Crabbing?

Pilar · 12-06-2002, 12:16 PM

So ... does anyone have anything to say about crabbing at the coast?

Is barnacle Bill and his pals waiting for the crab motel and the hot tub?

When does the ocean open again?

Let's talk crabbing!

Threemuch · 12-06-2002, 12:22 PM

By the regs, it opened Dec 1. I am game as crew, but I am not dragging my boat down unless the weather is predicted FLAT. This weekend looks right on the bubble.

Myles · 12-06-2002, 12:44 PM

There's a split season.

Sunday, Dec. 1, crab fishing will open from Floras Creek (42( 57' N. Lat.) south to Port Arena in California.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, crab fishing will open from Floras Creek (42( 57' N. Lat.) north to the northern Washington border.

Bays and CR are open and sopposed to be doing pretty well. I be out Sunday, was going to Nehalem but heard there are still a few Chinook in the Ghost hole so it may be Tillamook.

myles

tailchaser · 12-06-2002, 01:02 PM

Don't forget the Dec 1, 10 openers are for the ocean, the bays are open right now and from my contacts it's been pretty good, down here at least. However, the words been out for a couple of weeks and there's a lot of people after them also.

tc

Mr. Fisherman · 12-07-2002, 06:52 AM

The "Crabbing" is pretty good at my house at least once a month :shocked: :grin: :tongue:

Deepslayer · 12-07-2002, 10:11 AM

I heard it was great last week in Astoria. Limits all around with crabs so big you didn't have to measure them!

shakerfish · 12-07-2002, 09:07 PM

Hay there John! Ya we just got done cooking up todays catch 29 keepers! 6 pots two pulls! Astoria! The fish where not bite'n our bait too many crabs in baker bay!

That's the real deal! No zipper crap here! :grin: ...Shakerfish!...

Pilar · 12-09-2002, 07:50 AM

T bay was good too on Saturday. 35 for 3 guys who didn't work very hard at it.

We also found some lurkers in the bay including some huge Pile perch and Greenling.

This unusually salty water in the bay will change if/when we get some rain this week. Until it does crab are plentiful and most are dark shelled, hard and full of sweet meat.

If you can get out, the ocean is just awesome this time of year too. There were some sealions in Tillamook bay. Usually I only see the harbor seals there.

Fishplay · 12-10-2002, 03:20 AM

I should have went crabbing insted of sturgeon fishing last Saturday. Now it's raining and I'm really hungry for crab.

Tinman · 12-13-2002, 02:38 PM

Pilar:

Tell me more about the big pile perch and greenling you caught in T-bay. I'm looking for exactly that type of fishery to introduce some kids to. I have a boat.

Were you out at the jetty? What tides? Can you fish through ebb and flood, or just at slack tide? What depth?

I can get mussels and sand shrimp easily for bait, and clams if necessary. What bait do you use?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Pilar · 12-14-2002, 06:39 AM

Tinman .. sorry so slow to respond, I was fishing yesterday.

We were at the Ship rocks over by Lysters and Bar view. The one closest to barview. The tide really rips through there so be careful. Try this within an hour of high slack the first time it is much easier. The bite was best then too. One guy driving the boat and every one else can fish. Also there are some submerged shallow reefs near the rock so don't get too close.

We used sandshrimp and a sliding weight with a #6 hook. 1 -2 oz is plenty. The leader was 20". Tie the sandshrimo on with stretchy thread or you'll be a one bite wonder. Cast right at the rock and let it sink. Reel it back 5 - 10 feet and hang on.

I had a lot of trouble turning biters into fish on. The trick is to use a light rod, trout or steelhead and to not set the hook. When you get bit just reel slowly until you you feel the tug. Then set the fish and reel it in.

Those pile Perch pull pretty hard, should be great kid fun. Squid worked good too. We went through the shrimp pretty quick. I think if you went to the mudflats and pumped your own it would be better.

Good luck.

[ 12-14-2002, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]