Crab Opener Ideas

I've heard stories about issues at HMB, but no first hand knowledge, some of the guys in the group have first hand knowledge though - pots being emptied.

I've been poached at Doran before, these days I don't leave my traps un-attended.  Once, at sunset,  I watched a suspicious Tracker PB with 2 guys in it pull a large number of traps (with drastically different buoy markings) in the area near the jetty.  They sped off as I paddled straight towards them, and my empty traps.  I didn't manage any pictures or a CF # though.

I was thinking a ralley in front of the fish and wildlifes directors  house when he doesnt open the season due to  danger of "worrying whales".Hey maybe fishing line may be worrying fish?

Crab pot raiding happens everywhere.  It's just part of the game.

Halloween skelleton parts with  freezer burned beef zip tied to it usually does the job of preventing "oops I thought it was mine people"

I've heard stories about issues at HMB, but no first hand knowledge, some of the guys in the group have first hand knowledge though - pots being emptied.

I've been poached at Doran before, these days I don't leave my traps un-attended.  Once, at sunset,  I watched a suspicious Tracker PB with 2 guys in it pull a large number of traps (with drastically different buoy markings) in the area near the jetty.  They sped off as I paddled straight towards them, and my empty traps.  I didn't manage any pictures or a CF # though.

Yeah, i'm not sure how others crab, but i'm pretty active when crabbing and never usually leave my pots out of sight.  My first drops are in a line covering different depths.  Once I check them which ever of my 3-4 pots had the most keepers I then stick to that depth and go parallel.  By the time I drop the last one, I might chill for 30 mins before checking the first.  Then once they are all checked, I reset, and usually I've got a limit by that time. 

I've heard stories about issues at HMB, but no first hand knowledge, some of the guys in the group have first hand knowledge though - pots being emptied.

I've been poached at Doran before, these days I don't leave my traps un-attended.  Once, at sunset,  I watched a suspicious Tracker PB with 2 guys in it pull a large number of traps (with drastically different buoy markings) in the area near the jetty.  They sped off as I paddled straight towards them, and my empty traps.  I didn't manage any pictures or a CF # though.

Yeah, i'm not sure how others crab, but i'm pretty active when crabbing and never usually leave my pots out of sight.  My first drops are in a line covering different depths.  Once I check them which ever of my 3-4 pots had the most keepers I then stick to that depth and go parallel.  By the time I drop the last one, I might chill for 30 mins before checking the first.  Then once they are all checked, I reset, and usually I've got a limit by that time. 

We set a total of 5 to 7 traps for two of us, leave them out overnight, expect 2-3 of them to be raided, and get limits from the other two.  Rebait and reset, come back and get them tomorrow or the next day.  Pull when seas are going to be too rough or when we have had enough of crab for the time being.

Doran at 12:01 am it’s a blast and lots of room and a great bunch of fellow takers.

Isn't it challenging to go at night? I'd be really intimidated.

Also you can't get into Doran after sundown right? (Unless you were lucky enough to have already reserved a campsite)

I've heard stories about issues at HMB, but no first hand knowledge, some of the guys in the group have first hand knowledge though - pots being emptied.

I've been poached at Doran before, these days I don't leave my traps un-attended.  Once, at sunset,  I watched a suspicious Tracker PB with 2 guys in it pull a large number of traps (with drastically different buoy markings) in the area near the jetty.  They sped off as I paddled straight towards them, and my empty traps.  I didn't manage any pictures or a CF # though.

Yeah, i'm not sure how others crab, but i'm pretty active when crabbing and never usually leave my pots out of sight.  My first drops are in a line covering different depths.  Once I check them which ever of my 3-4 pots had the most keepers I then stick to that depth and go parallel.  By the time I drop the last one, I might chill for 30 mins before checking the first.  Then once they are all checked, I reset, and usually I've got a limit by that time.

This is pretty close to the approach I want to take as well. I definitely am not looking at long soaks.

I'm sure others will chime in, but its doable in most areas, just need to be aware of the extra boat traffic. 

Most importantly, no matter where you end up, just don't drop pots at the mouth or in the boat's paths and you should be fine.

+1

Also, be aware others may check your pots...  That said, I have a feeling that this year, everyone will decide to be honest, upstanding, non-poaching citizens of the sea.   

You have more faith in humans than I do!        Those scumbag thieves will be punished! 

Hi MAETHLIN,

I think we are both just starting out in the sport and have some of the same concerns.  You may have already done this, but I have an Old Town PDL (Predator) as well and struggled with it a little my first couple of times taking it out.  I took some advice and moved my cart much further forward, almost to the middle, just behind the handles.  I then used not only the regular straps but used a tiedown strap so I could really secure it nice and tight.  It made a big difference.  Secondly, I took it easy and made two trips, walking my PDL up as well as some other gear first.  This made a huge difference in pulling the kayak back at the end of the day. 

I have been launching out of HMB and plan to go crabbing.  If you are looking for someone to team up with, hit me up.   

Hey, I got an idea. How about SKIP the opener?  In the last few years, the crab weren't quite ready yet, and the harvest just didn't justify the anxiety. Wait 2-3 days at least and the crowds will die down. Crab will be there.

+1

Having dropped pots from boat on many openers, that would be the last day of the year I'd drop via kayak.  At HMB for sure there is a huge party that goes on over opening weekend and kinda continues on the water if you get my drift....

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Thanks for the knowledge, truly appreciated. I have worked in the area, on land, during the crab opener and it is chaotic.  I most likely will not get out until the next weekend, weather permitting. 

Hi MAETHLIN,

I think we are both just starting out in the sport and have some of the same concerns.  You may have already done this, but I have an Old Town PDL (Predator) as well and struggled with it a little my first couple of times taking it out.  I took some advice and moved my cart much further forward, almost to the middle, just behind the handles.  I then used not only the regular straps but used a tiedown strap so I could really secure it nice and tight.  It made a big difference.  Secondly, I took it easy and made two trips, walking my PDL up as well as some other gear first.  This made a huge difference in pulling the kayak back at the end of the day. 

I have been launching out of HMB and plan to go crabbing.  If you are looking for someone to team up with, hit me up.   

Heya, I've probably been out over a couple dozen times despite being relatively new.... I have really taken to liking this activity a lot haha!

Good call on having the cart near the middle... I've found that makes it easier as well, but I have yet to get the process down smoothly because the yak body tends to rub on the beach wheels I use if I try to go straight in the middle. I am still looking at adding 3rd party spacers to my Wilderness Systems cart to alleviate this problem.

I'll hit you up if I do decide to go to HMB... judging from responses here so far, it likely won't be opening weekend, sounds too chaotic for me as well.

I've heard stories about issues at HMB, but no first hand knowledge, some of the guys in the group have first hand knowledge though - pots being emptied.

I've been poached at Doran before, these days I don't leave my traps un-attended.  Once, at sunset,  I watched a suspicious Tracker PB with 2 guys in it pull a large number of traps (with drastically different buoy markings) in the area near the jetty.  They sped off as I paddled straight towards them, and my empty traps.  I didn't manage any pictures or a CF # though.

Some drunk old kayakers stole 3 of my box traps entirely from near the jetty at Doran two seasons ago when we boated off to go fish. After that I'm always in sight of them.

I had the same experience from two local kayakers.  Complete dirt bags.