Coho & crab

[Brittany Chukarman]

Wife and I made our yearly trip across the state to Newport. Stayed in a nice condo overlooking Yaquina Bay. I went on three charters on three different boats, whoever was fishing salmon. The first day was salmon with crabbing. It was wild action, several multiple hookups on big coho. On the way in we pulled the crab pots and they were stuffed, limits of 12 for everyone. The next trip was a salmon/rockfish/crab combo. It was even wilder salmon fishing. All the lines weren't even out before poles started going off and the fish were a little better grade than the first trip. After the boat limited we went for rockfish. It took longer to catch the rockfish than the salmon due to cold water but I caught my limit of five big black rockfish. The crab pots were full, limits for all. The last trip was salmon/crab. It was a little slower but again, limits of salmon and crab. Great trip with great weather.

 

[Hem]

Never knew you can charter for crab.
They set the pots. You get what you get?

 

[FairWeather]

That’s awesome. I was crabbing off the dock by the brewery Friday & Saturday, didn’t catch any keepers though. Glad to hear they’re out there! How was the water? Didn’t seem too windy this weekend, so I imagine the chop wasn’t too bad.

How do you go about finding/choosing your charters? Just go down to the bay front and see who has a seat open?

 

[TheTone]

Looks fun and tasty, especially the pile of crab

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Never knew you can charter for crab.
They set the pots. You get what you get?

This charter office, Yaquina Bay Charters, offers crabbing on all it's different charters for $25 more. Sometimes the pots are set before, sometimes they put them out on the way to the fishing grounds. After the fishing the pots are pulled and the total catch is split by all who paid for crabbing.

 

[Hem]

This charter office, Yaquina Bay Charters, offers crabbing on all it's different charters for $25 more. Sometimes the pots are set before, sometimes they put them out on the way to the fishing grounds. After the fishing the pots are pulled and the total catch is split by all who paid for crabbing.

In your case it was cost effective?
Massive pile if crabs anyway.

 

[Hem]

I suppose it was now that I think of it.
3-4 crabs for $25 would be good, wouldn't it.

 

[kansasdad]

@Brittany Chukarman seems like you were beating the old “you should have been here yesterday” fishing thingy.
Congratulations

 

[Nick87]

I suppose it was now that I think of it.
3-4 crabs for $25 would be good, wouldn't it.

Was thinking about buying some king crab legs a few weeks back. I just about fell over when I got the price.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

That’s awesome. I was crabbing off the dock by the brewery Friday & Saturday, didn’t catch any keepers though. Glad to hear they’re out there! How was the water? Didn’t seem too windy this weekend, so I imagine the chop wasn’t too bad.

How do you go about finding/choosing your charters? Just go down to the bay front and see who has a seat open?

Ocean was nice, slight swell and pretty calm. I chose Yaquina Bay Charters because of the crabbing option on all their trips. If you go on their website click on "Book Now" and it will bring up a calendar listing of all the trips on each day. They run about 5 boats and they offer rockfish, salmon, combo, halibut, deep water lings and long-leader rockfish depending on season and weather. The girls in the office are knowledgable and helpful on the phone. Three of their boats have electric crab pullers which is nice for an old guy. Two of my trips had one.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

@Brittany Chukarman seems like you were beating the old “you should have been here yesterday” fishing thingy.
Congratulations

I did this year. Last year this office had to cancel all my trips, too rough of seas.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Was thinking about buying some king crab legs a few weeks back. I just about fell over when I got the price.

I was in the Nampa, ID costco today for my wife's hearing aid appt. King crab legs were $30 a lb. I've seen it as high as $45. Dungeness halves were $15 a lb. Too rich for my blood.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

In your case it was cost effective?
Massive pile if crabs anyway.

Definitely cost effective.

 

[Steiny77]

Yummy !

 

[Salmonchaser]

Well done, I booted a couple Silvers using my fly rod, fishing off the swim step. No net.
We did manage a couple limits of crab, been a good year in the northwest. Those are good looking Silvers you got there.

 

[Sawtooth]

Two more years of teaching before my retirement. Then look out Oregon and Washington coast fisheries. My buddy is over at bouy ten this week. Congratulations on a great couple of trips.

 

[ashersdad]

You did really well! We have fished with that outfit for a number of years with good success. The crabbing option is awesome and I'm always surprised when more people don't do it. I remember a few years ago my son and I were the only ones that did it. When they pulled in the pots stuffed with keepers I think everyone was disappointed that they hadn't ponied up the $25. Just had my tuna trip for this Friday cancel so now I'm looking for a bottom fishing trip instead. Unfortunately they don't have room for 5 of us so we're trying someone new.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

You did really well! We have fished with that outfit for a number of years with good success. The crabbing option is awesome and I'm always surprised when more people don't do it. I remember a few years ago my son and I were the only ones that did it. When they pulled in the pots stuffed with keepers I think everyone was disappointed that they hadn't ponied up the $25. Just had my tuna trip for this Friday cancel so now I'm looking for a bottom fishing trip instead. Unfortunately they don't have room for 5 of us so we're trying someone new.

For a deep water ling and rockfish trip the Tacklebuster out of Depoe Bay has a good reputation. I don't think they offer crabbing on that trip though.

 

[Irrelevant]

IDK why I never think to do trips like this, it's incredibly doable.

 

[SCliving Outdoors]

Yum