Tomales & Crab

QQ, I was out behind Hog Island in Tomales today. Only had one bite.  However, I noticed a lot of crab traps.  Since Crab season does not open till Nov 5, why are these out there?  Other kinds of crabs?  -- the DFG website is just awful, I can't tell one crab from another.

I was scouting where I plan to put my brand new traps in Nov, what is the gentleman's rule on distance between traps (mine and someone elses)

ps.  No one checked those crab traps all day!

I'm curious.  I believe you can catch rock crab all year.  No dungies yet!  Dungeness doesn't open until the first Saturday in November which lands on Nov. 2 this year.

As far as distance between traps, I always leave as much space between pots as possible with a minimum distance being enough that the ropes don't get tangled with other.  Don't forget to allow for tide changes.

They might be scouting the area.... Im going to do the same this thursday.  Going to try out different baits, and maybe take some reds home, those are in season all year long.
Got two different types of traps to test out also.

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You will know a rock crab, it is the Popeye of the Crab world, all forearm or is that foreclaw? Red in color. Tends to be meaner and more onry than a dunghy.

If the claw is white tipped, it is a Dungeness crab. If it is black tipped, it is a rock crab.