Maiden Crabbing Paddle

Today I made my first crabbing paddle.  Ravensblack had generously let me try his OK Trident 13 (thanks Craig!) and I took it to Bodega Bay.  The weather was clear with a southwest wind of about 5 knots and a swell of 1-2 feet.  I launched at Doran Beach.  There were several other crabbers with pots in the bay.  Almost all were to the left of the jetty; one was beyond the jetty, to the right between Bodega Rock and Bodega Head.  As a newbie I figured that I would drop my 2 Danielson pots near most of the others.  I found out that it takes a bit of dexterity to move pots and lines from behind the seat to in front to set them up for dropping.  I was particularly careful after my capsizing experience in San Pablo Bay.  The T13 rode straighter than my Malibu Stealth 9, as I expected.  However it didn't seem as stable despite its greater length because it is narrower.  After I dropped my pots I rigged a jig for rock fish or ling cod and paddled past the jetty then out between Bodega Rock and Bodega Head.  I didn't get any bites but I was serenaded by the many sea lions on Bodega Rock.  The harbor seals on the rocks below Bodega Head just watched me.  I paddled back to my pots and noticed that the wind had shifted to a northeast wind of about 5 knots.  Here I will confess my ignorance about distinguishing between rock crab and red crab.  The first pot had two small rock or red crabs that I released as well as a 6" rock or red crab and a 6 1/4" Dungeness that I kept.  The second pot also had two small rock or red crabs that I released and a 5" rock or red crab that I kept.  I didn't have my camera with me but I took a photo of the three crab that I kept after I got home and cooked them.  (Sorry it's somewhat blurry).  Can someone tell me whether the crabs on the left and in the middle are rock crab or red crab?  The CDFG website has an article that distinguishes them but I couldn't tell for sure.  The site says the rock crab have red spots on the underside; these crabs had some red on the underside but not distinct spots.  Other websites refer to red rock crab which confused me even more.  Nevertheless, I had a great first day of crabbing and look forward to many more.

Thanks for the report and pic.

At first glance of the picture I thought 2 dungies and one red rock crab, despite the one in the middle looking...well, more red than any cooked dungie I've seen. After looking at the DFG identification site, my best guess would be Red Rock Crab, Red Crab (middle) and the Dungeness is obvious. Would be most helpful if we could see the claws on the crab in the middle.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/dungeness_crab.asp#cancroid

http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/species_profiles/82_11-117.pdf

As I understand, there are a few types of Rock Crab, including Red, Yellow and Brown. Red Crab would be a different species and of course Dungeness as well. Although all closely related.

If anyone has a more definitive answer or if I am off in my interpretation, please let me know.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Josh

Let one ... rock crab.
Middle one ... red rock crab, aka red crab.
Right one ... dungeness.

-Allen

Thanks for the report and pic.

At first glance of the picture I thought 2 dungies and one red rock crab, despite the one in the middle looking...well, more red than any cooked dungie I've seen. After looking at the DFG identification site, my best guess would be Red Rock Crab, Red Crab (middle) and the Dungeness is obvious. Would be most helpful if we could see the claws on the crab in the middle.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/dungeness_crab.asp#cancroid

http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/species_profiles/82_11-117.pdf

As I understand, there are a few types of Rock Crab, including Red, Yellow and Brown. Red Crab would be a different species and of course Dungeness as well. Although all closely related.

If anyone has a more definitive answer or if I am off in my interpretation, please let me know.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Josh

Thanks a lot, Josh.  The nwrc site was helpful in clarifying that the reds and the browns are both types of rock crab.  The illustration also shows some differences between them.  And the map indicates that north of SF Bay reds are more abundant than browns.

Gary

Let one ... rock crab.
Middle one ... red rock crab, aka red crab.
Right one ... dungeness.

-Allen

Thanks, Allen.  The voice of experience!

Gary

Good job out there! You'll be pulling limits in no time!

Thanks for the post Yaknfish.  Nice try on the crawlers.  The main thing in IDing crabs is the pincer tips.  Rockies (reds and Pacific's) have black tips and Dungies have white.  And if the crab looks like a wicked, red long legged mini King Crab then you have a Kelp Crab.  Avoid the Kelp crabs as the shells are even harder than the rockies.