Sonoma Crabbing (and possible end of season rockfishing?)

Hi All,

I am down in San Diego, thinking of coming up to visit my folks and family friends in Sonoma County for a couple of days, and also thinking of bringing kayak and crab traps (or possibly even bringing my 14ft skiff).

Wondering how the crabbing is around Bodega Bay and/or other relatively easily accessible areas now that the commercial season has opened?

I'd be interested in making some local connections to have some company on the water and learn the local spots.

FWIW, I've crabbed from my Hobie Revo up in SE Alaska.

Peter
https://www.instagram.com/pbfishes/

Hi Peter

The ocean has been rough lately and we could not go lately.
You should check the swell reports prior to your trip.

You might consider Doran Beach and will find other kayakers.

I will be in LA and planning to Lobster Hoop Netting this Sunday.

Paul

Let us know when you’re coming up and we’ll be sure to give you a better report.  Heck, some of us can join you and help you out.  I’ll likely be out somewhere Monday and Tuesday.

Kevin

I was just out at Doran Beach yesterday (Friday) and in four hours I managed 3 crabs total and no keepers. Everyone seemed to be pulling empty traps even after soaking overnight. What I heard from a local kid was that it’s been really slow the last several days.

I came up empty but the weather was beautiful. It’s forcasted to rain Sunday but Monday looks like good if you have time then. I’m thinking about making a trip further up for rockfish.

Doran is where I crab and I check wind conditions before going, not swells. The launch area is very well protected from swells but if the winds are high they will blow you out from the launch. There seems to always be folks in kayaks when I go.
The crabbing at Doran has been very slow, but did pick up a little the last time I was there, last Monday. Did get a limit, but after 7 hours and a lot of moving around of the pots. With the recent storms I think the crabs were hunkered down and not on the craw. When I got there folks were pulling up empty pots after an overnight soak. I can't imagine fishing for rockfish on top of the crabbing, more work then I'm capable of.
If you do, or did go out, I'd like to know how it went.

Thanks all for the reports and advice.

I cheated and brought the skiff. I went out on the 29th (Sunday). It was rainy and a washing machine outside of the harbor.

Interesting to hear folks say the rain/storm would have the crab hunkered down. In So. Cal everyone believes that a storm will get the lobster and (rock) crab to crawl.

Anyway, I certainly had no luck. Soaked a couple of traps at one area, and motored out toward the rocks. Dropped a hoop near a concentration of buoys. Tried for rockfish for a while (but didn't find any). Came back, couldn't find the hoop I'd dropped.

Checked the traps for nothing, reset them in a different spot and left to let them soak, as it was not real pleasant out there.


There was a small craft advisory Monday, which then got extended to Tuesday, but I looked at the surf report and the direction and figured the spots I dropped would relatively protected, and it was supposed to calm down in the evening. Anyway, took the boat to the ramp at Doran about 4:15pm and it was glassy. I was able to run out and pull the traps easy, but for nothing.

I guy I talked to at the ramp had had better luck with four hours of soaking further south.

Oh, and I got a call last night, my hoop washed up on the beach near the golf links. I had my phone number on the buoy. I was already back in SD, but the guy brought the hoop back to Sebastopol for my dad to pick up.