Lost crab trap, any penalty?

Went on skiff in Santa Cruz and dropped a crab pot ~2 miles away from the wharf.  Went to go pick it up at the end of the day but the weather got super choppy and dangerous and had to turn around.  Are there any penalties for not picking up the crab pot?  Its got my license and phone number on it.

Thinking about making a trip out there on a kayak to pick it up later this week.

Related, there is a crab trap off Fort Ross that has a ton of grass growing on it. Probably abandoned.  Question, can I lift it to find identiifcation, or is that prohibited?

Went on skiff in Santa Cruz and dropped a crab pot ~2 miles away from the wharf.  Went to go pick it up at the end of the day but the weather got super choppy and dangerous and had to turn around.  Are there any penalties for not picking up the crab pot?  Its got my license and phone number on it.

Thinking about making a trip out there on a kayak to pick it up later this week.

Whereabouts? I saw one out there today that did not look right (buoy was submerged most of the time). If you have GPS coordinates or even a good description of where it would be, somebody might be able to find it... 

Went on skiff in Santa Cruz and dropped a crab pot ~2 miles away from the wharf.  Went to go pick it up at the end of the day but the weather got super choppy and dangerous and had to turn around.  Are there any penalties for not picking up the crab pot?  Its got my license and phone number on it.

Thinking about making a trip out there on a kayak to pick it up later this week.

Whereabouts? I saw one out there today that did not look right (buoy was submerged most of the time). If you have GPS coordinates or even a good description of where it would be, somebody might be able to find it...

ah wow, it may have been mine. i used a detergent bottle as a buoy (white with pink cap) and it was a little submerged where i dropped it since my line was only 100 ft and it turns out the area is about 90 ft.  Approximate location is near the middle of the rocky terrain straight north of the wharf ~2 miles out.

ah wow, it may have been mine. i used a detergent bottle as a buoy (white with pink cap) and it was a little submerged where i dropped it since my line was only 100 ft and it turns out the area is about 90 ft.  Approximate location is near the middle of the rocky terrain straight north of the wharf ~2 miles out.

I don't think I got that far out, so maybe that wasn't it (and I wasn't close enough to get a good look at it). Don't know when I'll get out there again, but I'd bet it can be found...

It's not illegal to leave pots out in the water.  You can leave them there all season.  But if you do there are some rules you need to follow especially using lead weighted rope.  https://coastsidefishingclub.com/grey-beard-articles/crabbing-guide/

Also, its not a rule, but you need more scope than 10%! Your pot will probably walk especially if it's not weighted down.