Dave, I was going to post the question as well to the rest of the folks who crabbed recently. The last two times out have been really poor near Shilshole in the keeper department due to softshell. I'm hoping we get a Winter season, I prefer crab caught that time of the year.

Well for me i have had a banner year for dungies....35 on the CRC, I know from the old guys the best months for crab are oct, nov and dec.....months that end with r...I know old wives tale but i have learned alot from the old timers....so all the big soft shellers should be good to go later this month and on through the winter season....good luck guys.

All summer season I have been tossin back soft shelled legal sized males thinking that in a few weeks they will be ready for harvest but as the season progressed that didn't seem to be the case. Even though we limited every time out this season except this last trip, I found soft shelled crab present in my pots every trip which I think is a bit unusual. I would love to know why and maybe we can ask that question to Stacy from the WDFW. As for winter crab, I agree G-Man that Dungeness crab taste much better when harvested in winter and I'm not sure why that is either LOL. I have yet to see a winter season in my area 8-1 or 8-2 because they get so much pressure during the summer season. Hopefully the catch record this year will be lower so they can open it up this winter in my area. I would love to crab this winter in area 9 which is usually open but I don't know where to set my gear in area 9. I've given it a try in past years but could never find the crab grounds. I may have to put it out there in the forums to see if anyone is willing to share with me a decent spot to set gear in area 9 so I can get a few this winter. Anyway, thanks for your responses. Looking forward to the silver run in the coming month.

Thanks for an awesome time Dave! Lil guy chowed down and ate 2 full crab all by himself! Great way to end the crabbing season!