Crab Opening Delay

Zones 1 and 2 look to be good to go for traps.

soo what's a better hoop: one with a big top opening or one with the smaller opening like the ambush? 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/promar-hoop-net

soo what's a better hoop: one with a big top opening or one with the smaller opening like the ambush? 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/promar-hoop-net

I like the ambush type better. The crabs get stuck in them for a while and they are more forgiving if you pull them up slowly or at an angle.

Sooooo in Zone 3 we can start crabbing on Nov 6 with hoops, the hoops do NOT need the red marker buoy, and the crab trap validation does NOT apply to hoops <-- is this an accurate summation? Who is going to test out our interpretation on Nov 6 

Sooooo in Zone 3 we can start crabbing on Nov 6 with hoops, the hoops do NOT need the red marker buoy, and the crab trap validation does NOT apply to hoops <-- is this an accurate summation? Who is going to test out our interpretation on Nov 6 

You are correct. I will test this as soon as the weather and my schedule cooperate.

Am I dreaming?  Or are we really going to have most of the crab fishery to ourselves for the opener (if your hooping it).  Conditions are looking pretty good too! 

Am I dreaming?  Or are we really going to have most of the crab fishery to ourselves for the opener (if your hooping it).  Conditions are looking pretty good too!

I know, pinch me. Fortunately, I started using hoops last year so I'm set.

Began with one hoop in like 2005, then went to collapsible pots, modified said pots as regs changed over the years, now looks like I'm back to the old hoop again
It's like fish deja vu.

Sooooo in Zone 3 we can start crabbing on Nov 6 with hoops, the hoops do NOT need the red marker buoy, and the crab trap validation does NOT apply to hoops <-- is this an accurate summation? Who is going to test out our interpretation on Nov 6 

I'll be testing it.

Am I dreaming?  Or are we really going to have most of the crab fishery to ourselves for the opener (if your hooping it).  Conditions are looking pretty good too!

I know, pinch me. Fortunately, I started using hoops last year so I'm set.

+1 switched to hoops this year after seeing jp52's ease one day... glad I did.

Drop some hoops then cast out a snare on your rod & reel to pass the time.
It would’ve made more sense and less impactful to the crabbing industry if the Commission just required rec anglers to tend/monitor their crab traps while deployed. Instead of outright prohibiting traps.

That news reel is aggravating…..Ben Platt sucks.

That news reel is aggravating…..Ben Platt sucks.

Yeah...

As I read it, the north most twelve miles of Zone 3 (Mendocino County)are pretty much included in Zone 2 for the purposes of these regs. Am I missing something?

Is it me, or does it seam like _every_ year there is some drama around the crab opener and that "fresh crab for Thanksgiving".  I don't recall all the reasons, but I feel like every single year there is some news report like this, possibly to drive up demand?