Crab Opening Delay

How do they know if you service your hoop net every 2 hours.  Who's timing it?  Also, even though the Dungeness season is closed, rock crabs are not.  So, are we not allowed to deploy hoop net?

How do they know if you service your hoop net every 2 hours.  Who's timing it?  Also, even though the Dungeness season is closed, rock crabs are not.  So, are we not allowed to deploy hoop net?

I think that regulation is more intended to keep people from tying up hoop nets to piers and leaving them for extended time. Probably partially to lessen people "hogging" a spot up, and also to keep them from just constantly getting snagged up in the pier during tide changes. Otherwise people would leave them.

That's all assumption. I doubt any Warden is going to sit on the cliff and wait 2 hours to make sure you're pulling your hoop net in a timely manner, although they could.

How do they know if you service your hoop net every 2 hours.  Who's timing it?  Also, even though the Dungeness season is closed, rock crabs are not.  So, are we not allowed to deploy hoop net?

You are timing it.  Regulations are as much social contract as they are enforceable law. 

If you're setting rings and not checking them for any more than about 20 to 30 minutes you aren't doing it right!

Rings - larger outer ring and smaller inner ring - lay flat when they hit the bottom, and when you pull them up they form a "basket" of sorts that the crabs can certainly climb out of while you're pulling them up.  When they're flat on the bottom your bait is just sitting there in the open where the crabs can eat it - unless you are using a bait cage (which is also doing it wrong!).  The crabs will eat all of your exposed bait if you leave the rings too long, so you check rather often.  If you use a bait cage that prevents the crabs from getting to your bait, they'll leave to find food that they can actually access.

The "ambush" traps with fixed rings - the smaller one lifted and welded in place above the larger one - shouldn't be in the same class as standard rings (or hoops if you're saying it wrong  ) because they CAN be set and not checked for quite a while and still catch crabs because the crabs can't get out unless there are so many in there that they can climb on their buddy to reach the edge of the top/smaller ring.

Rings - as I have described them here - are the way to go, IMO.

If you're setting rings and not checking them for any more than about 20 to 30 minutes you aren't doing it right!

Rings - larger outer ring and smaller inner ring - lay flat when they hit the bottom, and when you pull them up they form a "basket" of sorts that the crabs can certainly climb out of while you're pulling them up.  When they're flat on the bottom your bait is just sitting there in the open where the crabs can eat it - unless you are using a bait cage (which is also doing it wrong!).  The crabs will eat all of your exposed bait if you leave the rings too long, so you check rather often.  If you use a bait cage that prevents the crabs from getting to your bait, they'll leave to find food that they can actually access.

The "ambush" traps with fixed rings - the smaller one lifted and welded in place above the larger one - shouldn't be in the same class as standard rings (or hoops if you're saying it wrong  ) because they CAN be set and not checked for quite a while and still catch crabs because the crabs can't get out unless there are so many in there that they can climb on their buddy to reach the edge of the top/smaller ring.

Rings - as I have described them here - are the way to go, IMO.

you prefer the flat rings to the ambush style?  I'd thought (hoped) the ambush style would offer all the advantages of flat, while also helping to keep them once they find the bait

"you prefer the flat rings to the ambush style?"

Rings - larger outer ring and smaller inner ring - lay flat when they hit the bottom

The "ambush" traps with fixed rings - the smaller one lifted and welded in place above the larger one - shouldn't be in the same class as standard rings

Rings - as I have described them here - are the way to go, IMO.

"I'd thought (hoped) the ambush style would offer all the advantages of flat, while also helping to keep them once they find the bait"

Well, if they're seen as a trap, as I see them, then they may not be allowed when rings are allowed - that's not an advantage.

Also, I can stack about 7 fully baited rings on my yak and go crabbing - the ambush traps are more bulky, and it would be tough to carry more than a few - that's not an advantage.

And, from the "Crabbing Secrets of North Coast Kayak Guides" pamphlet (available on Abazon for $999.99  ), rings, laying flat and with the bait fully exposed, will get crabs on them faster than anything else - that IS an advantage.

@eric, that's really interesting.  I may need to do some side by side, what you say makes a ton of sense.  I've wonderer how crab (or lobster) are able to climb up the sides of the Ambush, seems like it would be a challenge.  Seems like this would hold true for SoCal Lobster too.

curious, which flat hoop do you like, or do I need to spend the $999 to find out

Well, if they're seen as a trap, as I see them, then they may not be allowed when rings are allowed - that's not an advantage.

Per the regulations, both the lie-flat rings and the ambush style traps are considered "Hoop Nets" (Section 29.80(b)(1), Title 14 CCR).  The lie-flat are considered "Type A" and the ambush style are considered "Type B."  As it pertains to the regulations separating "hoop nets" from "crab traps," both the ambush style and lie-flat "hoop nets" are treated the same.

which flat hoop do you like, or do I need to spend the $999 to find out

Rings, as I've always known them to be called, are basically all the same.

Rings - larger outer ring and smaller inner ring - lay flat when they hit the bottom, and when you pull them up they form a "basket" of sorts that the crabs can certainly climb out of while you're pulling them up.

Per the regulations, both the lie-flat rings and the ambush style traps are considered "Hoop Nets" (Section 29.80(b)(1), Title 14 CCR).  The lie-flat are considered "Type A" and the ambush style are considered "Type B."  As it pertains to the regulations separating "hoop nets" from "crab traps," both the ambush style and lie-flat "hoop nets" are treated the same.

Useful info - thanks!

I think it's a shame that they'd be classified in such a way, because the ambush traps can ghost fish and kill animals while the lay flat rings cannot.

Another hoop net question. Since it’s not a “trap” as per the code are there any specific gear marking requirements going into effect for Northern California non lobstering? I guess I could just mark all my gear up the same so there is no question about it.

Another hoop net question. Since it’s not a “trap” as per the code are there any specific gear marking requirements going into effect for Northern California non lobstering? I guess I could just mark all my gear up the same so there is no question about it.

The consensus, as I've read it here, is that the rings will not have specific gear marking requirements.  Following...

Another hoop net question. Since it’s not a “trap” as per the code are there any specific gear marking requirements going into effect for Northern California non lobstering? I guess I could just mark all my gear up the same so there is no question about it.

The consensus, as I've read it here, is that the rings will not have specific gear marking requirements.  Following...

+1 Rings and traps are not included in the new regs based on the interpretations that I've seen.

Per the regulations, both the lie-flat rings and the ambush style traps are considered "Hoop Nets" (Section 29.80(b)(1), Title 14 CCR).  The lie-flat are considered "Type A" and the ambush style are considered "Type B."  As it pertains to the regulations separating "hoop nets" from "crab traps," both the ambush style and lie-flat "hoop nets" are treated the same.

Useful info - thanks!

I think it's a shame that they'd be classified in such a way, because the ambush traps can ghost fish and kill animals while the lay flat rings cannot.

Totally agree on the environmental impact of the ambush ones compared to lie-flat rings.  I've gone from pots to ambush traps this year (errr from "crab traps" to "hoop nets" ) this year... who knows... maybe I'll be going with rings next year.  Baby steps for the noob here, I guess.

For early season, I've done well with ambush hoops and quick limits.  But after a few months usually use traps and soak them longer to get a limit.  I've never used rings while kayaking, but it seems like a solid way to carry more gear and get limits quicker.