crabbing rules

What are the crabbing rules? traps vs hoops, areas, seasons, using a yak vs boat vs pier? I would like to get some crabs but I don't know where/when to go, what to use etc...   Give me some help.

For rules refer to the current Ocean Sport Fishing booklet that comes with your license and/or go to the DFG website.

I prefer these small 32" rings:  http://www.boatersworld.com/product/479952186.htm
as I can carry them on my kayak, are all set to go with ropes and floats, and are a good price, but everyone has personal preferences.

I've learned a lot just quietly observing the more experienced folks do their crabbing, and reading the kayak crabbing posts here.   Of course one can crab off a pier without a boat but I enjoy being out on the water, bobbing around on my tiny kayak.   Read the kayak crabbing article on the home page here.

I do my crabbing so far (I'm a beginner) in shallow waters in the mouths of calm estuaries, not on the open ocean,  but so far this year the crabs seem further out to sea and deeper.   Make friends with an experienced crabber with a Zodiac and offer to crew? 

Good luck and above all, just enjoy and be safe.

What are the crabbing rules? traps vs hoops, areas, seasons, using a yak vs boat vs pier? I would like to get some crabs but I don't know where/when to go, what to use etc...   Give me some help.

Here's some help:

At the upper right hand side of the page, there is a little magnifying glass, a text window, and a button marked "Search". If you click on the  magnifying glass, you get advanced search. Enter the word "crabbing" in the text box under Search for:, and SEVEN pages of posts regarding crabbing are shown. You can enter the forums to search through, the name of the poster, and even the age of the posts. Most of your questions are easily answered by using forum search.

I normally wouldn't bring this up, but you seem to have a habit of asking questions in the General forum that 1) have answers that are easily found using search, and 2) should be asked in a topical forum. E.g. this question itself should go in General Fishing Tips, don't you think?

Then there's the whole concept of STFW. Just click on this link: http://www.google.com/search?q=california%20sport%20crab%20regulations

Using search puts all this information at your fingertips, and who knows, maybe you'll run into unexpected information while you are looking for something else.

Regards,
Scott

I'm in the mood for crab!

I'll try to remember to use the search function in the future.

Hey Scott, that link to Google with the Bodega report has the squid report on it. The jackpot winner that they mention (Jesse) is my son. They spelled the last name wrong but he got his monster. 

I like using 2 rings at Muir beach, in a row so you can deal with one after another, then crack a beer and give it a half hour. If you use your fish carcasses for bait, dont use more than 5 trout or 2 stripers etc, cause they count as a possesion limit. Dont let them bite your finger... great videos, that one pot was some kind of full!

It's pretty simple:
10 dungenesse crabs per fishing license

you must have a crab measuring device with you

There's a trap limit but its like 20 or something, but then I haven't been able to get more than 15 on my kayak.

Oh, and no crabbing in San Francisco Bay, except (check me on this) on a public pier.
That's for dungies, rock crab are legal in the bay.