Crabbed North Camano Island today. Very few boats or gear out today however we did see three big boats stacked to the brim with pots pass slowly by us headed towards Camano Island State Park. How nice!!! I know, let’s let the Tribes and Commercial crabbers take unlimited numbers of crab in June before the 2 month season opens up to the masses, then let’s let them crab while the rest of the population tries to get a few to enjoy with family and friends. Amazing!

Anyway, despite the fact that seeing the three *&%#@* big boats roll by with about 150 commercial size pots we enjoyed the time out on the water. We (me, my wife, my partner from work, his wife, and their two kids) managed three limits in 2 hours which was likely the only reason I didn’t wish for the three boats passing by who will without a doubt take hundreds of crab today alone, to sink.

Sorry, it just pisses me off that the State of WA continues to allow this crap to happen year after year. It never use to be this way and crabbing use to be phenomenal. So, we found our keepers in 60 to 70 feet of water on the North West corner of Camano Island and we used fresh chicken. We saw lots of females and undersized males which is a typical sign that the area has been fished hard and since the summer sport season has only been open for 6 days it doesn't take a 4-year degree to figure out why the pots weren’t full of huge males which again is how it was before the fine State of WA allowed Tribal and Commercial crabbers to help themselves before, during, and after the short summer sport season. The crab tasted amazing by the way. Sweet as could be!

Sorry for the negativity, seeing this crap year after year just gets old is all.

c17hydro

7/9/2011 12:43:00 AM

Agreed....goes with the netting of fish too. Isn't it great to know that even with ALL the info that is reported by licensed fishermen and crabbers and the such, no one in the political side of the state gives a crap? As long as they keep their jobs they don't care...

BW4444

7/9/2011 12:52:00 AM

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU DAVE. JUST LIKE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ITOOK MY WIFE TO THE LOCKS TO SEE THE SOCKEYE. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT BUT AN INDIAN HAD HIS GILL NET STRUNG ACROSS THE OPENING AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER WERE THE SOCKEYE GO INTO LAKE WA, NO WONDER THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR THE HARD WORKING TAX PAYING WHITE MAN TO HAVE!

knotabassturd

7/9/2011 5:36:00 PM

Yep, someone living by Dash Pt has a huge stash of commercial-looking crab pots out in their yard. Can see them from the pier. Maybe that has something to do with sporties off the pier crab catch plummeting out there last couple years? Dunno. But like you, I have been throwing back some just undersized. Even those haven't been very prominent though so it may be more a population prob. Again, dunno. Maybe things will pick up late in the season for dungies out there.

Dave

7/9/2011 5:47:00 PM

IF they closed Puget Sound waters to ALL commercial and tribal crabbing and fishing the salmon and crab numbers in the Sound and in our rivers would be just like those in Alaska. Unfortunately the State doesn't have the balls to do the right thing because the Tribe "deserve" a certain amount of these resources each year. What a load of crap that is!!!!! I remember a juvenile tribal member we arrested last year. He was asked what type of career he was planning to pursue when since he was almost 18. You know what he said??? I'm not gonna work! Heck when I turn 18 I will get a check for a thousand dollars a month for the rest of my life. How's that for ambition? What a joke!

pspag

7/9/2011 10:57:00 PM

i wish there was something that could be done about that they have their own rules own everything and it seams as if they have no rules we have to measure tag report worry about getting everything right check the regs check for emergency changes it truly is frustrating

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