Google comes up with device called iBobber. A huge upgrade in the fish call market.  This is THE gadget, app and everything!
Also what would AOTY think of that?

Scotty

Got one of these for christmas from some well-meaning fam this year.  Haven't gotten the chance to try it yet but I imagine it would be good for determining structure if you're working the edge of a pond/lake/river?  That is, of course, if it works as intended lol which I am skeptical of - but I'm def. adding it to the tackle box at the next lakeside camping session.

Saw the forecast was mellow, and wanted to practice some surf launching, went out to Rockaway right as the sun was rising.  After playing around in the surf a little, I went out a bit in search of structure, and found it.  I was jigging with shrimp flies and squid.

Got one rockfish (not pictured), and a ling that got off the line right as I was trying to get it into the boat  . However about 20 minutes before I was going to head in to get to work, I got a slam, and pulled out a 26" Striper ~8lb. 

Conditions were beautiful the whole morning.

Cheers everyone!

P.S. I might try heading to San Pedro Rock out of Rockaway or the more southernly beach this Saturday if anyone wants to join.

The tech for active ropeless retrieval is prohibitively expensive.  They know this, and even mention it in the bill, and are planning on "California innovation" to solve the issue.

This is probably the heart of the issue, similar to 'no-emmissions vehicles legislature' to force change. 

I think the difference here is that the amount of money to be made in innovation here is low because, let's be honest, the target market is small.  I can see lower price-point commercial options being worth developing, but even if every recreational crabber in northern California bought 4 of some new traps you invented, there seems like a real chance you wouldn't ever really earn back your R&D cost on such a niche item whos costs will inevitably be higher than what we currently have.

My guess is innovation for folks like us will actually just create devices which technically skirt the rules one way or another.  So this is basically saying 'Yo we don't like this and you have 4 years to figure it out'.

Either way I am watching this with interest.  Ironically, and counter to the point I'm making, as soon as I saw this I thought 'OK time to start working with the people I know on a low-cost, low-tech, ropeless crab trap and make a mint during crab season 2025' haha.

Hope this doesn't go through, though I appreciate the sentiment behind it.  Sadly though when I read this, and when other people do on their ballots, it sounds entirely reasonable if you aren't familiar with the sport, so I'm guessing the folks who don't understand the nuances opinions will outweigh the crabbers unless some public education/lobbying is done.

Went out on Friday last week for crabs and dabs in HMB, since weather seemed permitting. Dropped a few pots out near the green/red buoy in HMB.  Got one big rock crab (pictured here), then the conditions started getting a bit more intense, so decided to head in.  I had planned to head out a bit deeper to try my luck at dabs, but I'd rather play it safe than sorry since I'm no old-hand, and I knew I'd need to manage to traps.  Ended up dropping a few pots south of the mouth, going to shore, and letting em soak.  Came back 90 minutes later to nicely filled pots of rock crabs (and lots of baby dungies). 

Total of 7 keepers, most pretty large.  Later at home, spent a few hours getting the meat out and used the ~1lb to make a giant batch of crab cakes for breakfast and the super bowl. Spoke to a few others while I was out at HMB, can just add evidence to the existing sentiment that dungies are tricky this year.  But I'm in for some rock crabs!

Also, attaching some fun pics since I don't really use social media but enjoy taking process pics of harvest -> food.

Had some earlier attachment problem so here's a link to the pics!

https://imgur.com/a/JzfBqu7

Asolor, Herefishy, LMK what you hear.  You can consider me a +1 if they need some headcount for the session to fire.

Hey everyone, wanted to say howdy!  Been living in SF for close to 8 years now, and only just starting to appreciate the incredible opportunities for salt water fishing.  I just recently purchased my first Kayak, and I've found so many threads here helpful for general 'yakkery, as well as good insights into local spots, and fish to target.

Went out for the first time today, at Oyster point.  No bites, but honestly half of what I was doing was just getting used to operating a Kayak and managing the gear.  It was super fun to paddle around and to target locations on the nautical map with my phone .  Cannot wait to get a fish finder with some GPS so I can take a look at the bottom structure and look around for some awesome rockfish spots to 'bookmark' before the season ends.

Looking forward to chatting with y'all, getting the inside scoop, and hopefully having some good info of my own to share soon!

Cheers!