SOCAL SALT REPORT

DON’T HANG UP THOSE HOOP NETS JUST YET – CRAB SEASON IS YEAR ROUND WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWSPublished: May 13, 2009

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Crabs are quite tasty.  Many would say that rock crab meat is tastier than lobster meat. Besides the obvious benefit of a tasty harvest, it’s a good time to develop your skills in anticipation of the upcoming lobster season that begins in Fall.  Another great thing about hooping during Spring and Summer, is that the conditions are generally mild.  Air and water temperatures are up which means the polar arctic weather gear can stay in the closet. •    What’s the season for crabs in Southern California?  When does it open/close?  In Southern California, crab season is year round and does not close. •    What kind of crabs are there?  The species of crabs common to Southern California are Spider (aka Sheep) Crabs and Rock Crabs. •    Which ones can we catch? We can catch and keep both Spider Crabs and Rock Crabs. SPIDER CRABS: Believe it or not the somewhat repulsive looking Spider Crabs are edible, but preferably the clean, non-muddy or barnacled ones.  Fish markets are actually now selling and marketing Spider Crabs as California King Crabs – why because the meat is actually quite delicious.  Rarely will you find a spider crab less than 4” across. Their shells are thick and strong, most require a hammer or mallet to get to the white meat. YELLOW ROCK CRABS: Sometimes extremely mellow and definitely the more light tempered cousin of the Red Rock Crab.  They are often confused with the Northern California Dungeness Crab.  (Dungeness are not common in So Cal waters) RED ROCK CRABS: These are the most ill-tempered of the crab species, they have the tenacity that most often don’t reflect their weight class.  Watch out for their claws as they are quick to grab a hold of a finger if you look away. •    Are the crabs tasty?  How do you cook crabs?  The crab meat on the rock crabs and spider crabs are delicious.  Many hoopers prefer crab meat over lobster meat. It certainly takes more work to get to the crab meat but by no means is crab the red headed step child to lobster.  It seems that the more one knows how to crack crab, the more one embraces the notion of a crab as a key harvest rather than a bicatch.  Crabs can be boiled, barbequed, sautéed, baked, or steamed.  •    Can I just keep the claws and release the crab? No.  It is an illegal practice in California.  •    How many crabs can I keep? 35 •    Where can I go to catch crabs?  There are several areas you can go to hunt for crabs. It’s not that dissimilar from the lobster grounds.  You may not find too many inside of a harbor.  Some of the outer breakwalls of some of the harbors will yield crabs here and there. Your best bet is to find a reef -natural or manmade, rock piles, and even kelp beds. Commercial crabbers consider 85ft a good depth. •    When?  Do I go at night or can I crab in the day? You can crab during the day time so dropping some nets on structure (esp eclipse nets) while fishing for other species is a good way to round out a bonus for a day on the water.  Party boats in Northern California have been practicing these type of combo fishing/crabbing trips for quite some time.  On departure to the fishing grounds the captain would set out their crabbing gear and pick them up as they come back in after a day of fishing. •    What bait(s) is/are good for crabs? Many old time crabbers up north swear by a simple chicken leg.  Chicken may work when you’re right on the spot but if you want to broadcast your scent to a larger area, it’s better to use an oily fish such as mackerel, bonita, or salmon. •    How does crab hooping differ from lobster hooping?  In regards to baiting and location, they can be quite similar to identical.  Drop your nets on structure such as reefs, rock piles, and adjacent to the outside breakwalls of harbors where permitted.  Regulations and ordinances may differ from one harbor to the next. When it doubt, check with the local Harbor Patrol.  •    What kind of gear do I use from crabbing?  What are the gear restrictions?  Crabbing regulations in Southern California differ quite a bit from those for Central and Northern California.  Traps of any kind are not legal to use in Southern California.  Only the licensed commercial crabbers and commercial lobster fishermen are allowed to use traps in Southern California.  Hoop nets, also referred to as ringed nets, are the only legal means by which we can catch and keep crab in Southern California.  Crabbers are allowed to use up to 5 hoop nets per angler and no more than 10 maximum per vessel. •    I consider myself a responsible harvester. For example, I release large lobsters and calico bass.  How can I apply this to crabbing?  Release the big ones?  Release the females?  Releasing the larger lobsters is certainly one effective means of doing ones part in helping to preserve the resource.  Another is releasing the spermataphore bearing females.  These females are easy to spot as they have a white gum-like mass attached to their underside.  This means that the female is fertilized and will release her eggs soon after if she hasn’t already. •    Can I crab from a pier?  How many hoop nets can I deploy?  You can crab from a pier all year long.  Crabbers are allotted two hoop nets per person. Another application for hoop nets are for landing fish from piers or bridges.  Lower the hoop net down into the water and guide your fish over the top.  Hoist your hoop net up with your fish in it. •    How to handle crabs without getting pinched?  - Grab a hind leg or grab both claws firmly with 2 hands. •    How big do crabs have to be for them to be legal keepers?  Crabs must measure at least 4” across on the body at their widest point.