winter crabbing

[countryboy87]

anyone been out lately?

[racfish]

I keep saying Im going but my boat can be so cold in this time of year. Plus the fog is a nuisance.

[DavidA]

I can't get out often, maybe every 5-7 days, but I have been out in Hood Canal and it is well worth it. Surprisingly though, I've found a few slightly soft crab. They weren't fresh molts, and a couple slipped by me. The meat was still decent, but it was like they molted late September. You might just want to keep an eye out for these.

[drysuperfly52]

is the dock at kayak point open? i am terrible with salt water regulations?

[DavidA]

I'm afraid I can't help with that one. Sorry.

[Matt]

I crabbed down off Picnic Point after the opener and did well. At least as good as the summer season.... which wasn't very good.

[drysuperfly52]

lol sounds good, if we get three crabs we will call it a good day. we have 1 pot per person. should we try different baits in each pot or just stick with chicken and old fish in all of them?

[racfish]

I found the best bait was our pink salmon carcasses. We killed them on salmon. Turkey and chicken didn't do as well as salmon. Damn smart crabs.During the summer we limited all but one time. Thats 3 of us with 5 pots total.

[drysuperfly52]

perfect, i have some old rainbows that i have saving for a time like this.

[G-Man]

Kayak point is area 8-2, which is open, only areas 10 and 11 are closed for the winter season.

Bait that I've used that works well is: trout, salmon, any spiny rays, sucker, squawfish, sanddabs and clams. If you throw whole fish into your trap, cut the belly open and slash the body a few times to help release the scent into the water.

[racfish]

Add to Gmans list is Hake,Makarel,or squaw fish. Any oily fish works . At my Safeway on Rainier they sell older meat at 1/2 off. Sometimes the butcher will mark it down lower.