Doran Beach Theft

you might have better luck with cal tip than a officer--I did---they have days off and lives etc and dont answer 100% of calls......cal tip does ,I now  have it in my phone..they are there just for this type of stuff and then they radio the best -quickest- current duty officer on their live map-closest to you, or ,even in that mode of policing right then...I got to call cal tip once, they were so fast in relaying and getting the nearest dfw there ,that I saw it go down ..impressive stuff...even called me back after they nailed these poachers to say thanks

that is the Game Warden assigned to that area and they are aware of the local theft so they want to bust them.

for sure  call the one on the card first..
only reason I said cal tip too was that last year I had big surs wardens card handed to me and told "call me" and twice he was off or in training...this was on questions about malpaso and regs so no big..he got back to me days later and once was there to answrer
...then once this year when I did have real poacher call he also was out of service....the local office was really  no help and a  hassle to get transferred etc...
called cal tip  and they wanted to take the info and react quick..thats all...call em both...

you might have better luck with cal tip than a officer--I did---they have days off and lives etc and dont answer 100% of calls......cal tip does ,I now  have it in my phone..they are there just for this type of stuff and then they radio the best -quickest- current duty officer on their live map-closest to you, or ,even in that mode of policing right then...I got to call cal tip once, they were so fast in relaying and getting the nearest dfw there ,that I saw it go down ..impressive stuff...even called me back after they nailed these poachers to say thanks

Very good to know!
Thanks!

How about placing a small motion sensor triggered camera in a buoy?

How about placing a small motion sensor triggered camera in a buoy?

Motion of the Ocean or they would just steal your camera

What are the chances, say at Bodega Bay, that they didn't even launch there, but like at Tomales or someplace? Kinda like sleeping around, you never cheat in your hometown kinda thing?

It could go either way. Maybe it's a local nut job who thinks they have the right to those local crabs and some "outsider" is trying to steal them.

I think that pics of someone actually removing crabs from a pot, closeups of face, boat and vehicle would be the best deterrent. As much as these booby trap ideas ( including my own) would be immensely gratifying to set off on an actual thief, it could open a can of worms.

If someone already has the mindset to steal from you, they might retaliate by rigging your setup the same way you rigged a dummy trap. It's illegal after all to rig any type of snare to catch humans.

In case it isn't really really obvious-

Gather evidence and forward it to law enforcement. Don't hurt anyone and don't confront anyone.

In case it isn't really really obvious-

Gather evidence and forward it to law enforcement. Don't hurt anyone and don't confront anyone.

+1

If you guys pull off a sting, do it in a large group. Have someone on shore with a radio. Bring lights and be armed.

There is the question put to this thread as to why someone who maintains a boat doesn't just drop their own pots. They probably do, and then check everyone else's because more than likely, every market crab is probably another ten dollar bill to them. I doubt that these guys are doing it to put food on the table. They're probably involved with a helluva lot more than crab poaching.

I wouldn't want these people to see one kayaker with a small spotlight, snapping pics of them at night, to have the crazy bastards come and run you over. Once the group lights up, stay lit up, radio home and be prepared.

How about placing a small motion sensor triggered camera in a buoy?

Motion of the Ocean or they would just steal your camera

The camera would have to be concealed.

Well float out there a ways on another boat, have night vision. you will get all the info off the power boat. after that chase them down for the coast guard. Don't forget it is legal to have a fire arm on the boat. 

Perhaps you put something like dye on the rope that gets on their hands. Or mark the crabs. Get the hull # and call it in to the guys on the ramp. We must be clever and resourceful. Law enforcement doesn't have the resources to chase crab thieves and they never will. If we want something done about this, we will probably have to do it ourselves.

DFG in SoCal do the dye thing with Lobster. They place marked lobster in traps and wait for divers to come on shore. Quick check with a black light brings everything to "light" 

And I am sure the lady tossed those maine lobsters into the Pacific Ocean to quickly die from shock or be eaten quickly. I guess they died free.....

And I am sure the heinous tossed those main lobsters into the Pacific Ocean to quickly die from shock or be eaten quickly. I guess they died free.....

Exactly, or worse, threw them in a lake!