Crabbing Monterey?

Has anyone tried Crabbing in Monterey and had any luck?  If so where's the hot spot? 
Thanks!

I asked the same questions to everyone I know, and got the same answer.  Dungeness dont go that far south due to water temp. (shrugs)

Should be some since Morro Bay has a population

Crabs
Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister)
Status of the Population:
Dungeness crab populations in California have been fully exploited for at least 40
years and fishing intensity is extreme (Leet et al. 2001). In most years, between 80 to
90 percent of all available legal-sized male crabs are taken (Leet et al. 2001).
Although such high exploitation rates on adult males might give rise to concerns that
female mating success might be reduced as a consequence, recent studies have
shown that essentially all molting females receive attention from males in northern
California (Leet et al. 2001). Usually one, and no more than two year-classes of male
crabs dominate annual landings. Thus, since about 1960, annual landings provide a
reasonable notion of abundance of legal-sized males and also provide a strong
signal of variation in year class strength of recruited crabs (Leet et al. 2001).
The dramatic decline in Dungeness crab catches in the central California fishery
during the late 1950s focused considerable research attention on this resource
during the 1970s. No definitive cause for the decline in the central California fishery
has been established although researchers have assessed the possible effects of
changes in ocean climate on survival and development of crabs eggs and larvae, the
role of nemertean worm predation on egg survival, the effects of pollution on survival
of juvenile crabs in San Francisco Bay, and possibly unstable internal population
dynamics (Leet et al. 2001). Of these possible causes, a shift to warmer waters
during and following the decline during the late 1950s seems the most plausible
(Leet et al. 2001). If correct, the abundance of crabs in the central California fishery
may improve over the next two decades if California coastal water temperatures
remain cooler as a consequence of apparent ocean regime shifts (Leet et al. 2001).
There seems little doubt that crab populations, with their extremely fecundities and
vulnerable early larvae stages, are prone to large natural fluctuations in abundance.
Variable oceanographic factors (temperature, wind, currents) have important impacts
on survival (Leet et al. 2000)
Home Range/Migratory Patterns:
Dungeness crabs range from the Aleutian Islands to Point Conception. They prefer
sandy to sandy-mud bottoms and can be found from the intertidal zone to depths of at
least 750 feet but are most abundant in depths less than 300 feet. The resource off
California consists of five subpopulations in the following areas: Avila-Morro Bay,
Monterey, San Francisco, Fort Bragg and Eureka-Crescent City. Movement patterns by
individuals of both sexes appear to be random with males moving more than
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females. At times, inshore or offshore migrations have been noted. Most movements
are less than 10 miles, but some individuals have moved up to 100 miles.
Dungeness crab larvae are planktonic for up to 125 days and go through six larval
stages, first being transported offshore then onshore before transforming to the
benthic adult stage. Estuaries such as San Francisco and Humboldt Bays are
important nursery areas for young crabs but, given the limited availability of such
habitats, most Dungeness crabs develop and grow in nearshore coastal waters.
Current Regulations:
The commercial fishery is managed under a restrictive permit system which is
generally open only to prior Dungeness crab permit holders and designed to
eventually reduce the number of fishery participants. In 2001 there were 586 resident
and 66 non-resident permittees which represents a decrease of 46 permits since the
system was implemented in 1995. The fishery is closed from July 16 through
November 30 north of Sonoma County and from July 1 through November 14
elsewhere. In addition, certain estuaries and areas near river mouths are closed to
commercial take. Only male crabs with a minimum size of 6¼ inches carapace width
may be taken. Traps must have at least two 4¼ inch diameter escape openings to
allow females and undersize males to leave the trap. Traps must also be fitted with a
destruct devise to allow them to open and crabs to escape if the trap is lost or not
retrieved. Incidental take by trawl vessels is prohibited south of Point Reyes and
limited to 500 pounds north of that point. No vessel may take crabs for commercial
and recreational purposes on the same day.
Recreational closed seasons are from August 1 to the Saturday before December 1
north of Sonoma County and from July 1 to the Saturday before the second Tuesday in
November elsewhere. The general daily bag limit is 10 crabs per person with a
minimum size limit of 5 ¾ inches carapace width. In Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco,
San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties when onboard a commercial
passenger fishing vessel (CPFV), the daily bag limit is six crabs per person with a
minimum size of 6 inches carapace width. In addition, no more than a total of 60
traps may be used by a CPFV to take crabs. San Francisco and San Pablo Bays from
the Golden Gate Bridge to the Carquinez Bridge are closed to crab fishing.
Although Dungeness crab populations have produce landings that have fluctuated
around a fairly stable long term mean for more than thirty years, current fishery
regulations generally appear effective in maintaining the population at productive
levels and the resource might be considered healthy. However, no formal fishery
management plan or stock assessments have been produced for west coast
population.
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How MPAs May Help:
Establishing relatively large reserves in Dungeness crab habitat might result in higher
overall abundances, larger individuals and the presence of more age classes,
primarily for male crabs, as a result of the elimination of fishing pressure within those
areas. Since crabs move randomly over moderate distances, some would be
expected to become available to the fishery outside the reserves. Because crab
larvae are planktonic and transported over large distances, most of those produced
inside the reserves are expected to be exported to other areas. Whether more larvae
would be produced in the reserves is questionable since female crabs are already
protected from take and more of the reserve population is likely to be composed of
males. Since such reserves would protect other exploited species as well, the
ecosystem functions of crabs might be altered as a result of more intense
competition and predator/prey interactions. Similarly, reserves would also protect
habitats valuable to Dungeness crabs from a variety of potential fishing activity related
impacts.