Great Winter crabbing area 11

[Bob & Sue]

Anyone else doing any winter crabbing in arear 11 or 13 we have been doing really good between storms. Going out later this morning to drop some pots near Quartermaster Harbor. 3 pots last Friday 10 keepers few red rocks.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m625/rmc4411/DSCN0159.jpg

[toukow]

Haven't gone out yet but definitely intend to start. Thanks for the tip, Dean

[The Peddler]

I just picked-up my winter crab catch-card yesterday, so I'm ready. I'm hoping to get out this weekend, or next week.

[Bob & Sue]

Another great day of crabbing Monday water was like glass can't believe it for the end of November.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m625/rmc4411/crabmonday.jpg

[Randygh]

Are rock crab good eating? I always throw them back, even if they are legal to keep.

[Tedster]

I think the claws are great! If you keep one claw and throw the rest back they will live and grow another claw.

[The Peddler]

I think the claws are great! If you keep one claw and throw the rest back they will live and grow another claw.

True, but not legal.

[The Peddler]

They're just as tasty as Dungies in my opinion, but they're tougher to crack, and there's not as much meat in them. Basically, just in the claws. I only keep them if I'm not catchin' Dungies.

[Tedster]

True, but not legal.

It used to be, I take it it is not now. Good news is this done about 15+ years ago.

[Bob & Sue]

Are rock crab good eating? I always throw them back, even if they are legal to keep.

Like someone else said they're great eating but red rock means rock hard shell well worth the time to clean them. I only try to keep a few unless there's no dungeness to keep.

[toukow]

[QUOTE=Bob & Sue;67457]Another great day of crabbing Monday water was like glass can't believe it for the end of November.

QUOTE]

Those look great! Do you mind if I ask what you're using for bait? Thanks, Dean

[ctjstr]

we'll probably drop a couple pots this weekend. I've had decent luck just on the outside of quartermaster. Not sure what's been going on in the bay closer to the foss waterway. Might try one there.

[Bob & Sue]

QUOTE]Those look great! Do you mind if I ask what you're using for bait? Thanks, Dean[/QUOTE]

I use salmon parts from filleting what we caught this year just ran out but have found an Albertsons that has frozen fish parts sold as soup mix it's .48 cents a lb. I just started calling around till I found a couple stores with them.

[Bob & Sue]

we'll probably drop a couple pots this weekend. I've had decent luck just on the outside of quartermaster. Not sure what's been going on in the bay closer to the foss waterway. Might try one there.

Can't beat Quartermaster Harbor or just south of Des Moines Marina about 3/4 of a mile. We're going out this morning to drop pots if we limit that will probably be the last time till just before Christmas.

[toukow]

QUOTE]Those look great! Do you mind if I ask what you're using for bait? Thanks, Dean

I use salmon parts from filleting what we caught this year just ran out but have found an Albertsons that has frozen fish parts sold as soup mix it's .48 cents a lb. I just started calling around till I found a couple stores with them.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Hope I half as good of luck as you have so far, Dean

[Bob & Sue]

We went out Thursday in the fog tried a different spot a couple good sized dungies ( 2.2lbs ) with some nice legal ones when I opened up the bait bag the salmon parts were to put it kindly really stunk LEARNED a big lesson always check and use good bait crabs aren't scavengers. So we went out Friday back to our normal spot with fresh bait 10 beautiful keepers 4 large red rock. We're done for the year unless we go out for some fresh Christmas crab this last trip was for my mom and son we promised to bring them some fresh not frozen crab. The water has been like glass with some nice Blackmouth fishing starting to really pick up. Now I guess it's time to put all the winter projects on the boat I've been putting off.
Anybody make it out yet how have you done?

[Chass]

I have some friends that live on Vashon I off Pt Robinson Rd. Very near Quartermaster harbor. Can you tell me about where you crabbed? He said Quartermaster is terribly polluted and is actually a superfund cleanup site. Not sure If I'd want to eat crab out of that bay. Do you know anything about that? He has never crabbed before and I'm trying to get him into it.

Thanks,
Chass
ct

[bradvo]

I live nearby , never heard quarter master as a super fund site, but the old mill acorss the bay was. Here's the deal, the old Arsenic smelter got a good majority of people spooked about eating the crab in Commencement Bay , including my wife.
Crabs are not territorial and migrate, plus much money has been put into clean up and the sea food has been tested for consumption.
But ..............some folks can't get over it..I admit it bothers me to, until I stick it in my mouth.:mrgreen:

Be aware tho, you may never convince your friend to eat it.

[Bob & Sue]

I have some friends that live on Vashon I off Pt Robinson Rd. Very near Quartermaster harbor. Can you tell me about where you crabbed? He said Quartermaster is terribly polluted and is actually a superfund cleanup site. Not sure If I'd want to eat crab out of that bay. Do you know anything about that? He has never crabbed before and I'm trying to get him into it.

Thanks,
Chass
ct

If you look around the internet you'll find pretty much all of Puget Sound to Neah Bay has been identified as cleanup areas in 1992 much of it is cleaned up or dissipated. I doubt there is many places in the world that aren't affected.

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/9387.html

[Bob & Sue]

Had time to get out for some Christmas crabbing had about 500' visibilty leaving the marina at 10:00 am with 1-2' wind waves by noon sun was out water smooth as glass we dropped 3 crabs for 3 hours. 10 male dungeness largest was 8" weighing 2 1/2 lbs 5 over 2lbs.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m625/rmc4411/DSCN0199.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m625/rmc4411/DSCN0189.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m625/rmc4411/DSCN0188.jpg