Crab Opening Delay

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.

Does anyone have some hard evidence about ghost fishing from ambush type hoops? While the angled sides keep animals in for awhile, I think they will eventually get out after a few hours. I have put a video camera on one and did see crabs escape (not only when they were full), but it was not long enough to see if any stay in for a long time. I have noticed that when I leave them out for about 8 hours I had very few crabs in them, but I did not check traps at shorter intervals on those days so it is not a controlled experiment. It would be interesting to set one out for a couple of days with exposed bait. When all the bait is consumed the crabs would move out if they can.

I have the ambush type hoop net and I don't feel like the crabs are leaving.  I went out 3 times for rock crabs and out of 3 times, the pots are so full it's hard to pull into the kayak.  It seems like there are crazy amount of rock crabs out there.  There are a couple of them so huge that it didn't even fit into the crab gauge.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=31435

Ambush vs. rings.  Ambush are 57% more efficient in catching lobster according to this 2008 paper.  The department has known about it for over a decade and the regs haven't changed.

I've waded out into the water in places like Albion and Doran and while walking around and have seen crab literally swim away from me sideways when startled.  It makes me think they can get out if they want to, but well maybe they are just lazy.     I think I'm going to go with ambush hoops for the opener, but maybe traps if I decide it's a nice day to fish as well.

I crab with ambush and rings and many times the rings out-crab the ambush.

I have the ambush type hoop net and I don't feel like the crabs are leaving.  I went out 3 times for rock crabs and out of 3 times, the pots are so full it's hard to pull into the kayak.  It seems like there are crazy amount of rock crabs out there.  There are a couple of them so huge that it didn't even fit into the crab gauge.

I have the same results over shorter times so I agree that the crabs stay in there for awhile. The question is do they stay in there until they die.

I think they will eventually get out after a few hours.

Good info, jp.  I don't have any experience with the ambush style and just assumed crabs can't get out without a buddy to climb on.

Never thought about it before until this was brought up, but ambushes should have rotten cotton weaved into a section. We were in Catalina and couldn't find 1 ambush at 12am. Came back at 8am and it had 10 legal spinies and there was little chance of them getting out. I have the video of it and it still amazes me -- easily 1k worth of lobbies that had to be thrown back.

I absolutely think crab can get themselves out of the ambush traps before they starve. The exit is massive on an ambush trap, only about 8" up, and lot of people have a bait tube or cage in the center that the crab can already climb on. There is swell, surge, and current that commonly can lift and bounce the traps to shake crab out too. No one weights their hoop nets like cages.

Never thought about it before until this was brought up, but ambushes should have rotten cotton weaved into a section.

DFW determined that pots can have a 5" whole (or whatever it is) up in the top corner of a cage, but you want cloth exits on the bottom of hoop nets?

come on guys, let's not tear our own stuff apart from within. Crabbing is already looking like it will be a hobby of a time gone by soon anyway with the way regulations are going.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

I realize I'm "beating the dead horse"  here and the subject has been asked and answered numerous times, but as I read it, the delays are for TRAPS.  Does this mean hoops and ambush hoops would be good to go?   

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

thanks Loebs. So looks like for Albion, should be no change to open date or equipment...though I don't understand the whole 'fleet advisory' thing. (Zone 2)

for Zone 3, they speak only of crab traps, and no mention of hoops/rings.  I wonder if they might keep the dates and only allow rings/hoops?  With the open date just around the corner (next Saturday) I'd hope they make a decision too.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

I realize I'm "beating the dead horse"  here and the subject has been asked and answered numerous times, but as I read it, the delays are for TRAPS.  Does this mean hoops and ambush hoops would be good to go?   

I agree that it sounds like we can use hoops. For recreational they say it is a trap prohibition not a season delay.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

We are zone 3?  I couldn't find that map...

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195493&inline&fbclid=IwAR055f6fGTAZFNGLR76EbFZurYS1dThQzaLNx8jYlYPID9QcjK6PORF0ifc


Most of us in zone 3 will have a crab opening delay and/or cancellation.

We are zone 3?  I couldn't find that map...

Scroll down on the link. It shows the zones.