HKUP Doran (was Tomales Bay), Saturday 12/4

Location switch, hitting Doran Saturday AM 630-700 in the parking lot - targeting crab (if they are willing) and possibly some RF/Ling


Looking to get some more crab this weekend, Saturday morning - looking to Tomales Bay.  This will be my first time in Tomales, have wanted to try it for a while, and looks like the weather suggests it might be the right time.  This is a king tide weekend, but looks like the time between 6 and ~11AM should be good, so probably try to get off the water by noon

other option would be Doran, though the weather and waves up there might be a little rough.

Appreciate any insights for crabbing in Tomales, as well as fishing.

Will target sunrise launch, plan to be off water by noon.

Date       Day   Time      Pred   High/Low
2021/12/03   Fri   05:43 PM   -1.27   L
2021/12/04   Sat   12:13 AM   4.71   H
2021/12/04   Sat   05:21 AM   2.37   L
2021/12/04   Sat   10:59 AM   6.70   H
2021/12/04   Sat   06:31 PM   -1.55   L

blue camo hobie/white whale truck

Make sure you're off the water by noon, or are at least south of Miller. That current is going to absolutely rip through there  Saturday afternoon once the outgoing starts.

Good luck and report back.

Make sure you're off the water by noon, or are at least south of Miller. That current is going to absolutely rip through there  Saturday afternoon once the outgoing starts.

Good luck and report back.

yah, I hear ya - would actually be fun to watch it (from shore) at the jaws

by 'Miller' do you mean Millerton Point?

Is this a beginner friendly spot? Looking to take my maiden voyage this weekend. Just picked up a 2020 Hobie pa 12. I used to fish off a ocean kayak a long time ago up in fort Bragg.

by 'Miller' do you mean Millerton Point?

Yes. We called it Miller for short.

Is this a beginner friendly spot? Looking to take my maiden voyage this weekend. Just picked up a 2020 Hobie pa 12. I used to fish off a ocean kayak a long time ago up in fort Bragg.

I think it's pretty friendly, protected beach launch, and then you go as far as you feel comfortable.  Winds look to be mild tomorrow, and swell at 5'/12s which seems good.  This will be my first time crabbing at this location, so I will likely start pretty close in on the sandy bottom.  At least one other guy going.  My plan is to be off the water ~noon. A big outgoing tide from 11am to 6pm, bad for crabbing.  Plan is to park at the parking lot at end of jetty.

blue camo PA14/white ford pu

What would I need for crabbing other than the measuring tool to make sure they are legal? Can I use a hoop net? Also, are you able to fish while you let your crab traps soak?

by 'Miller' do you mean Millerton Point?

Yes. We called it Miller for short.

Miller Boat Launch, adjacent to Nick's Cove.

What would I need for crabbing other than the measuring tool to make sure they are legal? Can I use a hoop net? Also, are you able to fish while you let your crab traps soak?

a few in depth threads on crabbing this season, and some of the changes, but the short of it is
can only use hoop nets right now, can only soak for 2 hours or less (but can soak again after pulling up and checking)
some people fish while the hoops soak, others (like me) just keep checking them.  Though tomorrow I may fish the sabiki while I soak the nets.  I like to stay close to them, keep an eye on them etc.

yes, need a  measuring tool, and somewhere to put the crabs if you find success (I use a divers net, then cooler with ice in the truck)
for bait tomorrow, I'm using a combination of turkey parts, chicken legs, cans of cat food, and possibly some old fish
I plan to soak the Promar Ambush hoops - have 5, though others swear by the flat hoops.  My own experience, my last outing, I fished 4 ambush, and my buddy fished 1 flat and 1 ambush. I regularly pulled and moved my ambush around - total for the day 2 keepers,  he checked his twice, and the last pull got 3 keepers on the flat hoop and nothing on the ambush.  Another friend out there limited in a couple hours regularly checking and moving his hoops

this will be my second attempt at crabbing...so, take it all with a grain of salt