NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => Fish Talk => Topic started by: 9erfan on September 25, 2012, 08:11:18 AM

Title: Crab pot question
Post by: 9erfan on September 25, 2012, 08:11:18 AM
I was reading over the regs on crab pots and if I'm reading it right, it looks to me like the Danielson collapsible traps are illegal. The reg states that the escape rings have to be at least 4 1/4" ID and can't be any less than 5" from the bottom of the trap to the lowest point of the ring. On my traps, both rings are located on top of the trap.
Any clarification would be appreciated since I know a lot of us use these.

Anthony.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: FishingAddict on September 25, 2012, 08:13:00 AM
Which model are you referring to?
Title: Crab pot question
Post by: 9erfan on September 25, 2012, 08:29:53 AM
Danielson Pacific FTC crab trap

Anthony
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: ex-kayaker on September 25, 2012, 11:48:41 AM
They're legal.....if someone had been ticketed this would have come up way long ago.

Reg reads....

(c) Crab traps shall have at least two rigid circular openings of not less than four and one-quarter inches inside diameter so constructed that the lowest portion of each opening is no lower than five inches from the top of the trap.

I read....bottom of circle can't be lower than 5" from the top of the trap. Since its on the top is within the 5".   Not sure of the reasoning, maybe to prevent small crabs from entering through the escape ring???

Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: NoSoupForU on September 25, 2012, 12:02:48 PM
It 's probably so they can still escape if the trap gets submerged in the sand or mud.
Title: Crab pot question
Post by: 9erfan on September 25, 2012, 12:11:55 PM
Aaargggg!!!' I for some reason confused the "top" from the bottom. Im lame. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Anthony
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: ex-kayaker on September 25, 2012, 12:24:30 PM
No worries, always better safe than sorry.
Title: Re: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: sharky on September 25, 2012, 01:13:01 PM
It 's probably so they can still escape if the trap gets submerged in the sand or mud.
Thats precisely the reason.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: PakehaChérie (Pikachu) on October 12, 2012, 10:52:58 PM
We are going to the Headwaters (Lodi) crabbing class/meeting on Oct. 17th...we haven't been crabbing before, but here's a question - how long do you leave the nets out there before you check them?
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: vwool on October 12, 2012, 10:54:54 PM
We are going to the Headwaters (Lodi) crabbing class/meeting on Oct. 17th...we haven't been crabbing before, but here's a question - how long do you leave the nets out there before you check them?

It all depends on what types of traps you are using. Some have to be checked more often then others. I will go over all that at the clinic. Look forward to seeing you there.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: NoSoupForU on October 12, 2012, 10:58:48 PM
Victor you should record your clinic and make it into a podcast you can put on Headwaters website.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: PakehaChérie (Pikachu) on October 14, 2012, 09:21:17 PM
We are going to the Headwaters (Lodi) crabbing class/meeting on Oct. 17th...we haven't been crabbing before, but here's a question - how long do you leave the nets out there before you check them?

It all depends on what types of traps you are using. Some have to be checked more often then others. I will go over all that at the clinic. Look forward to seeing you there.


Hey, Victor! Thanks for the reply - I am looking forward to the clinic. I know Dan talked about camping sites....what places are over there? I need some names so I can look them up online.

-Cherie
P.S. I liek the idea of recording it!
Title: Re: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: FolsomFishing on October 14, 2012, 10:20:13 PM
Victor you should record your clinic and make it into a podcast you can put on Headwaters website.

+1
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: G-Whiz on October 14, 2012, 10:22:32 PM
how long do you leave the nets out there before you check them?

there is no limit to how long you can leave a crab trap out before you are required to check them; however, crab rings (hoop nets) are required to be checked at least every 2 hours.

regulation:
(2) Any hoop net abandoned or left unchecked for more then 2 hours may be considered
abandoned and may be seized by any person authorized to enforce these regulations.

That being said, hoop nets should be checked every 15-20 minutes; crabs tend to migrate in & out once they get there fill. Unlike crab traps, you can leave them out until you are ready to leave the water; they will continue to fish until the trap is removed. Smaller crabs can exit the traps once the find the exit ring.

Continuing to check your pots, without rebaiting it with fresh bait, will deminish your chances of attracting crab.

In the early season, before the commies get to set there gear, catching crabs is generally easy; once the commies drop their gear and/or as the season goes on, it gets a little more challenging....
Title: Crab pot question
Post by: Jeffo on October 14, 2012, 11:54:01 PM
I soak my traps for 3 hours minimum. At HMB, thievery is pretty common. People take crabs out of other peoples traps, or just take their traps. Rings, every 15-20. I try to go a little further than the rest when setting my traps. Thieves are lazy people, so hopefully my floats will be too far for them.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: Squidder K on October 15, 2012, 06:00:14 AM
I leave my rings down for 20-30 minutes or the time it takes to run your line and reset and start over.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: AlsHobieOutback on October 15, 2012, 06:59:42 AM
I leave my rings down for 20-30 minutes or the time it takes to run your line and reset and start over.
+1  :smt002  Basically I like to set a 3 trap line starting at one depth and continuing out deeper for the next two drops.  Then I circle around back to the first one and see how it's done and if there are no crab in it I pick it up and go check the next trap.  If that one has crab I reset it, then go check the last one and drop the first pot out further than the last, so i'm advancing my traps in a line.
Title: Re: Crab pot question
Post by: PakehaChérie (Pikachu) on October 16, 2012, 12:04:50 AM
I soak my traps for 3 hours minimum. At HMB, thievery is pretty common. People take crabs out of other peoples traps, or just take their traps. Rings, every 15-20. I try to go a little further than the rest when setting my traps. Thieves are lazy people, so hopefully my floats will be too far for them.

Thanks for the heads-up about people who steal - I can't believe people do that (then again....). What is/where is HMB?