Hows Crabbing Netarts?

[Ocean]

Does anyone know how the crabbing has been in Netarts Bay?

Thanks,

Mark

[BottomFeeder]

Ocean,

As you may or may not know: an alternative is to target red rock crab which seem to have no real seasonal molting period like our larger **** . friends. There are about fifty bazillion of these guys in Netarts in the shallower (6-8ft) crab grass type water in front of happy camp: Go towards the mouth from the boat launch west, around the corner and North from there to before the bay turns back west. Also, red rock crabs predate on young Dungeness crabs so don't feel bad about taking your daily limit or multiples. Pick good Reds by their strength. Grap a claw in each hand and see how hard it is to keep their claws from coming together once picked up. If they are weak, forget it, throw it back. If it's like trying to keep a pair of pliers from coming together, it's a good'n. Their claws are the best, I crack those and their legs to the first->third segment depending on how large they are. Unless you're an expert, don't bother with the body meat. They have too many chambers that are separated by thin, brittle shell.

**** . are usually avoided this time of year because of molting = watery tasteless meat. Kind of like picking strawberries on the first of May :smile:

TPM

[BottomFeeder]

p.s. the **** the first four letters of Dungeness but the server software detected a naughty word and replaced it with ****.

TPM

[TundraIII]

I was in Florence this weekend doin some quad racing and spent some time on the beach. I have never seen so many dead Dungeness crab in one place before. The surf was literally rolling with crab carcasses and the beach was covered in dead crabs, some places the crab were piled a foot deep. :shocked: . I would not hesitate to estimate that there were hundreds of thousands of Dungeness shells on the beach. I realize it is the molting season but wow what a site. Most of what we saw where legs and backs but littered throughout where whole dead crabs. I would assume that the molting season leaves the crab susseptable to predation and rough seas. Has anyone seen this before, somewhere else?

P.S. How many people here like to eat Red Rock claws? I've had them a couple of times and just dont care for it. Flavorless and hard to crack if you ask me. Maybe the Red Rock I've had was previously frozen or something I dont know (Restaurant stuff).
I'm a Dungeness junky so I'm a bit biased. :grin:

[Salmonator]

I'd have to say a big red rock claw is the best/sweetest crab I've ever eaten. The are a pain in the rump though as far as cracking. Overall, I'd rather have a half-full dungeness than a full rock crab.

[Ocean]

Many thanks for the reports. It sounds like Tillamook may be a better choice this weekend.

Thanks again.

[Joe Schwab]

Crabbing in Netarts has been very slow. Much better at Garibaldi. Most legal crabs are soft and empty now.