New Dungeness regulations begin August 1, 2016

Effective on August 1, 2016, new state regulations will be in effect regarding the crab fisheries and crab trap requirements. Dungeness crab size and bag limits are now uniform statewide. All crab traps will be required to have a destruct device, must be marked with the GO ID number of the operator of the trap, and may not be deployed during the seven days prior to the opening of the Dungeness crab season.

§29.80
...
(c) Crab traps:
(1) 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.
(2) Starting August 1, 2016, crab traps shall contain at least one destruct device of a single strand of untreated cotton twine size No. 120 or less that creates an unobstructed escape opening in the top or upper half of the trap of at least five inches in diameter when the destruct attachment material corrodes or fails.
(3) Starting August 1, 2016, every crab trap except those used under authority of subsection 29.85(a)(5) of these regulations shall be marked with a buoy. Each buoy shall be legibly marked to identify the operator’s GO ID number as stated on his/her sport fishing license.
(4) Starting August 1, 2016, crab traps shall not be deployed and used in ocean waters seven days prior to the opening of the Dungeness crab season.

The new regulations book is available now too.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=116558&inline

Thanks for the info Crash.

So I'm guessing that my promar 102 collapisable traps will need to be modified to have a five inch escape hatch in the top tied up with cotton string?

I wish thery would have specified hoop traps. I would think they are exempted, but you never know with them.

So I'm guessing that my promar 102 collapisable traps will need to be modified to have a five inch escape hatch in the top tied up with cotton string?

Mine too.

I wish thery would have specified hoop traps. I would think they are exempted, but you never know with them.

"hoop trap" is not used in the regs.  They use "hoop net".  The reg is only about traps.

I wish thery would have specified hoop traps. I would think they are exempted, but you never know with them.

Ken, chill bro. I know you don't think highly of F&G code, but this one makes lots of sense. No mods needed for hoop nets.


Also, I like the new regs. I hope the new regs will prevent derelict traps from killing so many dungies.

So, how does the self destruct string thingy work?

Anybody have any pics they can post of how you would do this a regular pot/trap??

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I'll have to read the whole thing. Maybe it only applies to traps that can be left unattended. It would makes sense, since you are required to check hoop traps every two hours you can't put them out and leave them overnite etc.

So, how does the self destruct string thingy work?

Anybody have any pics they can post of how you would do this a regular pot/trap??

 

Sincerely,

Jim

lol, I Googled rotten cotton to post some pics for you jim but apparently there's another, more polular, usage of the term.  I suggest not googling it from tbe work computer

So, how does the self destruct string thingy work?

Anybody have any pics they can post of how you would do this a regular pot/trap??

 

Sincerely,

Jim

lol, I Googled rotten cotton to post some pics for you jim but apparently there's another, more polular, usage of the term.  I suggest not googling it from tbe work computer

LMAO!!

Thanks for the heads up!! 

I'm thinking for a trap like the one you can see in the pic that my buddies have (standard round trap) the top would just be tied shut with that special thread/string right? So in case the trap gets stuck the string will decay and the crabbies can push the top open and get out??

Or am I missing something?

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nah, there should be a rubber bungee that wraps over the door to secure it shut.  You just secure the bungee with the rotten cotton.  That way you can still use the bungee normally but if the trap is lost the string degrades, the bugee isnt attached to the trap anymore and the top door isn't latched shut. 

Nah, there should be a rubber bungee that wraps over the door to secure it shut.  You just secure the bungee with the rotten cotton.  That way you can still use the bungee normally but if the trap is lost the string degrades, the bugee isnt attached to the trap anymore and the top door isn't latched shut.

Got it!

Thanks dude!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Ok, had to urban dictionary search rotten cotton. Just to make sure I didn't see an image that I didn't wish I could unsee.

Do not search UD for this phrase if you have eaten recently or feel at all squeamish. Ewww.

So, how does the self destruct string thingy work?

Anybody have any pics they can post of how you would do this a regular pot/trap??

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Here is an example Jim.

The idea is if somehow the trap is lost with big crabs inside, the cotton strings that tied to the 5" escape ring (allow smaller crabs to escape) will rot and the ring falls off so the big crabs can get out.  Otherwise they can't get out and all died.