what a weekend

[bradvo]

Had a great weekend, was able to get supplies while the weather was still drizzling in the morning. By noon we were at Dockton at the south end of Vashon. Sun came out and we had a great time, couple of friends came over in there boats. Both from our Marina. sampled new beers and tried our luck at crabbing, only females - hard to figure out where all the males went?? Season not open all that long- Oh well, fun all the same- so went back and sampled more beer. Hope all here enjoyed the Sunny weekend as well.
Brad

[beyond kelp]

The female and male crabs are sometimes separate- well I guess unless the mood is right... Anyway you are supposed to move a short distance until you find the males. I took the advice from here a while ago and started going deeper with good success . Good luck. The male female thing I got from a book on crabbing. I dont let them sit in water anymore either, just a burlap bag that's wet in an ice chest. That and cook em in salt water is all you need to know! I hope this helps!

[Numbknots]

Bradvo,

Finally got back up and fixed the Genset (replaced the raw water pump)and cleaned the mixing elbow. Then spent the next 2 hours underwater cleaning the bottom, scraping barnacles off the shafts, props and rudders. (I VOW TO NEVER LET THE BOAT STAY IN THE SLIP THAT LONG AGAIN). My brother and his family came down yesterday and we took off and cruised up to Port Orchards after stopping for lunch in Gig Harbor. Wind kicked up to about 20 through the Narrows with wind waves to about 3 feet, The Tolly handled it like a lake, the day was beautiful and the high 80's in Gig Harbor was reassurance that Summer has arrived!

For anyone interested I had near broad band internet connect speeds using Verizon Wireless air card in my laptop most all the way up from Olympia and we are overnighting in Port Orchards---Life is good!

Tim

[bradvo]

Tim, good to hear your back on the water, sounds like ya went for a pretty good distance on the cruise.
Brad

[SomeSailor]

Yeah... was wondering what happened to ya Tim. Did you ever get your boat name done? I spoke to Shelly at Liberty Sign Shoppe the other day. Maybe she'd like to take a go at it?

About the crabs... that's very true about the depth. Most of the larger crabs will fight over the food in the deeper water, forcing the little guys back up into the more protected shallows to get their lunch. Logic applies to crab in the deepest sandy bottom you can find near an outflow. Use salmon back or hake if you can get it. Chicken is a good second bet, followed closely by turkey... but I personally think they only work so well because people so them so long and the bait holds up well.

[bradvo]

Ok guys, I know how to crab. It just sucks down here in the quartermaster harbor area. First time I have made an attempt to crab here, south sound has always been a little contaminated around the commencement bay area for my taste. Yes in this area I agree that deeper may be better, but since I was out in my tender during the entire time and talking to others it was a very slow day for keepers- this goes for waters from 35 ft to waters up to 160 ft. The other unfortunate thing about this area is that to many people loose gear- it would be nice if each person respected the others property but guess to many A holes down here that take your traps. I was not going to give anyone the opportunity so I and a friend each packed our coolers and floated around and B.S'd and talked to some other people on there luck.
I would much rather be up in the Miller bay or Kingston area. These areas produce well and only takes a few hours for me to get there.
My other favorite places are Ludlow,Townsend , Wescott and Garrison bay- Deer harbor used to be really good and I still know one area in there that i have good success. Bedwell harbor has been good to me in the Gulf islands- after that in the gulf island I do not know where to go, I have seen allot of pots outside of Ganges but could use some help with other good areas if any one can chime in and let me know I will book mark it on my charts.
thanks.
Brad

[SomeSailor]

I've got all my secret spots outside Everett here. :)

I know this sounds disgusting... but the best way to find good crabbing areas... is look for the historical sewage outfalls. Especially in areas that municipalities dumped in the rivers back in the day. If you look at your favorite areas... you'll probably find that there IS or WAS a large outfall (either natural or manmade) nearby. Same goes for shrimp.

