I guess that’s not really a fair title, there are a few of us in a unique position to actually find them. For the past few years I’ve been diving with friends for Alaska King Crab. In the summer time they come shallow then when winter comes around they head back deep. So from June to January King Crab is open for personal subsistence fishing and were able to use our scuba gear to dive down and grab crab. The State of Alaska considers Scuba gear to be acceptable subsistence fishing harvest gear. Here is an early video of me diving for crab.
This year I’ve decided to try my hand at pot fishing for King and Bardai crab. I borrowed three pots from friends and set two of them yesterday. These first two are set for Kings and the last one will be set much deeper for the Bardai. I need to get a little more line because of the depth and hopefully I’ll get it this week.
Crab Pots on Deck
I’m still going to dive for crab but with the summer season here and the Fire Fighter Academy in full swing – my time isn’t as free as it used to be. So I figure why not. One of the biggest considerations for using pots to fish crab is getting them out of the water.
Most boats fishing pots have a ‘pot puller’ or a block with an electric or gas motor and wheel used to pull up the pots from the bottom.
I’m not really interested in adding anything to the boat and the exercise wouldn’t hurt me – so I’m hand pulling the pots. Takes a few EXTRA minutes to pull them from 60 to 80 feet but they get eventually get up and when I’ve worked out all the the cramps in my arms – I check and set them back.
With the personal subsistence fishing, are you still bound by the size and gender rules, i.e. no females or juvies? And, are you limited on the number per day caught or do you have a season limit? I guess your new nickname will be Popeye by the time the summer is over! LOL
Hey Diane,
Yeah the rules are the same for subsistence. Only taking males of 5.5″ (or larger) across the carapace, Females and Juveniles have to go back. The limit is one per day, for each person listed on your permit. I’m sure by the end of summer I’ll have few nicknames – Popeye won’t be one of ‘em.
Wow. One per day sure seems restrictive, especially after all of the effort you have to go through to bring one aboard. I was thinking it would be more like 5/day similar to some of the fish quotas we have on some of our lakes.
“Red Gold” is certainly an appropriate nickname for this precious commodity.