Life cycle of Dungeness crab.

Recreational bay crabbing is open year round.  Was wondering when you stop crabbing because this activity will just adversely interfere with Dungeness crab reproduction?  Or am I assuming too much?

I don't think you on your kayak is going to put much of a dent in their numbers.

https://oregondungeness.org

ANNUAL LANDINGS
Dungeness crab landings are naturally cyclical. Oregon’s harvest has fluctuated from a low of 3.2 million lbs to a high of over 33 million lbs. in recent years. Average annual landings in Oregon are in the neighborhood of 16 million pounds.

The Oregon crab fleet has 424 boats.

The average boat fishes 300-500 pots in depths of 5-100 fathoms (30 to 600 feet) of water.

Recreational bay crabbing is open year round.  Was wondering when you stop crabbing because this activity will just adversely interfere with Dungeness crab reproduction?  Or am I assuming too much?

Restricting harvest to only males is one of the factors that reduces impact to reproduction.  If you get females in your trap with egg sacks, treat them gently as you release. 

Recreational bay crabbing is open year round.  Was wondering when you stop crabbing because this activity will just adversely interfere with Dungeness crab reproduction?  Or am I assuming too much?

I'd imagine the recreational fleet represents less than 1% of the commercial harvest. On commercial opening day I would catch so much crab it would take 10 lifetimes to catch as much recreationally. Totes completely full, every possible inch of deckspace covered in crab. In 2010 we had over 10,000lbs on the opener. I wouldn't worry about your impact as a sporty.

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.   

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Westport is better off the kayak. There's plenty of large black rockfish near the end of the jetty with a mix of lings, and even more on the submerged jetty weather permitting. I've had a lot of success huffing it out there as well, I had a particularly good day out there with lingcod using live greenlings, 7/0 circle hooks and 100lb leader about 8 years ago. I wouldn't bother with crab at all until next fall, the commercial fleet likely has laid waste to them. The demoic acid has been bad but not unheard of, if you go here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/domoic-acid/long-beach and click historical you can see large spikes over the last 20 years with one shutting everything down Oct - May, 2002-2003. Kings are about the same as last year, with a bump in Coho, and everyone's favorite Pinks will be around.

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Kaz,   if you are looking for clams,  I have always done really well at Wyckoff Shoal on minus tides, this is down by McNeill Island.   No biotoxin closures right now.   I haven't been there in years so hard to say how it is but the shoal is only exposed less than a dozen times  a year.  Great for butter clams.  Used to pick up nice red rock crab there laying around in the kelp.

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Westport is better off the kayak. There's plenty of large black rockfish near the end of the jetty with a mix of lings, and even more on the submerged jetty weather permitting. I've had a lot of success huffing it out there as well, I had a particularly good day out there with lingcod using live greenlings, 7/0 circle hooks and 100lb leader about 8 years ago. I wouldn't bother with crab at all until next fall, the commercial fleet likely has laid waste to them. The demoic acid has been bad but not unheard of, if you go here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/domoic-acid/long-beach and click historical you can see large spikes over the last 20 years with one shutting everything down Oct - May, 2002-2003. Kings are about the same as last year, with a bump in Coho, and everyone's favorite Pinks will be around.

Thanks for the jetty fishing tips,  and the WDFW link.  I kinda like the idea of jetty fishing.  Decades ago,  I had some success fishing off jetties back east.  I'll still be targeting PNP for the opening of the King season,  as this might be my last year in the PNW.  I'm looking for a place with a lower cost of living,  and good fishing.  I have 2 nephews and a brother living just south of Orlando.  I've been to Florida,  it's a strange place,  but it's fishing heaven. 

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Kaz,   if you are looking for clams,  I have always done really well at Wyckoff Shoal on minus tides, this is down by McNeill Island.   No biotoxin closures right now.   I haven't been there in years so hard to say how it is but the shoal is only exposed less than a dozen times  a year.  Great for butter clams.  Used to pick up nice red rock crab there laying around in the kelp.

Hey alpalmer,  Thanks.  I'm in Kitsap so the Wychoff Shoal is in range.  Butter clams are superb.  They remind me of the cherrystone clams that we used to harvest back east. 

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Kaz,   if you are looking for clams,  I have always done really well at Wyckoff Shoal on minus tides, this is down by McNeill Island.   No biotoxin closures right now.   I haven't been there in years so hard to say how it is but the shoal is only exposed less than a dozen times  a year.  Great for butter clams.  Used to pick up nice red rock crab there laying around in the kelp.

Hey alpalmer,  Thanks.  I'm in Kitsap so the Wychoff Shoal is in range.  Butter clams are superb.  They remind me of the cherrystone clams that we used to harvest back east.

