also set 2 pots of Friday a.m. but pulled them Friday afternoon and had 3 Dungy keepers.

Talked to 3 different people on the dock who said never leave your pots in overnight in the Manchester area due to people stealing the crabs right out of your pots. Never had that happen up in Quilcene so we'll probably not go to Manchester again.

More likely what happened is the crab found their way out after finishing the bait or not being able to get to it. Pull your pots between 1 and 2 hours after dropping them, that's all you really need. It also helps to weight the doors to keep the current from moving them and letting the crab escape.

We hit up area 10 on Saturday and found some success but quite a few undersize, female and softshell mixed in with the keepers. Took two sets to limit out this early in the season which doesn't bode well for the rest of the season.

I would guess that because you left the pots in that someone who was watching you emptied your pots. That happens a lot in all areas. When your bait is gone and only 1 small crab is left. Id say its safe to say your pots were emptied.Also it seems you were real deep for crabs. I do my best in 50-100 ft max. Red rocks are even shallower.

I took some Idaho Cousins out to area 10 Sunday. Dropped 3 pots, soaked em for 2 hours, and came away with 1 short of 3 limits + 7 Red Rocks. Very few females and softshells but a lot of undersized.