Crab are filling up

[Tarawa86]

If we can't get other boats I can always ferry people out to drop off and pick up their traps; there are some good spots very close to the Nehalem Bay State Park dock. Some could probably dig clams during this time since we would start out roughly two hours prior to high tide. Weather.com is predicting showers that day though, so it might be a bit soggy for all involved...

Do we need a low tide for the clams?
Sounds good...nothing better than fresh clam fritters and an ice cold PBR!
Can't help with another boat (unless an inflatable raft counts )... any rentals there? Is that where Kelly's is? I'm happy to go in on one.

This will actually be my first time out for dungeness. Looks pretty easy though. My next available Saturday is 10/13. I'd love to make plans to crab that day if it works for you guys. We would either need to go to a pier or find a friend with a boat.... @Tarawar86 maybe?
Sounds like a good party to me.
Anyone know if rainbow trout make good trout bait? I can start saving heads and entrails. I can't imagine a crab turning down a free meal

 

[Flymph]

If we can't get other boats I can always ferry people out to drop off and pick up their traps; there are some good spots very close to the Nehalem Bay State Park dock. Some could probably dig clams during this time since we would start out roughly two hours prior to high tide. Weather.com is predicting showers that day though, so it might be a bit soggy for all involved...

If you're talking about the 11th theough the 13th tose are clam tides (at least in longbeach)...
Just thought I'd offer some encouragement... I'll be at work and going to Lincoln city for a family event a few days later, so I can't invite myself.

 

[Mister Bisley]

@Tarawa86 I'm actually tide up (pun intended) on the 13th, forgot about an event that I'm attending. Would still love to get out a time or two this year, rain or shine.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

I saw an outfit called Kelly's Marina. They were $100/ 2 hours. They have tent camping as well as RV camping. Might not be a bad overnighter.

This makes my recent purchase seem not so crazy.

 

[Mister Bisley]

This makes my recent purchase seem not so crazy.
View attachment 504294

Nice ZZZ! Got a good deal I hope. Let me know if you ever need a fishing buddy

 

[Tarawa86]

This makes my recent purchase seem not so crazy.
View attachment 504294

Awesome! I'd also like to move to a glass boat, with an 18-22' Arima being my preference. However, having a son in college pushes that goal out a bit. After the fishing season is over this year I'm (hopefully) going to replace my floorboards and convert my boat to a dual console that is about 2' further forward.

Also agree that the cost of those rental boats quickly don't pencil out, and it's just cheaper to go buy the crab.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Man I'd love to get down there with you guys & do some crabbing soon but I've got too much going on up here in Wa for the next few months.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

Nice ZZZ! Got a good deal I hope. Let me know if you ever need a fishing buddy

We're planning on crabbing in Florence and the surrounding coast. It was a pretty good deal, but lots of minor repairs to do.

 

[T22]

Kelly's is awesome. Wife and I went last Thursday... only bummer was we didn't find any keepers. Anybody know where they're hiding?

 

[Tarawa86]

Kelly's is awesome. Wife and I went last Thursday... only bummer was we didn't find any keepers. Anybody know where they're hiding?

It can be hard to determine the right spots without a depth finder. I also find it best to crab starting at around 2 hours before peak tide through about 1 or so hours afterward. Where were you guys dropping your traps?

 

[Flymph]

Kelly's is awesome. Wife and I went last Thursday... only bummer was we didn't find any keepers. Anybody know where they're hiding?

Ask Kelly next time, it is likely they are out near the mouth/ocean or further up the bay.
Sometimes you just don't get them. Slack tides are good for feeding...

 

[T22]

We were dropping in the channel a few hundred yards north of kelly's. We asked around before we went out. Sounded like everyone was having a pretty rough time.

 

[Meridian7750]

If the tidal flow is too great (too much water flowing between the high and low, or low and high, tides) then the crab will just burrow until slack tide when the water slows down.

 

[Tarawa86]

We were dropping in the channel a few hundred yards north of kelly's. We asked around before we went out. Sounded like everyone was having a pretty rough time.

Start at the X, roughly 1.5-2 hours before a high tide, and work your way toward the O to try and find them. There is a deep channel that runs pretty much along the red line, and stay about 10 feet or so shoreward of the green buoys. It's better if you drop in at least 15-16 feet of water, and if you bring up too much seaweed you have to move. It's worth it to watch Bi-Mart for their box trap sales, you can sometimes get them for 10 bucks. 2 people can put 6 traps out, making it easier to find out where they are and also cuts down on rental costs (plus, I'm not a fan of rings, to easy for them to escape). I would also recommend bringing your own fresh bait (chicken or turkey works great). In my experience we get less crabs when using the old freezer burned stuff from the rental places.

 

[jbett98]

If the current is real heavy, try adding some weight to the traps entry gates. A little bit of soft pencil lead wrapped around the bottom of the gate works well.
A stiff current can keep the traps gates swinging open and the larger crab can work their way out if left to long to figure a way to escape.
I like an incoming tide early in the morning, as it seems they're more hungry then later in the day.

 

[Tarawa86]

Today at nehalem bay. Felt like summer

 

[Mister Bisley]

Today at nehalem bay. Felt like summer
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I was down in Newport area yesterday...such a beautiful day!

 

[SparksFly]

We are hoping to head out next weekend to do some crabbing in Puget Sound. Good reports so far except for the water. 4.6 feet at 14.2 seconds.

 

[Tarawa86]

Foggy in the bay, but great crabbing

 

[Who The F R U]

This makes my recent purchase seem not so crazy.
View attachment 504294

If you want to go to Kelly's . Call him and say " Crzy Nathan said you would hook him up"
It's about $200 for an Entire day !! 10 + hours

As long as it's a week day......
And Kelly is drunk and likes you.
And you don't pizz off Janice.
Especially don't pizz off Janice.........

And she can't be there to yell at the Kanook for hooking you up