updated crab pots to be California Legal.

How many of your crab pots have been modified to be California legal?
I see a bunch of youtubers go crabbing with standard danielson pots that haven’t been modified. Is it considered poaching if your using pots to catch crab that aren’t legal? What are your guys thoughts on this or am I thinking too much into this?

It is easy to modify old Danielsons to comply with the new regulations and sometimes it isn't easy to see the modification like cotton cord that holds up one of the sides as a giant escape hatch. So unless you get a good look you may not be able to tell if it is legal. I had a guy come up and harass me about my traps one time even though they were completely legal.

There were a bunch of old threads on how to modify crab traps when the regs changed.  I would say most NCKAers at the time modified their traps. But, it's been a while and a lot of new members so...

Now, if you see illegal pots being used by YouTubers, feel free to use the CalTip App or call the CalTip hotline:  1(888)334-2258 or Text 847-411 and begin the text with, "CalTip."

Sure, some folks will say, "Haters gonna hate," and I do.    I hate poachers... and that goes double for UTubers that post illegal/unsafe content. This past season had a bunch of salmon videos where dudes were using barbed hooks... unreal. Then there was a guy who was posting all his "amazing " catches... where he was keeping prohibited fish and was WAAAAY over his possession limits.

If they're dumb enough to post their crimes for all to see... stupid should hurt.   

There were a bunch of old threads on how to modify crab traps when the regs changed.  I would say most NCKAers at the time modified their traps. But, it's been a while and a lot of new members so...

Now, if you see illegal pots being used by YouTubers, feel free to use the CalTip App or call the CalTip hotline:  1(888)334-2258 or Text 847-411 and begin the text with, "CalTip."

Sure, some folks will say, "Haters gonna hate," and I do.    I hate poachers... and that goes double for UTubers that post illegal/unsafe content. This past season had a bunch of salmon videos where dudes were using barbed hooks... unreal. Then there was a guy who was posting all his "amazing " catches... where he was keeping prohibited fish and was WAAAAY over his possession limits.

If they're dumb enough to post their crimes for all to see... stupid should hurt.   

Fake news.

I didn’t get a good look at his video due to
him editing around him opening his pots and showing him emptying out his pot. Lots of videos show the giant rubber band that connects to the rotten cotton which holds the door to the pot. I didn’t see that in the video or his escape rings being opened up and rot cord applied. If your going to be illegal why post it on youtube? I’ve confronted the same guy two seasons ago and he still hasn’t done anything to modify his pots....

Anyone have a good source for 4.5" rigid metal hoops?

Edit - I ordered these:
https://www.carversoldeiron.com/collections/craft-supply/products/20-pc-4-1-2-round-welded-steel-rings-crafting-hoops-macrame-circle-holder

People new to crabbing should take a look at the Crabbing requirement summary, especially the "Destruct Device" section... https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=150181&inline

and the Best Practice guide... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Skrw4BjueOGF6mJTSsB8f07LO0uA1FjD/view?mc_cid=ecf31053f7&mc_eid=a9091fb6c6

People new to crabbing should take a look at the Crabbing requirement summary, especially the "Destruct Device" section... https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=150181&inline

and the Best Practice guide... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Skrw4BjueOGF6mJTSsB8f07LO0uA1FjD/view?mc_cid=ecf31053f7&mc_eid=a9091fb6c6

I've read both of those. I've removed the fixed rings and bent both openings to 5". As I read it, replacing the original 4" rings with 4.5" and tying each in place with a single string of cotton twine twine should meet the regulations for both the two 4.5" escape holes and the self destruct mechanism - someone please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't crabbed in a few years.

Ibewyakattack83 Wrote:

<snipped> I’ve confronted the same guy two seasons ago and he still hasn’t done anything to modify his pots

Mark answered this as to what you can do:

<snipped> Now, if you see illegal pots being used by YouTubers, feel free to use the CalTip App or call the CalTip hotline:  1(888)334-2258 or Text 847-411 and begin the text with, "CalTip."

So what would qualify as an ‘old’ danielson trap that would require modification?   Mine are probably 4 years old so not sure.  I will look at them tomorrow and check the measurements. 

your escape ring would need be installed with rotten cord, and it should opened up to 5 inch diameter. Every trap should have one destruct device on the trap. I’m sure you’ll find more info online on what exactly you need.

Will connecting the a door or two with rotting cord suffice as an option instead of hacking the ring out?

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=150181&inline

this pdf has the info you need

I do ambush runs even on my danielson traps. So I just took one of the rings out and bent the tabs where the ring connected to give it a 5” opening. No ring and no cotton needed. Already wide open for them to escape if they want to before I ambush them