Crabbing????

[anniek66]

I have seen folks crabbing in the Nestucca bay, down at the jaws. I thought that crabbing was done
in the months that end with an "R". Is this correct or can you catch "good" crabs this time of year?

Annie [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[crabbait]

Annie, I think that the "r" month thing is for shellfish, i.e., clams, oysters, etc. Crabs are crustaceans.

Crabs can be soft when "molting" and are not as good, sometimes very little meat for the size of the crab.

We crabbed Siletz Bay last weekend. Very few crabs for the work but Siletz is not known as a "limit" crab bay anyway. It was just closest. :smile:

[fishingfirst]

Back to your original question, has anyone done any good crabbing in the Nestucca, I took the family out Monday, but did not launch because of the poor weather, we ended up playing on the beach instead.........go figure, weather is too bad for a boat ride but nice enough for the beach! :whazzup:

Scott

[Crabby 2]

Anniek66,

If you haven't explored the Nestucca Estuary in a boat, study it at low tide by hiking the Bob Straub Park or viewing an aerial photograph or follow someone to the mouth. You'll definitely want to know the channel to avoid running aground and getting stranded until high tide.

I haven't known the Nestucca to be a great crabbing bay. If you don't have luck there...Try Netarts Bay. The level of salinity is much higher no matter what month you crab.

Dale

[poshie]

Crabbait..where do you put in at Siletz Bay?
Is it close to the new Kernville Tavern?
We crabbed years ago on the Siletz and put in
out of Coyote Rock..
Anybody eaten at the new tavern?

[crabbait]

The boat launch one block in from hiway 101 is open. We crabbed for four hours with seven traps, made about 6-8 sets for three crabs so I can't recommend it.

[Pilar]

The 'R' in the month is for warm waters. Oysters, clams and other shellfish and crustaceans like crab spawn during the warm part of the year. Oysters in Gulf of Mexico bays like East Bay, Pensicola and Appalachicola are soft and tasteless all summer long ... the months that have no 'R'.

Oysters in the Hoods canal spawn in August.

Crabs here spawn during the summer .. again the months that have no 'R'.

You can crab here year round. The only Oregon closures are in the Ocean from late summer till December. Just be more selective during the summer and toss the softshells back in.

Seems like I catch more females and more softshell crabs in the summer.

[anniek66]

Thanks all
I am now more informed on this issue. This forum is great. Such quick responses. I am glad I joined.

TTFN