Crabbing report

Talked to a guy that owns a fish market in Bay Area today. He said his crabs are coming down from Oregon now. He said commercial crabbing in Northern California has been stopped until March 1st. Over fishing (crabbing) stated as reason. Anyone hear this? Interesting if true. Wouldn't bother me if they kept commies in for another month.

Talked to a guy that owns a fish market in Bay Area today. He said his crabs are coming down from Oregon now. He said commercial crabbing in Northern California has been stopped until March 1st. Over fishing (crabbing) stated as reason. Anyone hear this? Interesting if true. Wouldn't bother me if they kept commies in for another month.

I dont think thats true at all.

Its open till 07/30

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs3.asp#crab

I understand how long their season is open yearly, but is it not possible that a moratorium can be imposed?

I understand how long their season is open yearly, but is it not possible that a moratorium can be imposed?

Not on crabs, not that I am aware, I've been fishing for them for over 10 years I havent heard such. There are years thats been really slow on crabs and no closure was impose. 

Reports I've heard was that its just a slow year for the local guys. Buyers will go elsewhere if they can't fill orders locally.  Boats will stay tied up at the dock if the fishing is not profitable or there is a stretch of bad weather......like we just experienced.

Its likely that if an overfishing closure was imposed there'd be a bunch of threads on all the local forums......I've seen nothing so far. 

a lot local commercial crabbers opt to sell there catch themselves; the make more money when they do that.

What c-crabbers do sell to processors, most only make it to the local restaurants; and some major fish markets.

Also, they slowly start pulling there gear out as the fishing gets slower; no longer feasible for them to crab when they only get a few crabs per pots.

Oregon crabbing is a lot more productive, but the do not have the volume of consumers that we have in Calif; so they truck them down here.

I understand how long their season is open yearly, but is it not possible that a moratorium can be imposed?

Why? It's historically the most sustainable fishery in our area.

We are still fishing crab. It's not closed. Just slow with around a crab a pot. Off the boat sales price is at $9/lb.

 There are plenty of sports legal crab out there. Our gear is coming up with dozens of crab per pot that are just sub commercial size but well within sports size. Many of these are what I call jail bait, crabs that look like they are legal commercial size. They are heavy and hard with deep bodies and thick legs, but when measured are a hair shy of legal commercial size, but good quality crab.

I understand how long their season is open yearly, but is it not possible that a moratorium can be imposed?

Why? It's historically the most sustainable fishery in our area.

We are still fishing crab. It's not closed. Just slow with around a crab a pot. Off the boat sales price is at $9/lb.

 There are plenty of sports legal crab out there. Our gear is coming up with dozens of crab per pot that are just sub commercial size but well within sports size. Many of these are what I call jail bait, crabs that look like they are legal commercial size. They are heavy and hard with deep bodies and thick legs, but when measured are a hair shy of legal commercial size, but good quality crab.

Moral of the story is follow Sharky around with a big net ... sport size crabs are flying over the side of the boat!