Was excited to find out a winter crab season was opened. Like the good old days when it was part of the typical crab season. Hood Canal is where I crab. I moved back to WA 5 years ago and could not believe how poor Hood Canal crab fishing has developed. This summer I went out 3 times and was disappointed.

Told my boss I was taking a personal day Friday. Arrived at the launch (Pleasant Harbor) with a nice thick fog. Maybe 30’ visibility. Took almost an hour getting to the area I crab north of Ayock Point and south of the bridge ?? Was going about 4.5mph. With salmon open., I was hoping to go home with a nice silver. Dropped the pots around 10am. The first pull was awesome! 3 keepers almost 7” each, some females, one soft shell and 3 keeper rock crab. Before this year I never kept rock crab. Times are a changing. The third pull resulted in limits for both Dungeness and rock crab. Fog cleared around Noon. Perfect weather. Now it was time for salmon fishing. After realizing I forgot my flashers for the down rigger, I threw some lead. Caught a few dingers but did encounter a few huge bait balls with salmon as I cruised around the tip of Tornado peninsula toward the Olympics and back to the launch. Fantastic day. Was nice catching limits and in three pulls. Like back in the 90s ??

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