Thought I would share a couple of ways I've found to save (freeze) your surplus cooked crab. I've been experimenting quite a bit over the last three seasons, and after packing some extra crab from last weekend with some new supplies, I'm convinced I've got it dialed in. I vacuum sealed over a dozen crab without puncturing a single bag. Here are two ways:

The best way I've found to vacuum pack and freeze:

Supplies needed:
vacuum sealer
butcher paper - https://www.amazon.com/Pink-Kraft-Butcher-Paper-Roll/dp/B0776JH663?th=1
11 x 16 vacuum bags - https://www.amazon.com/Gamesaver-Weston-Commercial-Puncture-Prevention/dp/B07TV4KRCL

I already had the butcher paper from smoking various meats, and the larger gamesaver bags I bought in advance to give this a go.

TL;DR - The process is probably self-explanatory from the supplies list, but the idea is to wrap and then seal.

1. Cut a 24-36" sheet of butcher paper and place whole crab, or crab halves, about 8-10" from the corner of the sheet at a 45 degree angle.
2. Fold the closest corner over, followed by the adjacent corner. (If you've ever worked at a deli, this is the same way that a sandwich-maker would wrap a sandwich).
3. Now take the crab, and fold it forward.
4. Proceed by folding the left side in, creating a straight edge on the left that is perpendicular to the crab itself, and then fold the crab forward again (am I over-explaining this?  ). Repeat this rhythm until the sheet is completely folded around the crab. This layering by successive folds is what keeps all of the pokeys on the crab from puncturing the vacuum bag.
5. Slip your crab sandwich into a vac bag, and seal. No need to run on "gentle" mode with this method--at least with my cheap sealer.

I should also note it's important to set the crab up in its most "defensive" position. All of the legs should be tucked in with the pointy bits on the tips of the legs aligned inward. Pics below for reference.

Experiment for freezing lump meat:

This one I had never done until last weekend, but feel pretty good about it. I have been interested in freezing lump meat, but only ever see it at the store in some kind of liquid. After some reading online, every source on the internet says to use milk?? No. I refuse. Even though it seems like people have resoundingly positive results.

I decided to make a light brine, and used 1/8c kosher salt in 1 qt of water. This was enough to prepare the 2.5 lbs of lump meat we picked to save for later.

I filled up a 1 qt beaker with about 3 cups (3/4 qt) of water and added 1/8c kosher sold. Stir to dissolve. Once dissolved, added enough Ice to make the beaker read 1 qt. I wanted to make sure the brine was ice-cold when pouring over the lump meat to not spoil the meat, and also make it freeze quicker. Pour enough brine to just cover the crab meat.

I used some 3-cup plastic containers and froze in 1 lb incriments, and lined the top with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn on the small amount of exposed meat.

Date and freeze. I will post results when we decide to use it. Until then, take this one with a bit of caution, as I'm not sure how it will turn out.

How do you save your lump meat for later?

Wind seem to have kept most away, but there were still 8-10 kayaks out today. Ran into a few familiar faces, and launched into a breezy morning. Launched just before the low into 56 degree water. Once the tide picked up, so did the wind. The conditions were snotty, and the drift with the wind + tide was about 2mph. We were quickly several miles west of the launch with no bites. We decided to tack into the wind and current so we didn't end up at Oyster Point by accident.

The Lovely Martha and Happy Hooker, along with the rest of the power boat fleet were out there too working the area a bit further.

5 minutes after we switched directions, boom, takedown in 10 FOW. No flasher, straight herring. Stuck a nice 27" in the belly and on the clip. We continued our way back, grinding it out at 0.8 mph into the wind. But the herring was presenting well regardless. Had another missed bite 10 minutes later in the same area. Another hour or two went by and the chop started to die down around 11, contrary to the forecast, and by noon the conditions were almost glassed out. It was quite pleasant, and we weren't too far from the launch. As we decided to turn in about noon, Brie finally got the buzzer beater bite in 12 FOW. She's been wanting to try gaffing a fish for the first time, and this was the chance! I got a glimpse of the fish and confirmed it was a keeper--about 25". Talked her through it, and she waited patiently for the right moment, and she nailed it. Poked in the belly, and onto the game clip. She's thrilled about the 10 point upgrade for AOTY.

