Beach crabbing

[MikeFishes]

We're going to Cannon Beach in mid July and I was wondering if it would be a complete waste to even try for crab in the surf. I doubt that I'd be able to go to one of the bays to drop a pot. I was thinking of trying one of those castable snares or envelope traps. Has anyone try something like this and can set me straight?

[reigndawgs]

We're going to Cannon Beach in mid July and I was wondering if it would be a complete waste to even try for crab in the surf. I doubt that I'd be able to go to one of the bays to drop a pot. I was thinking of trying one of those castable snares or envelope traps. Has anyone try something like this and can set me straight?

No help, but a bump here. I am going to Neskowin, OR and thinking of trying something similar. Come on WALakes, I know many of you know how to catch crabs :safe:

[gpc]

Hey its worth a shot send us a report too if you try it. I havnt done too a whole lot of fishing with the snairs, it seems like I get 1 cast and loose the whole set up about everytime. But it seems like they work better in rocks or off jettys, better crab cover probally. I use to dive for crabs off a beach on Lopez island when I was a kid. You could walk a couple hundred yards off shore and just walk up on the crabs. I would bring a square bit shovel and a 5 gallon bucket and do it that way. Just be careful some times when you are chasing that dungy of a lifetime and the tide is changing fast I would get stuck out there and have to swim back. Then you loose your bounty of crab and have to tell your old man you lost his shovel crabbing?!? Fun times.

[racfish]

There should be crabs around areas with Eel grass.But you must be extremely carefull with undertows and currents during tide changes and weather conditions.Id take a trout size net on a broom handle . Check for rules and regs. You might need a License or permit.

[Anonymous]

I know people who say the snare works just fine. Sorry that I haven't used it personaly, but I think it makes good sense.
There is a place down along the Oregon coast somewhere...I have to think of it?? I mean to say that it is near Cannon beach. There are docks, crab gear and pots to rent, 12' boats etc. You can then boil them right there if you like. I will post up if Ican find it.

OK.. I think this was it:
http://www.jettyfishery.com/crabbing_pictures.dwt

Check this place out, it is just South of Cannon Beach, and it looks really cool. They rent rings and everything you need.

[racfish]

I have a nice crab ring ifin you want to borrow it.I used to crab from the dock at Westport and usually limit no problem.The ocean produces some nice large crabs. I mean up to 8" from tip to tip.Pm me if you might want to borrow the ring.

[BentRod]

Crabbing into the Oregon coast surf would definitely be a challenge. If you're beach fishing, then one of the snares is probably your best bet. As a kid, we used to go to the Lincoln City - Newport stretch and crab in the bays off whatever dock/pier we could find. In Lincoln city, where there wasn't any public dock to crab from at the time, the locals would cast rings from the beach at the bay's inlet during the incoming tide. We had a crab ring, so went down to give it a try. It took a bit to get the technique of tossing up stream and getting the ring to lay correctly due to the drift, but it worked and we caught some keepers. Good luck to you.

[MikeFishes]

Thanks for the pointers guys!

QF: The Jetty Fishery place looks cool. I'll definitely consider it.

Rac: I do have some crab pots of my own that I can bring, but thanks for the offer of a loaner.

I was thinking that my salmon rod/reel would be enough. But if I want to go casting a snare out I'd better get something a bit bigger that can handle heavier line/weight. The snare should be something that would be fun to use (after all, isn't that the main goal?)

I'll let you guys know how I do.

[racfish]

You mean you'll tell us at the "Crab Feed" at your place when you return...Good luck....

[MikeFishes]

Yeah, it was a complete bust. First, Cannon beach is way too shallow to be able to cast beyond the surf. Even if I had a 15 foot rod I don't think I would have been able to get the gear out there. It was windy so the surf was a bit rougher than optimal so wading into the surf was a bit scary. I'd wade into the surf waist high, cast and head back to shallower water. By the time I got back, the wind pushed my line into the surf, which just pulled my gear down wind and into shallower water. I didn't even bother bringing my crab snares, that would have been a waste.

I did try the snares at Picnic point last weekend. I got impatient so didn't catch anything. Really need to let the snares sit for a good 30 min. I did see some people wading in the shallows with nets netting crab. They got mostly Rock crabs. I figure that the castable gear is really intended for fishing in deeper water where it's not so shallow. Off a pier would probably be best as when you pull, you are pulling almost directly up. When it's so shallow the gear just basically slips out from under them and not up where it'd be easier to snare them. I think I'm going to try them on the Edmunds pier just for kicks next weekend.