Crabbing Between Monterey and Half Moon Bays

Greetings All,

Looking for someone to show me the dungeness crabbing ropes. I have most of the needed gear but am really just interested in tagging along to watch and learn...

Any willing teachers?

Thanks,
Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

did you read this?


http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=18

Hi Mooch, yes Chuck's article was one of the first I read on the forum way back when (before I even acquired my Trident) that got me jazzed on dropping some traps.

His article, along with this one from Coastside (http://www.coastsidefishingclub.com/crabbing) offer a great deal of information, but this will be the first time I have my boat in salt water (not counting the Elkhorn Slough), so I wanted to go out with someone experienced. I also suspect there's a difference between "reading" and "doing".

Thanks for your reply!
Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

Would wait for a really calm day and launch out of HMB. Pigeon Point would be the other option but the crabbing isn't very good there. The HMB area is pretty picked over so you will have to work hard for your crabs. Most of the other locations are surf launches so probably not a good choice unless the swell is < 2-3ft. Wiping out with crab traps is really nasty and there is a chance you will lose them if they are not tied down. I've been waiting for 6 weeks for a good day and I am still waiting.

I'd also add that you should be pretty comfortable with your boat before you go out and do this.  Handling crab pots in wake, swells, wind chop, etc can be a bit more difficult than rod and reel fishing...

Thanks guys, great advice all around. I'll continue to monitor this "Hookups" sub-forum looking for the right opportunity...

Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

I'm running a string of crabpots off my Arima 19 in 160-180 ft of water in front of the towers but its 4 miles out and a bit far/deep for a kayak.

There are plenty of crabs so while its not like the beginning of the season I wouldn't call it picked over.

The shallow water crabbing out of HMB usually doesn't pick up until April or later.  Like people said pick a flat day.

I assume you're just dropping for a couple of hours not over night or extended soaks.  I would head South out of the entrance and cheat a little East towards Surfer's Beach.  Dungies are on sand and mud and that is the configuration in that direction.  If you go out and around the breakwater towards the reef there's plenty of rock crab, but again you need a really flat day.  Not a lot of those lately.

Some jackass dropped some pots right out in front in the entrance channel with coils of rope zip tied together floating on the surface a couple of weeks ago.  They are gone now.  Please be aware of the high traffic areas and stay out of them.

JWR, thanks for the recommendations/advice. Yes, I have 3 collapsible Promar traps that I'll drop and will do so out of the boating lanes. I'd planned a 3-5 hour soak before pulling them. Regarding rope... I'm planning on picking up a 300' shot of 5/16" poly lead core sinking line ($50), something like what shown at the following:

http://www.blueoceantackle.com/rope.htm

Thanks again,
Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

VG heads-up, a great crab pot line, Thanks. Check out the "Black Pearl"  on the Blue Ocean Tackle Inc. home page. Come on now, one of you well funded yakers could buy this vessel.  A mothership like this will make NCKA world famous!