New to California. Also new to kayaking and fishing...

Been using crab snares with herring and calamari.  Bolinas

Thanks again for the info. More questions for anyone willing to answer:

The season/closure issues only affect dungeness crab, correct? So am I free to go out for other crab species year round?

Are there any crab in Richardson Bay, or would I be wasting my time there?

Thanks again everybody, and sorry for the 20 questions. With the weather getting nicer I'm getting pretty eager to get out there!

Just today they opened more of the state for dungeness,,,,, rock crab closure is different, this just an excerpt from the dfg press release, note the last paragraph.

March 18, 2016

Closure of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line has been lifted, and opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery - delayed since November - is set for March 26 in the same region.
 
Recent test results show that domoic acid levels in crabs off the California coast south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line no longer pose a significant human health risk, according to notice given today to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) by the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), after consultation with the Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
 
As a result, the director of OEHHA recommends opening the Dungeness crab fishery in this area. Under emergency closure regulations, CDFW will provide commercial Dungeness crab fishermen at least seven days' notice before the re-opening of the commercial fishery south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line. The fishery will open at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 26. The presoak period, during which commercial fishermen may begin setting gear in place, starts at 6:01 a.m. Friday, March 25.
 
Closures remain in place north of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line for the Dungeness crab commercial and recreational fisheries. The commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries are closed north of Piedras Blancas Light Station near San Simeon, and in state waters around San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands.
 

Heads up if you are going to purchase crab traps:

There are new rules going into effect later this year for required escape rings that are larger than the ones currently on some of hte most popular traps, and they will need to be tied with rotten cotton.  You will also need to put your GO ID number from yyour fishing licence on the buoy. 

This only applies to traps, not to the rings that lay flat on the ocean floor.

Welcome!

Heads up if you are going to purchase crab traps:

There are new rules going into effect later this year for required escape rings that are larger than the ones currently on some of hte most popular traps, and they will need to be tied with rotten cotton.  You will also need to put your GO ID number from yyour fishing licence on the buoy. 

This only applies to traps, not to the rings that lay flat on the ocean floor.

Welcome!

Thanks! I did do quite a bit of research into traps/nets/etc, so the trap issue was on my radar. I think I'm going to start with a couple of the conical nets (Promar Ambush most likely) and see how those work. Thanks for the heads up on the buoy markings as well.

Welcome to the Madness!  I learned everything I know from NCKA...Hope to see you OTW sometime!