Crabbing question

I am looking forward to the crab season opening soon. I was talking to a friend about opening day and he said it was too early to bother going. What has been your experience. Does the catch improve in general as the season progresses? Does the catch come in waves, improving and receding through out the season as the older crabs come closer to shore? Does it just vary depending on when and where you go?

In my experience it's best in the beginning of the season, before the commercial guys set their pots.  I think there is a two week lead for recreational versus commercial season.

Early season has always been best for me!

Go for the opener Ken, I expect it will be a little bit of a circus and I'm looking forward to it.-Amos

Where is everyone planning on going? I was looking at crab pots yesterday and thinking about going for the opener. I've never been crabbing before(actually I tried from the pier at bodega bay and didnt catch anything), but I like to eat crab!

I was thinking of going to either Tomales Bay or Bodega Bay but have no idea where to set a pot?

Where is everyone planning on going? I was looking at crab pots yesterday and thinking about going for the opener. I've never been crabbing before(actually I tried from the pier at bodega bay and didnt catch anything), but I like to eat crab!

I was thinking of going to either Tomales Bay or Bodega Bay but have no idea where to set a pot?

At Bodega Bay most crabbers set pots in the area east of the jetty.  Stay far enough from the jetty to avoid shore anglers' lines and stay out of the boat channel (your line might foul a propeller and/or a pb might cut your float off your line).  The bay's depth varies little until out beyond the end of the jetty.

In my experience it's best in the beginning of the season, before the commercial guys set their pots.  I think there is a two week lead for recreational versus commercial season.

This!  Your buddy is crazy.

This will be my first year of being able to make the opener and not having to go Drill so I am going to HMB.  I am normally get out the first week, and have always done well.  I don't go for limits, I go for what the two of us can eat.  I am not big fan of left over crab, call me lazy, but it  taste best on the first go round.

In my experience it's best in the beginning of the season, before the commercial guys set their pots.  I think there is a two week lead for recreational versus commercial season.

This!  Your buddy is crazy.

I guess we established that then. 

I have good luck crabbing at Muir Beach. Anywhere inside the cove in 5-40 feet of water will hold dungees. If the swell is low, it's a stupid easy launch and 5 minute paddle to the crab grounds, set gear, paddle in and drink a beer, paddle back out, bring home crabs.

either early or late is best for us shallow water sporties.

Its not crazy.  Your friend is right imo, crabbing is better as the season goes on.  Especially if the commercial guys can't agree on a price and dont fish.

The reason is that the crab have been super light at the beginning of the last couple seasons.  You have to have some esperience at checking for fullness.  I can pull a pot with 15 jumbos and keep 2 of them because the rest just aren't filled out.  There is nothing worse than cooking up a giant crab that ends up having maybe 15% meat by weight.  It just feels bad, like a kick in the nuts.

Your buddy is right, he just didn't explain it very well.  Gently pinch the back legs of your crab to check for fullness.  If its hollow, toss it back.  With practice you will be able to tell the good from the nutshot.

The commercial guys put a hurt on the crab population pretty darn quick.

Every season is different and here's hoping for another good season.

You're buddy is crazy for telling you to wait. It's usually great the first few weeks and then drops off. Come Jan/Feb, people lose interest and the easy limits are back (PBs bring in their strings, new school of large crabs move in, etc).