Kayak Crabbing HMB Noob questions

Hi fellow NCKA

I saw that the tidal coefficient is going to be nice and low this weekend and its also going to be the crab opener. For kayak angler newbies (Asking for a friend) would it be advisable to wait till the crowd dies down for a first time kayak crabbing trip? I've seen it fishing from the jetty on crab opener weekend and it can be a zoo. It is just so hard to pass up a lower tide coefficient day. I just got that feeling I should surf fish this weekend instead and play my chances with some crab snares. Any advice to go on opening weekend for crab or wait it on a safer day?

in the public forum there's a little discussion on where people are going for Saturday,

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=89779.15

There's also one in the member's forum which you'll be able to see in 2 more posts(10).

There's a few of us going to Rockaway Beach in Pacifica I don't know if you're comfortable with a surf launch, it should be very calm I'm seeing 1.5' low wind, almost no wave energy on the forcast.  if I were a betting man, I would bet there will be a lot of kayakers out there Saturday dropping pots to keep company with.

Tehpenguins thank you for replying for all my questiins today man you've been very helpful. Hopefully I'll run into you someday out in the water. Thank you very much man.

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on the snaring point, the pier in pacifica is going to be mobbed, and I don't know if you're better at snaring than me ( very very possible! ) I have such a hard time landing a crab on the rocks over there at HMB.  But I love snaring for crabs, so I can't see a losing situation for you.  tight lines.

There is usually a group that heads out of HMB on opening day.

Perfect! I too saw the amazing conditions that are expected on the dungie opener! I'll be out there with my wife on a kayak looking to drop a pod and fish for some lings...

Hi fellow NCKA

I saw that the tidal coefficient is going to be nice and low this weekend and its also going to be the crab opener. For kayak angler newbies (Asking for a friend) would it be advisable to wait till the crowd dies down for a first time kayak crabbing trip? I've seen it fishing from the jetty on crab opener weekend and it can be a zoo. It is just so hard to pass up a lower tide coefficient day. I just got that feeling I should surf fish this weekend instead and play my chances with some crab snares. Any advice to go on opening weekend for crab or wait it on a safer day?

I'd say go out and have fun. 

Haha thanks for the support guys! I should just get out there like you Moo haha

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Just how bad will the boat ramp be? Debating between making the Berkeley run vs HMB zoo.

HMB is gonna be a zoo for sure.  I wouldn't venture out if its your first time or if you're not familiar with the area on where to drop pots.  If you do go, please don't drop pots at the mouth of the jaws!  I will be cutting every stupid buoy I see at the jaws. 

I was going to run 4-5 miles south then back up to the reef to fish.

Just how bad will the boat ramp be? Debating between making the Berkeley run vs HMB zoo.

It’s been about 3-4 years since I’ve been there on opening day, so I suppose it’s only gotten worse.  6am the line for the ramp is already out to highway 1, parking is full and the lot behind the restaurants across the street was charging some ungodly price, plus you gotta pay the pay the launch fee also.  The areas out front of the radar ball all the way down to the ritz is carpet bombed with pots and coming back in is a bigger zoo. My favorite guy is “I’m gonna tie my boat up and block a lane then go get my truck while everyone else, who’s drifting off ramp while their truck is in line waiting their turn to haul out, can pound sand”. Then there’s the good ol dfg interrogation.

If you do it, get there at 2-3am and launch the boat.  Either drop pots in the dark or find a spot in the  outer harbor and set the pick for a nap till first light.  Second strategy is get there around 9-10, by then all the kooks  are launched and launch traffic is light. Find parking on the frontage road opposite of highway 1.  Stay out till around 4-5pm to let the ramp traffic slow down.  Third strategy is take a yak, I’ve found it to be one of the instances in which it’s a way less of a hassle than in a boat.

Or just go to Berkeley 

HMB is gonna be a zoo for sure.  I wouldn't venture out if its your first time or if you're not familiar with the area on where to drop pots.  If you do go, please don't drop pots at the mouth of the jaws!  I will be cutting every stupid buoy I see at the jaws.

  Let's go cut buoys 

Thanks for the info guys! I ended up not taking the kayak and try my luck at Montara Beach Sunday morning. Not the ideal place for crabbing but I know there wont be a lot of people snaring there because of the current there usually being quite strong for crabbing. But because of the conditions I lucked out on 4 keepers out of the 7 I snared. I ended up visiting Rockaway Beach to see if any NCKA members would be out there and ended up talking to some of the Kayak fishermen out there to get some tips. I have to say everyone has been pretty informational and friendly being that I was a stranger out of no where asking noob kayak questions. I think next time I'm for sure bringing the yak and I'll be more prepared. Good fishing weekend for the opener. I sure enjoyed my crab dinner minus the viscera hahaha.

TFD