Shine tidelands, particularly off Seven Sisters is a great place to get Manilas, Native Little Necks, Butter clams, and I've even seen some horsenecks in there. Don't walk on that jetty if it's wet, either from ocean spray or dew in the morning. I've been walking on jetties fishing since I was little and I've taken more spills on the Westport jetty when it's wet in one day than my entire life. You can also get Coho off it during the right time of year using a bobber and herring, although not as good as the Ilwaco jetty.

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Kaz,   if you are looking for clams,  I have always done really well at Wyckoff Shoal on minus tides, this is down by McNeill Island.   No biotoxin closures right now.   I haven't been there in years so hard to say how it is but the shoal is only exposed less than a dozen times  a year.  Great for butter clams.  Used to pick up nice red rock crab there laying around in the kelp.

Hey alpalmer,  Thanks.  I'm in Kitsap so the Wychoff Shoal is in range.  Butter clams are superb.  They remind me of the cherrystone clams that we used to harvest back east.

Shine tidelands, particularly off Seven Sisters is a great place to get Manilas, Native Little Necks, Butter clams, and I've even seen some horsenecks in there. Don't walk on that jetty if it's wet, either from ocean spray or dew in the morning. I've been walking on jetties fishing since I was little and I've taken more spills on the Westport jetty when it's wet in one day than my entire life. You can also get Coho off it during the right time of year using a bobber and herring, although not as good as the Ilwaco jetty.

I've been pretty lazy about hunting for clamming spots.  Typically,  I go to a public right-of-way (the neighbors hate me) near Shorewoods in Hansville.  I'll give Shine a try.  It's only about 10 minutes away. 


I too have taken some nasty, elbow smashing falls on jetties,  and almost  35 years of construction have taken a harsh toll on my body.  I wear sneaker overshoes with my waders.  Maybe felt-soled boots would be a little better. 

Shine Tidelands is great for butter clams but has a limited season (closes May 15th). North of the parking lot the beach gets more pebble and rocks; that's where the butters are. You will get your limit in no time!

Hey workhard, 

After a miserable season last year,  and your forecast for Kings this year,  I've been seeking more options for the upcoming spring/summer season.  If the tribes don't open Hobuck/Neah Bay,  I'm looking at Westport.  If Kings are scarce,  I'll target  bottom fish (on the jetty for stormy days),  Dungies,  and I've even geared-up for surf fishing (surf perch). 

However,  when I view the doh.wa.gov website all I see are biotoxin or pollution warnings.  Much of the Sound is similarly in grim condition.  Are there any indications that things will clear this spring/summer?  Are these conditions the norm?  I love fresh fish,  but I'm greedy for crab and clams. 

BTW: Great videos.  The stuff by you and your S/O are a pleasure to watch.

Kaz,   if you are looking for clams,  I have always done really well at Wyckoff Shoal on minus tides, this is down by McNeill Island.   No biotoxin closures right now.   I haven't been there in years so hard to say how it is but the shoal is only exposed less than a dozen times  a year.  Great for butter clams.  Used to pick up nice red rock crab there laying around in the kelp.

Hey alpalmer,  Thanks.  I'm in Kitsap so the Wychoff Shoal is in range.  Butter clams are superb.  They remind me of the cherrystone clams that we used to harvest back east.

Shine tidelands, particularly off Seven Sisters is a great place to get Manilas, Native Little Necks, Butter clams, and I've even seen some horsenecks in there. Don't walk on that jetty if it's wet, either from ocean spray or dew in the morning. I've been walking on jetties fishing since I was little and I've taken more spills on the Westport jetty when it's wet in one day than my entire life. You can also get Coho off it during the right time of year using a bobber and herring, although not as good as the Ilwaco jetty.

I've been pretty lazy about hunting for clamming spots.  Typically,  I go to a public right-of-way (the neighbors hate me) near Shorewoods in Hansville.  I'll give Shine a try.  It's only about 10 minutes away. 


I too have taken some nasty, elbow smashing falls on jetties,  and almost  35 years of construction have taken a harsh toll on my body.  I wear sneaker overshoes with my waders.  Maybe felt-soled boots would be a little better.

I wear extra tuffs or hiking shoes for their grip. I wouldn't wear waders... I've known multiple people who've been swept off jetties, hell I was fishing Fort Baker Jetty near the Golden Gate and walked to the end of a massive rock one time. The rock decided it had enough of just sitting there and tipped toward the water and started to roll down the jetty, I ended up diving in the water to avoid being crushed/pinned by the rock.