Nov/2, HMB Crab early report

Nice work y'all!  It's gonna be a couple weeks before I can make it out - super jealous for now though!

Wow, wow, wow!
You are all so good, i unlucky only 3 dunge, but almost 50lb sardine, so big and bite crazy , can be equal to 7 dung? 

That sounds like quite a haul of sardines. Were you catching them at night? Were there big schools of them cruising around inside the cans or something?

Looks like nice conditions. How was the boat traffic?

No line for the launch ramp and only about 5 kayakers out there. It was super quiet.

Wow, wow, wow!
You are all so good, i unlucky only 3 dunge, but almost 50lb sardine, so big and bite crazy , can be equal to 7 dung? 

That sounds like quite a haul of sardines. Were you catching them at night? Were there big schools of them cruising around inside the cans or something?

Catch at day time. This spring the sardine is small in Monterey Bay, but today in HMB is huge, some fish 1 lb or even more than 1 lb, some half lb. They traveling, sometime they bite crazy, sometime no bite. But always bite here and there when i am moving crab net and during waiting time.

12-24 feet deep, i tried different hook, this type is the best

Big swell in the dark pulling net, got sea sake…

It’s hard to believe that someone who can spend 12 days in a kayak gets seasick…

Nice catches! Yeah, I wondered how the sea sick happened for Mr X considering his other trips.

At midnight, the wind and swell much bigger than day time, when i pulling the net up, i have to see very near, need to focus on the small area where bright by headlight while my body up and down by swell like roller coaster, I cannot handle that , do getting sea sick. 

I launched just before 7 from HMB. Sea state not as bad as expected. Nice long period big swell. Limited out at 10:30 with all crabs above 6.5".

Congrats on the crab limit Tedski.   Where are the pictures? 

Okay, fine!   

Congrats on the limit and good to hear the conditions were better than expected - the forecast was pretty bleak. How deep are they holding?

Cheers,
Brad

50' is where I found them.  Dropped a few to scout 35' and in between with some luck, but 50' was very productive.

Finally got 4 dunge,  i am done today. Below is where i sink my net, its wrong spot?

Either spot problem, either bait problem. Any gentleman can point where i am wrong?

Thanks!

I have found 50' deep east of the green can to be as far as you need to go.  I've stopped going outside the reef for crab as I haven't found a need.  For bait, I use any fish head or frame from the freezer as chew bait and chunked mackerel, squid, jacksmelt, anchovy, whatever as my stink bait.  Hope that helps.

Tedski, next time I follow you

Hi all, may i ask a very stupid question?

As picture shows, the black and yellow stuff can eat? Or i have to remove it before freeze? Or before cook?

Usually i throw away everything except the leg and the white muscle, but i think should something I still can eat?

Thx

1st picture: the black stuff can eat?
2nd picture: the yellow stuff can eat?
3rd picture: I throw shells, something inside still can eat?

The yellow substance you see when cracking open a crab is called "crab fat" or "mustard." This is a mix of the crab's hepatopancreas, which functions similarly to a liver and pancreas in other animals. It is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption.

Crab fat is considered a delicacy by many and is rich in flavor, often described as creamy and savory. It can vary in color from yellow to orange, depending on the species of crab and its diet. While some people enjoy eating it, others prefer to avoid it.

The orange roes are found in female crabs.

Congrats y’all brave souls who went out today. I walked by Pacifica Pier and saw the swell (and no kayakers) and had no regrets about being dry on land!
Well done Tedski and crew

1st picture: the black stuff can eat?
2nd picture: the yellow stuff can eat?
3rd picture: I throw shells, something inside still can eat?

I eat everything except the gills and shell

Oops, looks I waste a lot, ok, next time i will eat everything except gills and shell too

Today I only got 4 dungeness,  but I bycatch a lot others 

Those look like jacksmelt. Didn't believe you when you said sardines were around HMB

Those look like jacksmelt. Didn't believe you when you said sardines were around HMB

Actually majority is sardine, please check below pictures. Which one us better taste?

Those look like jacksmelt. Didn't believe you when you said sardines were around HMB

Actually majority is sardine, please check below pictures. Which one us better taste?

The ones on the concrete look like Jack Mackerel.  Sardines have a tell tale series of dots down their lateral lines.

Those look like jacksmelt. Didn't believe you when you said sardines were around HMB

Actually majority is sardine, please check below pictures. Which one us better taste?

Most of those are Jack mackerel, also called Spanish mackerel. I do not see any sardines in that picture. You are lucky that there is no limit on Jack mackerel or jacksmelt. You shouldn’t be catching a fish you can’t identify.