Looking to take some friends out to do some crab snaring who don't have fishing licenses. My interpretation of the below definition of a "public pier" makes me think that the west (north?) jetty in Bodega Bay qualifies. What do you think? Has anybody heard from a Warden otherwise? TIA.

...

Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license to take any kind of fish, mollusk, invertebrate or
crustacean in California, except for persons angling from a public pier for non-commercial purposes in ocean or bay waters. A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters.

Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.

I'm far better at design and fabrication than I am at fishing, so any time I can build or modify something for the kayak it's a really enjoyable rabbit hole to fall into for me. Here's the latest rabbit hole.

Goals:
-incorporate two modular rear rod holders for multi-rod drifting--without adding any holes to the kayak.
-Reinforced mounting system for crate to support additional load from rod holders
-3-rod holder
-use no parts or materials prone to corrosion
-incorporate easy-access dry storage
-Don't lose livewell functionality

Materials:
-1.5" x 1/8" x 4' piece of aluminum stock
-Assorted stainless steel nuts and bolts
-2 Scotty Rocket Launchers
-1 3-rod mounted rod holder
-4 nickel rings
-4 plastic pad-eyes
-bonus fly-fishing dry-bag/fanny pack (for reel storage on surf launches/landing) and Yeti Sidekick.

I'll let the pictures do the talking but I'm pretty psyched to take it out and give it a whirl. There is some flex in the crate when I load the rod holders, but I think it's still sturdy enough and my drag will never be locked out when the line is the water so it should be all good. The mounting system works well too--once the straps are synched the crate has virtually no slop. Pretty stoked 

Bodega and Tomales are my closest ocean destinations. I�ve been tossing up a lengthy pro/con list in my head all week. I know the halibut bite in tomales has been slow� but the tides are perfect tomorrow. I also have salmon fever, and bodega is close for me. But there are lots of jellys, the fish are relatively far out and deep, but the wind looks excellent for the morning. Added benefit of rockfishing to avoid the skunk.

TL;DR please tell me where to go fishing tomorrow. I can�t make up my freakin mind.

As of Friday I am the ultra super duper stoked owner of a 2021 Revo 13. After a lot of research over the last couple months I finally pulled the trigger on her and I couldn't be more thrilled, especially after the first maiden voyage on Sunday at ARW (I skunked). I am transitioning from a Passport 12, upon which I use a Wilderness Systems Catch cooler on the bow that works great for most of the gamefish I catch. I decided to secure this cooler to the front deck of the Revo, which basically renders the front hatch useless. After a day out, I realized that I am not the biggest fan of it up there, considering how sleek that kayak is, and how gracious the internal storage in the front hatch is. It's gotta be 150 liters?? Anyway, after poking around a bit, I couldn't find much in terms of coolers that work well inside of the Revo front hatch. The rear of my kayak is where I keep my livewell and safety kit (extra layers, pump) and I feel like I really need to utilize that front hatch for my catch. But I definitely don't want to rawdog it in there.

TLDR: Does anyone have a cooler/Fish storage soultion for inside of the front Revo compartment? Something easy to slip in and out, and slip some (big) fish into with minimal inconvenience?

I recently bought a Stohlquist Shift drysuit--sort of an impulse buy, found one online for almost 80% off retail, new. I'm 5,8", 145lbs, which puts me smack dab into a medium according to their size chart, which is what I bought.

Before going out, I tried it on. It was snug on the neck, and bordered just below uncomfortable. But I assumed this was normal to keep water out. I wore the suit for a 5 hour trip out in Bodega last week, and truthfully it was super uncomfortable. I did get used to it after a while. A day later, my thyroid area was super tender and sore, on the front/lower part of my neck. Its feeling better now, but I am almost certain this is from the suit.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm certain a large would be too big for me, and I don't have an abnormally large neck or anything. Any tips/insight/advice on drysuit fit would be awesome.

Thanks all.