Crabbing Nanaimo

[Johnnybear]

Crabbing is on fire in the Nanaimo area. We were out a couple of weekends ago and set the trap's in the River Estuary for about 3.5 hours. Here is a pic of the first pot.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Fishing%202009/2009SpringBear038.jpg

I have never had this many keepers in one pot before. They were all males and all legal size. Maybe some have had this happen before but it was a first for us:-D.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Fishing%202009/2009SpringBear039.jpg

We tried prawning but the commercial guys have picked it clean for now. Should pick up again starting in August.

The bait of choice as always (Vitamin E enriched to boot):-D.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Fishing%202009/2009SpringBear035.jpg

Jake and a tug towing everything but the kitchen sink(every thing behind that tug is being towed even the aluminum boats there are two of them) :lol:.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Fishing%202009/2009SpringBear037.jpg

[riflebuilder]

looks like a great catch. congrats

[rand]

Another good spot is beside the deep sea dock the tide seems to keep them year round.Tie your bouy to the dolfin less chance of looseing your traps.If your looking for prawns try about three hundred yards north of the water fall and about 100 out from shore,down in Norththumberland.But keep your radio on channel 9 Jones marine tend to snag any traps with there log tows when they clear dodds.I run tug boats out of Nanaimo for years ,you need any more hot spots let me know.

[wolverine]

Nice set...... those are beauties. Hang on... have I said those words before???:) I mean those are huge crabs.... nope... that isn't going to work either. Uhhmm... well done. Those should be good eating... jeez, I give up!!:)

[vanislehunter1]

hehe, last year we set 2 traps in varney bay, and the one trap(about 40 inches wide!!) had been completely filled to the brim with ALL FEMALES!!!! i could not believe it! a few years ago my dad got a full commercial trap of crabs. Looks like you got a pretty good haul there.

[358win]

Nice catch Johnnybear.
We used to soak a couple traps off the flats there just outside of drop off, then fish the fingers for a couple hrs. We'd get a couple keepers per trap.
Good times.