Funny, I gave my neighbor some a couple weeks ago because I was tired of cracking it (4 limits from the ocean). He went to costco a couple days later, came home and told his wife "He just gave us like $100 worth of crab!".

Crab is one of those things that is easy to share, and my wife and I are "over it" after a couple each. I hand it out like Oprah to my neighborhood, and people love it and keeps them from calling the fuzz on me for violating Wash Co 72 HR "Boat and RV" rule on our dead end street.

 

Funny, I gave my neighbor some a couple weeks ago because I was tired of cracking it (4 limits from the ocean). He went to costco a couple days later, came home and told his wife "He just gave us like $100 worth of crab!".

Crab is one of those things that is easy to share, and my wife and I are "over it" after a couple each. I hand it out like Oprah to my neighborhood, and people love it and keeps them from calling the fuzz on me for violating Wash Co 72 HR "Boat and RV" rule on our dead end street.

Funny thing, costal neighbors at our vacation beach spot always ask how I’m doing and watch my place like hawks. They also love crab and salmon

 

I'm taking my youngest daughter and her husband out crabbing Saturday morning. I'm buttering them up to get a little help in rebuilding a large deck this winter.

 

maybe take your daughter n son in law abit later crabbing say late Oct/Nov then start on deck. Crabs will be in better shape and won't have to wait on deck so long btwn rain drops.

 

My wife decided she was going to give me a treat and bought some of that pre-cracked Costco crab in a tub. Crazy expensive. It was preserved in salt water so it tasted like a salt brick. Truely awful and huge waste of money.

After that experience I won't get near Costco crab. Maybe the unshelled is better (couldn't be worse)?

 

I spent last weekend cracking a few crab and ended up with 7 lbs & 7 oz. See honey, I’m making us money while fishing. Don’t worry about all those B.O.A.T. Bucks I’ve spent on the boat, truck and trailer! 🦀💸🤷🏻‍♂️

 

The bounty in the freezer, especially, Crab, has done wonders for my fishing/crabbing expenses once my wife realized what crab and bottomfish cost in the store.
She loves those, but can take or leave salmon and steelhead.
Happy wife, happy life!

 

Tuesday

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Quick math, that’s over $700 at retail.

fyi, fish-on-Jon pots out fished the Trilogy pot.

 

You may need to call and arrange for security at the boat launch.

 

There is nothing like hogging down on fresh crab, but I couldn’t imagine buying processed crab soaked in salt water… icky….. we look forward to a couple crabbing trips each year, but rarely freeze any of it. We just eat crab cocktails for 3 or 4 days until we are sick of it, and give the rest away to friends and family.

Last year we caught way too many crab for just the two of us, and cracked a bunch of it and kept it on ice in plastic tubs in the fridge to see how well it would hold up. It was still pretty good for awhile doing that too. But we still gave a bunch to the kids and neighbors… I mean how much crab can one person eat?

We did try freezing a couple small tubs and we weren’t too happy with the thawed product at all. Good for omelettes or cooking perhaps…. But I don’t much like crab omelets myself.

We are heading down next week for our first crabbing adventure of the year. Late September into October has been good for us in the past. Kirk

 

There is nothing like hogging down on fresh crab, but I couldn’t imagine buying processed crab soaked in salt water… icky….. we look forward to a couple crabbing trips each year, but rarely freeze any of it. We just eat crab cocktails for 3 or 4 days until we are sick of it, and give the rest away to friends and family.

Same for me, most of what comes over the side of my boat goes home with family and friends. Wife and I are good for a limit of crab every couple of weeks, but much more than that and the neighbors start getting the extra. We can only eat so much.

 

Fresh crab makes for the best neighbors you can have. I even have unlimited use of JD loader from sharing crab. It's great to have neighbors like I do, life is made easier because of them.

 

There are a number of ways to do the math of what our seafood costs those of us that choose to harvest our own. I like to tell my partner and my wife to enjoy the first fish or crab we harvest, because it cost $125,000; but all the rest are free. Yeah I know…. Marginal costs.

There are definitely some activities that pencil out better than others, ignoring the quality of a fresh product and the enjoyment of catching it. In my case crab is up there, spot prawns with 4-5 people on board, and geoducks. Two or three of us make a trip in May to Hood Canal and get our limit of oysters, steamers and butters, and three geoduck each (they retail for $45-80 each). What other fisheries are people doing that fall in the black?

 

There are a number of ways to do the math of what our seafood costs those of us that choose to harvest our own. I like to tell my partner and my wife to enjoy the first fish or crab we harvest, because it cost $125,000; but all the rest are free. Yeah I know…. Marginal costs.

There are definitely some activities that pencil out better than others, ignoring the quality of a fresh product and the enjoyment of catching it. In my case crab is up there, spot prawns with 4-5 people on board, and geoducks. Two or three of us make a trip in May to Hood Canal and get our limit of oysters, steamers and butters, and three geoduck each (they retail for $45-80 each). What other fisheries are people doing that fall in the black?

Spring chinook fishing pays for most of my fishing gear by itself. Springer is often well over 50$ a pound we are putting a good 10k worth in our freezer each May. People who say fishing doesn’t pencil out are doing their math wrong or need to catch more.

 

It's crazy...when people I charge to take folks crabbing they gawk at me, then you see the price in the store and it confirms what I tell them!! Plus it's exciting!

 

It’s obvious no one here has commercial crabbed

 

i know their deck hands don't typically last long at it....My grandson was all excited about it about a year ago, but he didn't last long in rough weather out there... lol

 

Crab meat is cheap
Here I am heading out les than a month before my 51st birthday this last January
I guarantee anyone who’s done this will tell you $20 or more a pound is a bargain

 

All these crabs being caught anywhere near the 23 precent full the state requires for the commercials?

 

typically by mid september we have good hard shells and plenty of meat inside them, but its better in october.

 

Very full. Most were jumbos from 140’, 80% full or better. Zero softies, many had barnacles.

P

 

Those are some of the most amazing crab cakes I've ever seen!! Care to share your recipe and process for making them?

 

Can't put a price on doing the things you enjoy........the time spent with friends and family......the memories you make......the meals you enjoy from your bounty........all priceless.

 

We went out today and pulled three pot 3 times finishing out the day at 1:00. Not bad crab but a lot of small crab and a few monster females. Had a few series of 6 to 8 foot swells roll through which was a hoot for my texas son in law.

 

Just went out this evening and got some free crabs
They will be done cooking at 10 pm

 

Thanks to both of you!! I'll get some fresh crab out of the bay and give those ago. I also make salmon cakes, just substitute salmon for crab.

 

I reserve the right to claim 10% of all results from my contribution.

 

I'm going to have to start charging more for my crab trips, if we limit it comes out to about $12.50 per crab...