runaway crabs

Steve,

I know they shoot halibut. Would a 9mm do or would you need something bigger :?: :P :lol:

How about a cut to fit 1" by 8'' that lays across the cockpit floor? I'm just guessing how high the little buggers could jump.

How about 2 buckets, one for legal and one forthe little buggers that need to grow or get a sex change.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I'd try sprinkling some Old Bay Crab Seasoning around there. That's what we use on the Right Coast in cooking them and it'll probably scare them off... :mrgreen:

Charlie
 
I dump all the crab into a ice chest or large bucket when I pull the traps and sort thru them after I rebait. Then I sort and move them to another ice chest full of water or ice. works great. Also as I sort I place them on thier backs so they cant walk off. They scare the dog a bit and he does not like going near them.
 
Here is what David of Anna Leigh uses. The little bat does a great job of stunning them, and also breaks the cockleshells that he uses for bait.
Day%2052%20San%20Juans%20Boat%20Trip%20094.jpg
 
Tom,

I've heard of people getting tickets from the WDFW for not sorting crabs immediately. E.g. it's best to sort and toss the non-legal ones prior to re-baiting the traps. I even had a WDFW officer tell me that I had to sort them prior to dumping them in my boat. When I explained that I couldn't do that safely (clearly he never crabbed himself) he backed down. Nonetheless, there are a lot of "recreational" crab poachers so WDFW has gotten tighter on their enforcement. Just an FYI.
 
roger maybe I did not make myself clear. if I have three pots and pull all three in 10 minutes I dont , nor need too, sort between pots. I pull all three, resettting each one as I go and then sort. crab on on the boat for maybe 10 minutes.

if you have not crabbed a lot make sure you are mesurring your crab right and know how to check for soft shells. Lots of softs this summer and they are not worth eatting. winter crab is a more firm and better eating. thanks to the new rule changes starting 2011 we will get a full winter crab season.
 
I even had a WDFW officer tell me that I had to sort them prior to dumping them in my boat.
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:? HTH did he expect that? Sort them right from the pot while the pot hangs over the side, banging on the boat? I really don't get that.

...check for soft shells. Lots of softs this summer and they are not worth eatting...
Click to expand...

Indeed. I always release softies. No meat in the shells, so why kill them? It's better to release them and let them fill the shells out.

In answer to the first question if you place the crabs up-side down on their shells they will ususally go into a state of "tonic immobility" and stop moving. I do that all the time, especially while I'm sorting, so I don't get pinched in the toe. :wink:
 
Let's see, suggestions for 9mm or larger rounds and Old Bay seasoning. Hmmm.
OK, I'll stuff the Old Bay into the hollow point bullets! :thup

I love this place!
 
Get er done Steve,

And actually, since most of my crabbing experience is from "Deadliest Catch" I thought you had to sort as you emptied the traps.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Don't forget the CCR :crook

While you're holding the trap with one hand and sorting with the other,
your pen should be in your teeth filling out your CCR. :smilep

Big Brother :amgry May be watching you :sad and by the way...Don't forget the "Body Bag" to take all of your back shells home. :wink

Jack :smiled
 
starcrafttom":2snotdro said:
roger maybe I did not make myself clear. if I have three pots and pull all three in 10 minutes I dont , nor need too, sort between pots. I pull all three, resettting each one as I go and then sort. crab on on the boat for maybe 10 minutes.

if you have not crabbed a lot make sure you are mesurring your crab right and know how to check for soft shells. Lots of softs this summer and they are not worth eatting. winter crab is a more firm and better eating. thanks to the new rule changes starting 2011 we will get a full winter crab season.
Click to expand...

Tom,

I've crabbed plenty but if you don't sort between pots, you are leaving yourself open to getting a ticket from one of the eager beaver WDFW officers. I've seen it happen a couple years ago right out in the Snohomish delta in front of Everett. I'm not saying it's right, I'm not saying it makes sense. I'm just saying that it happens and can be avoided by sorting ASAP. I agree on the winter crab being better. I'll be heading out this winter to get my fill for new years eve.
 
I put them in an ice box or 5 gallon bucket with salt water and a few frozen water bottles if the sun is out. We like the little guys alive right up to when we cut them in half clean them and throw them into boiling water with a little spice in it.
Capn. Steve (after a long time away)
 
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