Crabbing Humboldt style

eelgrass · Nov 6, 2017

Opening day of crab season was Saturday. It was too rough for the kayak so I hitched a ride with my favorite charter captain Tim Klassen on the Reel Steel.

http://www.reelsteelsportfishing.com/index.html

A beautiful today, Monday.

Leaving the dock on Woodley Island.

A commercial crabber getting ready.

Heading for the open ocean

A freighter loading wood chips bound for China

Coast Guard Cutter on standby.

Coast Guard station Humboldt Bay.

Heading for open water.

1st pot pulled. 28 keeper crab. We needed 50 for a boat limit, and we pulled 3 pots to get them. We were on the ocean for 45 minutes.

Cooking up my limit of 10

Dinner time! Dig in!

DeerMadness · Nov 6, 2017

Heck yeah that looks yummy. I used to dive for Dungeness..

DW · Nov 6, 2017

Thanx alot eel, it's frickin snowin here! But the ducks are gonna pay hell in the am! Damn them crabs look delicious!

#livelikezac

eelgrass · Nov 6, 2017

DM, I've never heard of that. We were in 18 fathoms. How deep were you diving? They come in shallow, I know.

2lumpy · Nov 6, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-06-17 AT 10:19PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Nov-06-17 AT 10:19?PM (MST)

Damn it, you have not fricking idea how much that pisses me off. Screw you and your stupid ocean!!!!

You're a wringer eel, and everybody knows it!!!

DC

DeerHunter53 · Nov 7, 2017

Hey Eel are they nice and fat this year. Did you get any three pounders?

Going this weekend and can't wait those look fantastic

eelgrass · Nov 7, 2017

DC, like a wringer washing machine? Not many young folks even knows what that is.

2lumpy · Nov 7, 2017

You're this kind of wringer eel, squeezing every drop of outdoor opportunity out of your environment. ;-) I'm neon glowing green with envy!!!

DC

eelgrass · Nov 7, 2017

DeerHunter53, we were disappointed in that they aren't filled out yet and pretty light. Really sweet meat though...the 1st crab of the year is always the best. Good luck if you go.

Jagerdad · Nov 7, 2017

I am with 2lumpy....

Eel...You COULD have Invited DC and myself...But NOOOOooo

Yes, you hogged it all....Shame on You :-(

Jagerdad

rutnbuck · Nov 7, 2017

When I grow up I want to be just like eelgrass. He gets to do all the fun stuff. Thanks for sharing great pics. Good job looks like you had a great time.

Rutnbuck

cjboz · Nov 7, 2017

I've heard it's not hard to catch crabs in Humbolt county...

DeerHunter53 · Nov 8, 2017

Thanks Eel I can't wait this is my favorite time of the year as usually they are really fat right now. But either way they are always great to eat.

eelgrass · Nov 8, 2017

What a difference a couple days can make.

PZZ400-090530- 301 PM PST Wed Nov 8 2017 .SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WATERS...Robust southerly gale force winds are still occuring over the waters however winds will very gradually decrease through late week. Large, steep, and chaotic seas will persist through Thursday evening. Southerly winds and seas will increase once again Sunday.

PZZ450-090530- Pt St George to Cape Mendocino out 10 nm- 301 PM PST Wed Nov 8 2017 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING... .TONIGHT...S winds 15 to 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt. Waves SW 12 ft at 10 seconds. Rain. .THU...S winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves S 8 ft at 8 seconds...and W 10 ft at 12 seconds. Showers.