mmmmmmmm......crab

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:06 pm

As a marine biologist, I am needing to take a small sample of the dungeness crab population in the puget sound and evaluate the health of muscle development with complex biochemistry involving drawn out butter. I have everything together except for a catch bag, and my question is...I grab the crab, throw it in the bag...what prevents the crab from taking revenge on my leg as I swim along (i.e. pinching the crap out of me through the bag)?

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:27 pm

If it happens, I'd sure like to hear about it! I've never heard of such a thing happening... what kind of bag do you have? How large are the holes in it? If they could reach a claw through a netted opening in the bag, I'd get a new bag. If it's a bag with small holes it shouldn't be a problem. Better yet are the Trident bags with the spring loaded handle and nylon cloth sides.

Post by **Sea of Green** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:22 pm

Ask your friendly local grocer to save you a couple of onion sacks. They make great catch bags and if you lose them, you're not out anything. Don't waste your money on some fancy-schmancy bag.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:41 pm

It's the best $10 I've ever wasted.

coachrenz · Post by **coachrenz** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:39 pm

Remember that the season is only open on selected days in selected areas.

I heard that a couple of sundays ago the rangers were at Redondo writing tickets.

North of the Narrows Bridge(s) the season is only open for crabbing Wed - Sat. South of the Bridges crabbing is open 7 days a week.

L.A. · Post by **L.A.** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:35 pm

I don't mean to be a hijacker, but...how's Mukilteo for Dungeness crabbing for divers?

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:49 pm

We saw some crab out last dive at lighthouse park, but the oil dock is the best place from what I here. Yeah, Crabbing is wed-sat. I got a job with WDFW checking Salmon for the selective fisheries, so I have become familure with the crab regs, I told like 3 boats in a row sun, "crabbing is closed"! ..idiots. anyways, I've digressed...so the cheep trident bags work great?

Pinkpadigal · Post by **Pinkpadigal** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:13 am

coachrenz wrote:Remember that the season is only open on selected days in selected areas.

I heard that a couple of sundays ago the rangers were at Redondo writing tickets.

North of the Narrows Bridge(s) the season is only open for crabbing Wed - Sat. South of the Bridges crabbing is open 7 days a week.

I was there! WDFW was surveying boats as they were coming out of the water. She was also watching people walk onto the Redondo Pier with crab nets, reminding them they could not crab that day. Some did anyway, so she was writing tickets.

As an FYI...some of the fishermen are getting aggressive at Redondo. A few of them were casting lines north over to the Highline Pier. One of my divemasters got out of the water a week ago and had a fisherman threaten him. Not really a big deal, (Dane is 19, in awesome shape and could slam the drunk, much smaller and older fisherman

) but something to keep in mind. I am not sure what the fishermen think they are going to catch in 10-18 feet of water, but be wary of hooks anyway.

TCWestby · Post by **TCWestby** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:34 am

I didn't see many crab at all around the T-Dock on Monday and what I did see were very small. We are going to check out the oil dock today but that is also where I hear they hang out.

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:09 am

TCWestby, what was the tide like on the day you were looking for crab? Low or High?

That's also a fairly heavily crabbed area by both divers and Pots. When Kevin and I were at the park last week we probably wouldn't have come close to limiting, but I think we could've walked away with a couple of crab each of legal size. The area just below the NW end of the clay wall seems to be a good area to find them, though it's a little deep, 60-80 fsw. Good luck.

Jake

TCWestby · Post by **TCWestby** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:24 am

Fairly high, to the rocks by the stairs and only a 4' ecchange. I know this spot has been hit heavy. Till now I've been too lazy to hoof it to the oil dock.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:55 am

Yes, the Trident bags work well though the handle can be tough to squeeze in certain positions underwater. It's just a squeeze-the-handle thing, but if you don't have a good grip underwater you'll have to stop and get a good grip to open it... that being said, it does a great job keeping the crab in the bag.

Aggressive fishermen eh? Good times. $\:D/$ I love it when people bite off more than they can chew.

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:05 am

TCWestby wrote:Fairly high, to the rocks by the stairs and only a 4' ecchange. I know this spot has been hit heavy. Till now I've been too lazy to hoof it to the oil dock.

Try hitting it when the tide is low, around the ends of the pilings. Other than that, the area just west of the oil dock is a great area to find some nice size ones.

TCWestby · Post by **TCWestby** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:25 am

Thanks for the tip, I'm already getting hungry.

diver-dad · Post by **diver-dad** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:38 pm

kwbyron wrote:.... I am needing to take a small sample of the dungeness crab population in the puget sound and evaluate the health of muscle development with complex biochemistry involving drawn out butter. ...

A noble cause, to be sure! Truely important research that must be done!

kwbyron wrote: ... what prevents the crab from taking revenge on my leg as I swim along ...

You're eating them, and you worry about a little pinch?!?!? 'Come-on, now ... be a man about it! :naka:

Northwest Dive Club

mmmmmmmm......crab

mmmmmmmm......crab

Re: mmmmmmmm......crab