Does anyone go crabbing in or around humboldt bay?

Does anyone go crabbing in or around humboldt bay?

Yes!  Try searching the site for "Humboldt Bay" for old posts on it.  Trinidad was very productive last year and easy access, but we also had some good days near the bay opening.  Good luck!   

thanks LoletaEric... is their a group of NCKA's doing opening weekend in your area?   I live near redding and would like to get to know some northerners...

Ill be crabbing that week will probably drop the pots Monday or Tuesday not sure 100% yet.

thanks LoletaEric... is their a group of NCKA's doing opening weekend in your area?   I live near redding and would like to get to know some northerners...

Will - I think there may be a group doing the opener at Trinidad, but myself and a few buddies will be at the mouth of the Eel for midnight opener.  Friday evening the 4th we stage at 10PM, get a fire going, drop the traps right at midnight, and hopefully we're eating fresh hot crab by 1:30 and wrapping it up around 3AM...  It's a burn, but what a blast!  If you're interested in going just stay in touch.   

If I don't join up with LoletaEric at O'dark 30, I am hoping to be kayak crabbing out of Trinidad Saturday morning and/or Sunday.

dropping pots at night sounds kool...  but pullin them and doing crab battle in the dark... might require some skill training for me... ive crabbed before years ago... but never by kayak... but i would definetely like to join the expidition group... is there a place to camp tent or car?  where do we launch?  what can i bring for the group?

what are the pot dropping depths?  i think i have 60' sections... will there be motor boater traffic to contend with?

Hi Will,

When I kayak at Trinidad, I launch from the beach adjacent to the boat ramp, going out early before the wind picks up.  We don't paddle far, usually between the red buoy and Pilot Rock, dropping crab rings and/or pots in about 50' of water. Crabbing from a kayak is a blast!

dropping pots at night sounds kool...  but pullin them and doing crab battle in the dark... might require some skill training for me... ive crabbed before years ago... but never by kayak... but i would definetely like to join the expidition group... is there a place to camp tent or car?  where do we launch?  what can i bring for the group?

If you're not comfortable with the night mission to start off then Trinidad would be a good option on opening day (if the ocean and wind are nice).  If you're into the night trip at the mouth of the Eel it's straight down Cannibal Island Road to the west end at "Crab Park" (Google in on Loleta - 101 down the hill through town, right on Eel River Drive then left on Cannibal Island Road).  There's a small parking lot and easy access (40' from the truck) to the water.  The estuary is flat water, and, unless there's a wind storm, we'll be dealing with only a few acres of very shallow water - no more than 20', and usually below 10'.  Rings are king here, but pots will work - salmon bellies are deadly...  As for camping, I'm not sure of the rules there, but it's a possibility - it's kinda an end-of-the-road spot and not so desirable for camping, but the kinetic racers stay there overnight...  Domenic and I live in Loleta - 4 miles up the road, so it's home turf for us.  I won't blame Brandi if she can't make it, as a 40 minute drive home at 3-4AM may be a bit much - but I hope you do make it, Brandi, and Greg, Jimmy and crew too!  As for what to bring, we will have gear to build a fire, boil water, and eat crab - plus a BYOB situation...  Other than that you have to aim to stay dry, warm and well lit.  A few years back I midnight crabbed a near full moon and never even used a light the entire time!  Other years it's definitely good to have glow sticks for your gear and a good headlight as well as backup sources.  Another cool story of years past was a solo trip maybe 3 years ago - it was windy as hell and 70 degrees at midnight!  That was nuts!  I think I got one legal crab in the hurricane.  Had an absolute blast.   

is this weather front gonna put a dampner on the crabbing?  looks like winds and rain... 

i take it theres only one boat launch in trinidad?  for brandi... so whats your determining factor to crabbing sat or sun? wind? rain?

great info loletaeric...  thanks...  i think im gonna play it safe this year, at least till i earn some skills... when do you crab this area during the day?

great info loletaeric...  thanks...  i think im gonna play it safe this year, at least till i earn some skills... when do you crab this area during the day?

We hit it during the day, but it's not as strong of an opportunity for nice crab as the bay or ocean are.  It also gets "crabbed out" pretty quickly, so the midnight run may be one of the only times I crab there.  Good luck up at Trinidad.   

is this weather front gonna put a dampner on the crabbing?  looks like winds and rain... 

i take it theres only one boat launch in trinidad?  for brandi... so whats your determining factor to crabbing sat or sun? wind? rain?

Yes, only one boat launch with a hoist and rail.  Some back their trailers down to the beach and launch where the kayaks launch. 

Cajun / Greg from Pacific Outfitters is going to launch at 9am with whoever wants to join, I may go earlier as I want to make sure I get to the Kokotat factory sale before 2pm.  For Sunday, my determining factor is if I am not working.  I think its going to be wet both days. 

PT ST GEORGE TO CAPE MENDOCINO OUT 10 NM-
126 PM PDT THU NOV 3 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING
THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

FRI NIGHT
N WIND 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING E AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 10 TO 12 FT AT 13 SECONDS.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN.

SAT
S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 4 FT. NW SWELL
10 FT. SHOWERS.

SAT NIGHT
SW WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW
SWELL 10 FT. SHOWERS.

SUN
SW WIND 5 KT...BECOMING N. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW
SWELL 14 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

*snip*
I won't blame Brandi if she can't make it, as a 40 minute drive home at 3-4AM may be a bit much - but I hope you do make it, Brandi, and Greg, Jimmy and crew too!

Eric,
I most likely am going to take a 'pass' this year.  Thank you so much for the invite!
Brandi