Crab Opening Delay

FYI -  For those on the SF Peninsula, West Marine in San Carlos has Promar Ambush Rings in stock. 

FYI -  For those on the SF Peninsula, West Marine in San Carlos has Promar Ambush Rings in stock.

thanks for the heads up. both 36 and 32 or just 32? typical WM markup?

I believe they were 32"

They had some at Dick’s in concord but they were priced at $130ish. Super expensive.

I think the ones at WM were $72, I should have taken a better look. 

Hi's Tackle Box has the 32" Promar Ambush in stock and they still have a bunch of the 3x5 red foam buoys in stock as of 3pm today.  I did not get a price on the Ambush hoop nets.

Fisherman's Warehouse in Sacto had a couple 32" yesterday, but no buoys (actually they have larger buoys but $30 vs. $10)

received an update from CDFW yesterday, looks like they added dates to the recommendation which is expected to be accepted Monday 11/1.  Language still limited to traps, no mention of hoops

Working Group Recommendation
Management Action:
Fishing Zone 1 and 2: Recommends delaying the recreational crab trap fishery until
November 12, 2021, with a Fleet Advisory and to open the commercial trap fishery on
December 1, 2021 with a Fleet Advisory. Both dates are subject to change based on the
next Risk Assessment.
Fishing Zones 3 and 4: Recommends delaying the recreational crab trap fishery until
November 12, 2021, and delay the commercial fishery until November 19, 2021, both
fisheries would open under a Fleet Advisory. Both dates are subject to change based on
the next Risk Assessment.
Fishing Zones 5 and 6: The Working Group supports CDFW’s preliminary
recommendation to open both the recreational fishery and commercial Dungeness crab
fisheries under a Fleet Advisory on November 6, 2021, and November 15, 2021,
respectively.

As per the statement above. The recreational crab trap fishery in zones 1-4 will be set back but would hoops and nets be legal?

As per the statement above. The recreational crab trap fishery in zones 1-4 will be set back but would hoops and nets be legal?

That's the assumption since hoops and nets are not considered "traps" by DFW.

looks like they accepted all the recommendations, but no report yet on the 11/1 meeting for 'further actions'

New regulations adopted by the Fish and Game Commission(opens in new tab) authorize the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director to restrict the use of crab traps in the beginning and end of the recreational Dungeness crab season due to marine life entanglement risk.

The recreational Dungeness crab season is scheduled to open statewide on Saturday, November 6 for all methods of take. However, under the new regulations, the Director has authority to prohibit the use of traps in the fishery to minimize entanglement risk from lines and buoys typically used with trap gear. A crab trap gear prohibition would also prevent the use of crab traps in the rock crab fishery. Use of hoop nets and snares (crab loop traps) are not affected by these new regulations and can be used to catch Dungeness crab when the season opens.

CDFW reminds crabbers to sign up for email updates on CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries webpage, and to check for season updates before heading out. Crabbers can also review the Best Practices Guide (PDF)(opens in new tab) to help minimize entanglement from trap gear. Crabbers should also become familiar with the Risk Assessment Fishing Zones.

Crabbers should be aware that the new regulations require recreational crab traps to have a single standardized main buoy which measures at least 5 inches by 11 inches and a single red marker buoy that measures 3 inches by 5 inches. No additional buoys or trailer buoys may be used. There is also a 10-trap limit, and all traps must be serviced at least every nine days. Each recreational crabber who uses traps must also have a Recreational Crab Trap Validation, which is available for purchase online from CDFW's online License Sales and Services website(opens in new tab) or at licensed retailers.

CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham will be using the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program regulations over the coming weeks to assess risk of entanglement for whales and sea turtles off California’s coast in both the recreational and commercial fisheries. The first assessment is scheduled for November 1, and may impact allowable gear for the recreational season opening on November 6. Recent survey data indicate there are a significant number of humpback whales and Pacific leatherback sea turtles still foraging in California’s rich coastal waters. Director Bonham will review available data and recommendations from CDFW staff and the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group when making decisions regarding the recreational and commercial fisheries during these upcoming risk assessments.

For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries webpage. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab. For general information, please see the FAQs for the new recreational crab trap regulations.

Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

and the final report
tldr: commercial crabbing delayed in zones 3/4
rarefactional season opens  11/6, but temporary prohibition on traps in zones 3/4 for ANY type of crab, hoops and snares are OK

THEREFORE, under the authority granted by Fish and Game Code Sections 8276.1(b) and
Sections 132.8 and 28.80(c) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, I am
implementing the following management actions:
1. The opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3 and 4 is
delayed. Take and possession of commercially caught Dungeness crab is prohibited
in the delayed Fishing Zones.
2. The deployment and use of crab traps in any recreational fishery is temporarily
prohibited in Fishing Zones 3 and 4.
This management action is in effect until modified. The next risk assessment is expected to
occur on or before November 22, 2021.
Updates and material regarding future entanglement risk evaluations in the commercial
Dungeness crab fishery will be made available on the Department’s Whale Safe Fisheries
web page.

Here is the final word looks like the recreational season will open on time but traps will not be allowed. Snares and hoops only:

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195563&inline

Go geetum boyz...

$100 for each hoop I have (x5) 

Thanks Mark and still haven't forgotten to send you a check.