Complaints on Coastside - crab pot placement at Pillar Point by kayakers

On Sunday there were some pots dropped right at the harbor mouth.  Its getting attibuted to kayakers who were out Sunday.

I know one skipper who had one with floating line hang up on his outddrive in the entrance Sunday.  He cut it loose quickly so someone lost a pot.  Luckily it didn't end up with a power boat on the rocks.

The quotes on the Coastside Fishing Club site thread were things like: Yes, yesterday the kayakers were hanging out in line between the green can and the jaws. Get a clue guys-- you're in the path of something that can kill you if the captain doesn't see you. 

I know most of our people are too well versed on safety and etiquette to do something like this but if you are new to crabbing please make sure you are well clear of the entrance.  When the swell is running, like it was on Sunday, the power boats go well inshore to the South and come back out to the entrance so they are quartering into the swell and not running down it trying to surf in on a left hand break.

While it usually looks calm Pillar Point can be a killer.  It was only two years ago we lost two experienced watermen when the Good Guys rolled just outside the jaws.  There's a lot of names on the plaque across from the Harbormaster's office.  Don't contribute to adding the next ones.

there were o ly a few kayakers who went out on sunday;  including two young boys who were new to crabbing. do you know what kind of floats were on the line that got caught on the prop?

Yeah, I was there with Glen when the two kids launched (first time crabbing). I did tip 'em off to crab parallel to Hwy 1 in about 30 to 40 FOW. They were both stoked and looked like they were properly geared. I did see Fuzz before I left and I believe it was his pot that was cut down. I didn't get the whole story though as he was in a hurry to get back out....

Anyway, it's always good to have open communication with the boaters...

This could have been anybody, but I did see all the C/S post's about this. There are many unexperienced P/B's that go out and do stupid stuff, but we have to make sure that NCKA isn't lumped in with these guys. I'm sure there are others who know how to braid line, but if anybody wants to get together and set pots up, let me know (G-Whiz is also well versed in in this method). Its not uncommon to get a limit of crabs in one dannielson pot, when its set up properly.

1. DO NOT use any kind of bottles for a float! they have high floatation and WILL carry a pot off. This also puts you at a disadvantage, because you won't get near the crabs you would with a properly weighted pot.

2. ALL rope need to have weights on them, unless you are using a leaded line.

John Lyons wrote the Crab Tutorial on Coastside, and everybody should read it. I know a weighted pot is harder to pull, but you will be more sucessful- Fo Sho!! Here is the link to the tutorial.

http://coastsidefishingclub.com/grey-beard-articles/crabbing-guide/

I know the boaters get upset from time to time, but sometimes we do stupid stuff too. I was bummed when we went on the lobster trip, that hooping inside the harbor is banned now. The reason being that "kayakers" were leaving their hoops with loads of line floating out and boats were getting the lines in the props. Carry some large zip ties and coil up your extra rope. And never drop gear in the lanes leaving the harbors. I think most of us do a great job at that, and need to pass it on to the youth and the new kayak anglers.

I see a lot of unsafe and dumb crab set ups outside the harbor.  My Hobie mirage drive got tangled into one of these floating lines.
When I was on Lapulapu's boat a few weeks ago a PBer came along side of us complaining his prop got tangled.
I've switched to leaded sinking line.  Its cost a little more but real easy to coil and doesn't tangle easily.

i was out Sunday had two rings in about 30 FOW parallel to Hwy 1 near the beach, well away from the harbor mouth.  I put weights in both rings...sum total for the 30 min soak  7 undersized males. 

and as I mentioned on a un-replyed post.  Safety: wear your PFD always, leash your rods.  I flipped my yak by the green can Sunday it was hairy!

Coming back in a few weeks ago I was surprised to see a couple kayakers crabbing right in the jaws.

Just to chime in.
I went out with a friend on his p/b a few weeks ago. As we were leaving the jetty we passed only a few feet away from a crab pot float. He did not see it and the only reason I saw it was because I was on the side of the boat looking down.
I belive the float was purple. But the thing is that it was placed right in the middle of traffic coming in and out of the jetty.

Excellent post Snapperhead.  I too have had pot lines pop up in front of me on the pb while entering the harbor.  Id like to add pieces of pool noodle to the list of unacceptable floats.  You just can't see em till they're right in front of you no matter what the color. 



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Been out there 4X this year, craburgalry, people crabbing right at the jaws, watching Mel almost get run over by a big ass boat, missing paddle boarders, lines floating around everywhere...crazy #@$%#. My next crabbing expedition to HMB I will drop my pot (aka cooler) on the dock next to a crab boat, should be a short soak.

You should avoid paddling in and/or dropping pots, in the boating lane (in yellow) to and from the jaws (mouth) of the harbor, to the Green Can.

Think of this as a freeway for cars and you are a bicycle....

Been out there 4X this year, craburgalry, people crabbing right at the jaws, watching Mel almost get run over by a big ass boat, missing paddle boarders, lines floating around everywhere...crazy #@$%#. My next crabbing expedition to HMB I will drop my pot (aka cooler) on the dock next to a crab boat, should be a short soak.

Hey Ted,

Ranch 99 has their buyer stationed at HMB. They had a sale last weekend for $3.69 / lb and most are 6 inches +.  For around $40 you can have enough crabs for a family of 4 in less than 15 minutes.  All the crabs I've brought there during local crab season are fat and healthy.
Last year I had a slow day and caught 1 barely legal.  I bought 2 more at Ranch 99 so my wife won't bust my balls for spending all that time and money.   I've never told her.

for the record I flipped my yak by the green can near Sail RK (or whatever the F it's called) in the white area of the map not in the lane...whatevs

Im still puzzled as to why hmb gets so much effort from the yak community. I find it to be a long paddle with high boat traffic and overfished. One of our greatest advantages is being able to launch at many places with costal access.