Commercial Crabbers Get Out?

Hummingbird · 12-11-2002, 11:01 PM

Does anyone know if the commercial crabbers got out this week in Garibaldi? [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Tight lines, Tom

dock rat · 12-12-2002, 05:13 AM

The commercial crab season officially opened on Dec. 10. I did hear of at least one boat that set gear out of Garibaldi but the fleet in general is tied to the dock. They are holding out for a little better price and with the ocean all riled up I suspect they will stay in port for awhile. :smile:

fishbait · 12-12-2002, 05:44 AM

From what I hear most skippers are holding out for a better price.

fish assassin · 12-12-2002, 07:02 AM

Now it looks like they'll be waiting on the weather ...
Oh, I know, there are some hardy (foolish) souls that are
hungry enough to go out in the worst of storms, but for
the most part I suspect that the crabers won't be out
Thursday, Friday, Sunday or Monday. There *might* be enough
of a break in the weather on Saturday to set/pull pots, but
I'm thinking probably not.

-assAssin-

Me?? I don't have any answers ... I just wanna fish!

jet · 12-12-2002, 07:05 AM

Better price...

Many of us have seen the show on the History channel of the 10 most hazardous jobs. Crabbing in AK is #1 most deadly. I am sure Oregon may be tamer but it is real nasty this time of the year, no way would I be out there even in Oregon.

They are trying to get .35 per pound more. Work it out and let them fish.

Jet~~~

Bill Monroe · 12-12-2002, 07:06 AM

This morning's newspaper story says they're staying in cuz of low prices and the weather is just coincidental...

fish assassin · 12-12-2002, 07:14 AM

Right Bill, what I really, really, REALLY was meaning to
say was that even if they do get thier price up it looks
to be a few days before they will get out ...

-assAssin-

What? ME go fishing?? Not today thankyouverymuch!!

Pilar · 12-12-2002, 07:24 AM

Bill, I saw several boats setting gear at Garibaldi on last Saturday.

Crab at Albertsons is $2.99 a pound. Somebody is selling their catch at the low dock price.

roadsend · 12-12-2002, 07:39 AM

A few of the commercial folks are putting what appears to be 20-30 pots out in the river and pulling them every few days with 10-12 of their friends. Essentially sport crabbing with big heavy pots, able to be left out for several days at a time.

fish assassin · 12-12-2002, 07:52 AM

Pilar,

There are always a few of the smaller fish companies that sell
into the "local" or speciality markets that will pay higher prices
for product. Those are typically who the smaller fish boats sell
to because these markets can't typically handle all the product
that the big boats bring in.

As a side note, there are a lot less of the small boat crab operations
now that the State of Oregon made crab permits "limited entry" only.
It is my understanding that the crab L.E. permit system was put
in place for financial reasons rather than for environmental reasons ... more
bucks for the big boats that run hundreds of pots. These big boats
really *do* need a good price at a place where they can sell all
of their crab at one time to offset the costs of thier operations
(bigger boats, more fuel, more gear, more deck hands ...).

-assAssin-

Me? I don't have any answers, I just wanna fish!!

Clamman · 12-12-2002, 07:59 AM

Pilar et al,

California and the Washington tribes have been fishing since November. I suspect that is the source for the crab you saw advertised. I saw a similar add last week before the season even got started.

fishin'O.C.and beyond · 12-12-2002, 08:21 AM

We were out Sunday and they were running out to the ocean and back all day long!! I had told my buddies that the season didn't start till the 10th, I guess I had lied? No kidding, they would be loaded with traps, run out and 45 minutes hour or so later they would be coming back in to repeat the process. We got our limits of some really big crabs, 60/40 hard but we did have to work for them.

fish assassin · 12-12-2002, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishin'O.C.and beyond:
We were out Sunday and they were running out to the ocean and back all day long!! I had told my buddies that the season didn't start till the 10th, I guess I had lied? No kidding, they would be loaded with traps, run out and 45 minutes hour or so later they would be coming back in to repeat the process.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Been a while since I looked into this, but I seem to remember that
the commercial guys (if they meet certain pre-conditions) can start putting
their pots out several days before the season starts. They just can't
deliver any crab or have crab in their holds until opening day.

Little known fact ... there is a commercial crab season in many
of the rivers/bays in Oregon during the closed Ocean season.
They are limited to the number/type of pots and the days they can
crab ... no weekends/holidays.

Another little known fact ... most crabbers in Oregon waters make the
bulk of their catches between opening day in December and the end of
January. The bigger boats will then pull their pots and either
move North to crab or work other fisheries.

-assAssin-

fishin'O.C.and beyond · 12-12-2002, 10:57 AM

Thank you for clarifying assassin.

Clamman · 12-12-2002, 03:32 PM

For the real info check this out.
Commercial Crab Regs.