There are lots of good watershed maps online that'll show ya that good crabbing is usually coincident with our poop pipelines both in the Puget Sound and San Juans. :shock:

[Tedster]

Yeeeeoouuuu! Ted ;)

[bradvo]

That's ok, I usually boil the sh*t out of them anyway. :D
Brad

[SomeSailor]

Thats one of the reason the state of Washington recommends splitting them and boiling only the fleshy parts you intend to eat. The toxins and heavy metals accumulate in the liver and gills. By getting them out before you boil, you reduce cooking your crab in a toxic soup...

... and them you have the folks that drink that stuff :?

[Stratocaster]

That's what I've always done, Mike. A side benefit is that you can cook in a way smaller pot.

[bradvo]

I would never cook a crab whole, some swear by it- that it taste better. i like to break the back off, snap in half , then clean out and cook. i do not want to make any mistake when it comes to eating shell fish- get wierd dreams.
Brad

[Go Aweigh2452]

actually, you do not need to cover them with water. Just add enough water to cover about 1-2" of the pot. I add 1/4 cup white vinegar and it sweetens the crab meat... Cook about 12-14 mins after getting the water/vinegar boiling, then add the crabs... yum!

[3788sam]

Doug growing up on the right coast, vinegar and water (watch it!) is how we steamed our blue crabs whole. Just sprinkle a bunch of Old Bay and it's a crab feast.
The white vinegar definitely made a difference.

[SomeSailor]

I've tried the steaming thing, but prefer to boil 'em myself. My neighbor has a bayleaf bush. I go over and grab a handful, a cup of vinegar.... add liberal red pepper to the boil... and it makes all the difference :)

You guys are makin' me hungry :)

[bradvo]

Huh, never tried adding anything but good ol salt water, only if it is in the right location . i have never tried the white vinegar or peppers but maybe I will.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Hey Ken, you're going to love this.... tonight ( about 1 hour from now) I am taking the Admiral and my son to a local Annapolis crab house for all you can eat blue claw... "Mikes Bar and Crab House" on old Riva Rd if you are familar with the area... :cya:

[sunnydude2]

Vinegar...might have to try that. Friend came back from 4th of July weekend trip with his yacht club saying all the old folks swear by steaming the crab and not boiling them. Would then the 1-2" of water and vinegar be steaming?

[Go Aweigh2452]

Sean, yes... and actually I place a small metal plate on the bottom to prevent the crab from being in total contact with the bottom of the pot too...

[sunnydude2]

I have already informed Admiral that we need vinegar on board. :)

Been a good day so far. Learned new way to cook crab and found out i can use the cutting board tray on new magma grill to turn grill into oven!

[3788sam]

Doug - my mouth is watering! Not familiar with MD crab house but grew up in Vienna VA. I just remember looking of the most run down looking crab houses.(they usually had the best crab spice) Sit down at a table covered in news paper and just have the fresh steamed crabs dumped on the table, a wooden hammer, pitcher of beer and your feasting!
Walk out with a $20 tab!
My parents are at their place on the Outer banks right now. Always throw out a few traps and get a couple bushels on the sound side!

[3788sam]

Just remember the spice to look for - Captian Pell's crab spice!

[Go Aweigh2452]

Well, we are back from our feast of Blue Claw crab. It was great, no awesome! Had a few summer ales to wash it all down and had my son (designated driver) drive us back... There is justice in this world! Kinda got scared when I went to the bathroom and saw red... whew, it was only crab boil... forgot to wash the hands BEFORE going to the bathroom... everyone have a great night... frekin hot here (90's) but not as muggy as yesterday...

[beyond kelp]

Boy I remember when my buddy Rick showed me how to butcher crabs! I thought he was a ruthless inhumane *&%$#%$. Now I do it all the time without thinking about it. I got limits by langley( skunked at hat Island for four hours) and the crab was so sweet I wouldn't think about improving on it but I know you guys undoubtedly know of what you speak. Sunday closure is B.S.! I didn't fuss much when I heard the rules come out, but after a few weekends, I really dont like putting crab gear on board, taking up valuable space on my relatively small boat, for one day of crabbing! The people that thought this was a solution should be down on the bottom with the crabs! LOTS GET AWAY!!! COME ON!!!

