Pm sent

Been wanting to order some gear from this site. Lots of cool stuff. http://www.redwoodcoastspreaderbars.com/default.asp

Steve

I'll be there! Been scrambling to get the gear together but it came out nicely. Still kinda confused as to where to launch but it'll work out. See you there dark and early!
Steve

They used to plant trout in there when they first built the park. Probably over 15+ years ago now? They would put in a temporary wooden dam in the spring, then take it out in the fall. down where the other creek meets. Not sure if they do it anymore but im sure it had something to do with city funds or water flow.

My knowledge is solely based off pb's but hopefully helpful. My bait always is chosen by the amount of time the trap is going to sit in the water.
Squid last a long time in the jars. So if i plan on soaking for multiple days and leave the pots out. I fill the jars with half squid chopped up. I always put in sone type of oily fish like mackerel, sardines, jack smelt, or anything thats going to dissolve faster than the squid.
In addition to the bait jars, I always hang a big solid food source like fish carcasses of chicken if i dont have any fish. Without a solid food for them to eat, they'll start eating each other or try their hardest to escape if they're not occupied.
So short soaks get pure mackerel and long soaks get a squid combo.
I never move my pots within 24 hours. Crabs find your pots by following the sent trail from your bait as it moves down curent. If you move your gear, you end the sent trail and they have to start over again in their search for your pots.
Great infor in this thread. Thanx for the question!

Steve

   Crab season started off bad but at least everyone went home safe.  In a last minute decision, I decided to load the crab pots in the truck and head down to the Santa Cruz Harbor.  The weather was cooperating and heard it was nice once you got out of the harbor.  My boat "Lorikay2" is more than well equipped to handle the situation so off I went. 
   Waited in the harbor channel for a lull in the swell that was breaking clear across, and made it through without any problems.  My initial plane was to drop my pots in 200' and fish for sand dabs while the pots soaked.  The wind was already blowing about 7-10kts but the swell wasn't bad.  Just big and roll'y
   As I'm heading out, and 3/4 of a mile from the harbor, I pass what I thought was a solo kayaker.  I made sure to stay far away, not wanting to hit him with any wake on an already challenging day.  I pass him and after a few seconds look back and make sure I didn't get too close, even though he was a few hundred yards off to the side.
   As I spot him again, I notice this time he's holding his paddle straight up in the air.  I figure he could be signaling so I slow down.  He and I both rise up on top of a large set and this time I see he's waving his paddle back and forth.  I throttle back up and race over to find an elderly man sitting in his kayak while holding onto an empty kayak with and old women in the water hanging off the side.   
   I instantly call the coast guard and ask for assistance, EMS, and support from Santa Cruz harbor patrol.  I gave them location, quick situation, and number of people involved.
   
    (On a side note. USCG records everything that is said over channel 16.  If you can quickly and clearly report information, they can at least get things started while you deal with your situation and play back the information you've sent out.)

   I pull the boat just up wind of them so that they sat in the lee of my boat.  The man in the kayak held onto the boat while I grabbed onto both of the woman's hands.  She's hypothermic and weak and obviously been in the water for a while.  But at least she had on a PFD.  No wetsuit of course.  So I hold her hands and walk her to the back of the boat.  Have her hold onto the motor as I shut it off.  Once I get back to her, I have her hold one of my hands as she holds onto the motor with her other.  I reach around the motor and trim the motor up so that it lifted her in as I pulled her up. 
   I left the guy who was safe and told him I'd send help or come back to get him and the empty kayak.  Reported back to the coast guard and they had arranged everything for us back at the fuel dock.
   EMS took her and she seemed fine.  Apparently she had gotten dizzy and fell into the water. Not sure how long she had been in the water.  I didn't really stick around since my boat was getting beat against the fuel dock from the swell coming in the mouth.
   So be safe out there.  Know your limitations and always be equipped for the worst.  Know how to self rescue.  Even if it means knowing how to get into a boat from the water.  I've heard several stories about boaters not being able to get people out of the water and into their boat.  But often times, we're your best bet

F&G posted this tutorial the other day.

https://cdfwmarine.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/new-recreational-dungeness-crab-regulations/