Crabbing

[Captain Hook]

I can't catch any steelhead so I thought I would go crabbing this weekend. Any advice on which bay to hit would be appreciated!

[Spoons]

Netarts bay is always my favorite. Start one or two hours before high slack, go in once the tide starts running out.

Have fun.

[Pilar]

Captain Hook, check the other thread on crabbin. I like Yaquina in the winter. On flat ocean days the sandy beach south of the Tillamook south jetty is the stuff. The key is fresh water in the bays. I usually wait 1 week after the last rain before crabbin is OK. Netarts is unaffected by rain, which makes it good all the time.

The bend is your friend!

[Grits]

Depending on where you live the Siletz bay can be a good spot. Less competition than other bays and usually not effected by weather. I have found that the key to this bay is to not try to head all the out by the Mo's but to hang back farther in the bay.

[SailCat]

Captain Hook-

I got lots of Email this week from crabbers; Netarts is slow, Tillamook is only fair. Here's the best report which will come out (with all the others) in The Guide's Forecast:

Tom L. has written several times, inquiring about crabbinglocations, tides and baits. Last week in his letter which appeared here, he had said he was "still looking for his first limit". This week, he writes: " Well, WE DID IT!! We arrived at Hammond at about 10:30a - much less crowded there now, than it was in August! We set our 6 pots in 33-38ft. of water just off of the pilings. By 3:00, we were sorting through the crabs to pick out the biggest 48 keepers. With only 4 in the boat, we ended up releasing about 14 keeper size crabs to get down to our limit. All 48 were in the 6-8" range. HUGE & HEAVY! Thanks to the nice folks at Free Willy Bait & Tackle for the advice on where to drop. Thanks Michael, for all of the advice. Next project is to limit out on Sturgeon. Want to help??"

To which I replied: "With regard to helping out in locating some sturgeon, you can bet I'll do whatever I can to help you find some keepers. Pretty soon the winter smelt run is gonna start and the sturgeon are beginning to stage for them now. If you want to try dipping some, the Cowlitz in Washington State on Saturdays will be your only option. Oh, wait; there is one other option ... you can buy the frozen variety at G.I. Joes for a dollar apiece. Sorta makes dipping in a crushing crowd sound pleasurable compared to the pricey alternative. Thanks for the great report."

I hope this helps.

~Michael T.