[Randygh]

What do blue crab taste like? Are they as good as our dungees?

I've always boiled crab whole in salt water. They're so delicious how does the vinegar make them better?

[Go Aweigh2452]

What do blue crab taste like? Are they as good as our dungees?


Randy, I think they are better tasting by far ... but.... are much more difficult to open and get the meat due to the size (smaller). The shell is thicker (depending on the season but overall, thicker by 2 times I say).
They're so delicious how does the vinegar make them better?
Gotta try it to believe it... Use white vinegar only... you will never go back to the "dark side" again.

[Roel Jansen]

Sunday morning I was sitting on the pier watching the sunrise, when I suddenly heard a strange grasping voice say: Hey look that's a nice fat one!
Shall I kill him with my pincers from the back? No, I heard another voice say they taste better if you drawn them a live! Do they taste good with all that sh...t in them? You can prepare them in different ways, eat the legs and arms, butts taste good but should be cleaned well! said the other voice! You have white ones, brown ones yellow ones and blacks which kind taste the best?
doesn't matter as long if it are Americans especially from the PCNW! Best are old sailors they have that nice salty taste! Hey let's go up there, you made me hungry! And this one here? asked the other, OK leave him, too old and I don't want loose my appetite on this one as there are so many up NW! If we walk fast we can be there during the weekend and that will be a blast! I heard two splashes into the water and hurried back to the boat afraid that they could change their mind and would come back.

[SomeSailor]

We really need to get you some crab up there Roel :)

What sort of fishing and crabbing do you have up there? I just sent a second order of cut vinyl decals to a guy in:

Bruggesloot 22
Broek op Langedijk, Noord-Holland 1721 HA
Netherlands

Is that anywhere near you? He's a fisherman from there. I cut him some large Gamakatsu, Abu Garcia and Shimano decals for his boat.

[Roel Jansen]

Mike,

About Fishing over here, looking at commercial fishing we have the most modern fishing fleet of the World. URK a former island in the Zuiderzee has the most millionaires of the country and is a very traditional Fisherman's community. Young guys at the age of 24 get from the community tremendous loans to let modern fast trawlers built. But due to (needed) restrictions made by the EU, times are getting worse for the Fishing Industry. There has been also a lot of disputes with countries like the UK and Norway. As the Dutch with the bigger, stronger and faster boats behaved like real pirates destroying British and Norwegian boats their nets. At the moment there are plans by our government to buy out a lot of elder fishermen (read boats).
Recreational fishing is almost made for this country of which is 75 percent below sea level and it is a big sport. Keeping the water household in away that prevent us from permanent swimming we have a lot of inland water over here with all the fresh water fish you can imagine. As we have a coastline with beautiful beaches, also a lot of fishing from the beach is done and of course going out with special trawlers for a day of fishing can be and is done much. But no crabbing but shrimps yes, I am sorry! :D
Personally I fished a lot when I was young but since the day my father died, that day I was fishing, I never touched a fishing rode again. That was in 1982!

About Broek op Langedijk, yes that isn't to far away from Amsterdam, it's up North near the City of Alkmaar known in our history for the city where the Victory began (80 year war against the Spanish for freedom and of religion )has a famous cheese market but only for tourists now a day. it's about a 45 minute drive. Agriculture region known for Cabbage, red/ white green.

[Numbknots]

Joel,

Sorry to hear of that sad day when your Dad died. Sounds like he was doing what he loved with for sure one of his most loved. Perhaps he is looking down today and wishing that you were fishing again, practicing what he surely taught you of his talent?

Hope to get over to your area one day to do some diving and fishing. I understand much of the North Sea is like that of SE Alaska where I spent a lot of my Childhood.

Tim

[Roel Jansen]

Tim,

Thanks! Yes it was a very sad day but also one of relieve. Something went wrong with an operation he had and turned him into a state that you see with very bad mental disturbed people not able to speak, lost control of his major functions and we were was told it would be permanent.

When you come over I will bring you in contact with friends of us who are boaters and divers. And show you all the secrets and beauty of the old Lady we live in.

:D