Fun on the North Sea...PB Crabbin 2/4

My good friend Captain Ken has a SWEET PB named the North Sea.  Ken asked us if we'd like to join him for some last-chance crabbing aboard the North Sea as it is about to have a new owner.  The North Sea is a beautifully equipped 32 foot Radan.  Talk about mothership potential  20+ feet of open deck with a cruise range of over 1000 miles at 18 knots.  This is a boat, not a toy, and Ken is a salty dog himself. He is a retired DFG marine unit Captain, retired urchin diver, and a great freediver.  Together they are an outstanding combo...lots to learn from this great resource when ever we hang out. Did I mention he is also super modest and about as nice as they get...I love this guy. 

At dockside I could tell Ken was having a tinge of sellers remorse, but he was talking about his plans for a new boat on the way in.  I think he'll be without a boat for no more than 5 minutes, the sickness is THICK in his blood. He spent the way out educating and entertaining the whole family.  He showed Paige the finer points of crab wrangling with a rubber squeaky crab...



Then he gave Jelly the run-down on GPS and a compass and let him run us out to the crab gear.  Jelly was in heaven.  BTW-Jelly has NO idea how lucky he is...



Ken then turned his attention to showing me the finer points of running a hydraulic crab puller.  I was clearly the lamest student of the day.  I was turning a FAC day into an episode of "The Deadliest Catch".



Ken was very patient and kept the beatings steady and firm.   I eventually became mediocre at the task and was glad to see these guys finally make it aboard...



It was a huge delight to see the whole family enjoy there day on the water together...



Back at the ranch it became obvious we had PLENTY of big crabs.  Superbowl super pig out!...



Kickinbass came over and we got to work in the side yard "man kitchen".  Thanks for your help Andy.  Mahi-come over tomorrow!!!  We need your still need help eating it all!



The end result.  A serious load of Nor Cals finest...GOT CRABS?



Thank you Ken for another fine day on the water with the whole family.         


   

Jealous and envious. Sometimes I just hate your reports Sean.  KIDDING!!!
Awesome day on the water. Great report and fantastic pics. You know it is a good day when everyone has a real big smile. Thanks for sharing.
I keep playing out the whole mothership potential. Trying to realistically figure out the most reasonable cost effective vessel.  Thirty-two feet would be great, but living this far from the big blue is not a reality. Something smaller with a well designed kayak rack is more of what I have in mind.
I keep thinking "someday".

Lucky bastard!! Damn that looks good, I haven't seen a pile of crab that big since I was an observer in WA and the salmon wrangling was kind of slow, then the commercial guys found a couple of commercial indian crab pots...

WOW! that is a happy family  and perfect timing for the super-B

Your lucky to have friends like this. Did you say the crab feed is at half time?

5 pm.

Right on Sean, sounded like a blast! Did you get to fish?

Nope...not much to fish for this time of year.

That was a nice load of crab! I had to stop by while I was working to get an eye full. I hope they tasted as good as it looked.

CHEERS!

I WANT TO BARF I ATE SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Unlimited crab  bottomless wine  Life is good!

Sean,

Do you have a photos of the 'man kitchen'? I like the setup from what I can see!~

-Brian G

Sean,

Do you have a photos of the 'man kitchen'? I like the setup from what I can see!~

-Brian G

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=2582.0

 

Thats it.  I've added a knife sharpener, and a turkey fryer, and a rack for drying booties.  Although I've never fried a turkey, but its great for frying fish and cooking crabs.  Its been the one of the best "fishing" investments I have ever made...cleaning big loads of stuff used to be such a PITA.  Even the little crap like a good light...what a difference.

I hate you Sean