Late season Crabbing

[Rollin with Rolland]

Crabbing is closed near home (Area 7), but i was looking at the tides and forecast, and I may try to hit area 6 a bit...say just south of Deception off Whidbey Island soon. Anybody been out lately?? I have never gone this late in the season....any special late fall techniques or depths??

[A9]

Advice: Stay warm!

Jokes aside, fall/winter crabbing is usually productive for me. Each spot fishes differently, so its tough to give you some pointers on techniques/depths, but you should hit some good luck if you drop your pots in your usual spots.....

Let us know how you do....I'll be out there crabbing too, I'm hoping I can pick up some Dungies accompany the turkey on the table on Thanksgiving...

[Gisteppo]

Hmm, get coastal...

The Thumb and I are headed to Oregon next weekend for the peak of the crabbing season.

Bad weather, rough seas, and fantastic crabbing are the rule, tactics aren't different, its just harder to crab this time of year.

E

[Dave]

Any word about a winter season in area 8-1 or 8-2 ?

EDIT: I see it is not open in 8-1 or 8-2 which is a bummer for me. I've been so busy here lately I haven't thought to check to see if it opened up for the winter season. I will hit area 9 here soon. Keep warm!

[Rollin with Rolland]

Thanks guys....I was hoping to hear from the experts (Dave, Gisteppo, and A9). So what I gather......Crabbing is still very productive, you just can't be a wuss. I thought I remember you saying something about crab moving into the bays shallower in Nov. E?? At any rate, glad to hear others will be out with me....best of luck to all of us!!! (I have some three week old kokanee carcasses.....hope that works for bait!)

Full pots for all!!:cheers:

[Rollin with Rolland]

Any word about a winter season in area 8-1 or 8-2 ?

EDIT: I see it is not open in 8-1 or 8-2 which is a bummer for me. I've been so busy here lately I haven't thought to check to see if it opened up for the winter season. I will hit area 9 here soon. Keep warm!

Yeah, that sucks Dave....otherwise I would be in 8-1 for sure....

[Gisteppo]

The deal is the Commercial crabbers aren't allowed to fish right now in certain areas. Oregon closes ocean fishing until Dec 1 due to softshelled bycatch, which allows many of the crab that would otherwise be lured into the big pots to smell our bait in the bays and cruise on in.

It is common to pick up a limit a day if you are fishing your allowable gear (3 devices where we go). As you can see here, 5 keepers, one pot, one tide change:



They are also rather piggish some years:





Just be aware that tide changes are happening with much more weather than you might be used to in the summer. We have seen as much as sustained 40 knot winds with gusts to 60 knots, putting up a wind chop over 4' tall. This is dangerous as all hell, but it produces great crab. We are crabbing in my 16' Hewescraft river runner, which is not a huge boat, but stable.

Lifejackets are a really, really good idea. Also its not the worst thing to do a double float setup and use a gaff to snag your pots. Leaning out over the rail in late fall can be quite a bit more dangerous than summer. Glowsticks are also a handy touch.

E

[crappiemaster]

Gosh, those are great pictures. I am such a fan of dungeness. I actually picked up a tub of dungeness from Costco, I cannot remember the name of the company, but it was out of Olympia. That's why I bought it. Nothing like fresh crab, but it was pretty good. You guys on the coast are pretty lucky!!

[Gisteppo]

Coast?

Im in Spokane, so its a little longer drive than from Sunnyside.

E

[Dave]

I think the winter crab tastes way better than regular season. I have no idea why. I will hit area 9 here soon and let you all know how it goes. I also won't be out there if the wind is 40 mph. As I have said many times, I am a fair weather fisherman for the most part. I have no desire to fight the wind. I can take the rain and the cold but not the wind. Anyway, good luck to all and please let us all know how you do.

[Gisteppo]

Anyone have any shad I can get for bait? Ill repay you in crustaceans....

E

[racfish]

I like that crab that has a stern light pole comming from his mouth.How the heck did he get it in his mouth?hehehehe

[Gisteppo]

We will use just about ANYTHING for bait.....

E