Originally Posted By: Larry B
Originally Posted By: Waterboy
What's with the few areas inside being open until January 31? Why not bank that "extra" crab for next year? And no catch card needed, open 7 days a week? How are they going to know how many harvested?


Do you really think that rec crabbers are going to take the 12,000+ crab estimated to be taken by them in 2E in January? That is, after the NT commercials harvested most of the rec's winter poundage, their own residual 310K PLUS 150K? And after WDFW agreed to an overall increase of 400K pounds to allow poundage for the tribes to fish to equity? And then after WDFW negotiated another overall increase of 200K pounds?

A cynic might suggest that not finding a way to document rec crab taken in January is a way to avoid the reality of paper crab.

There may have been a honey hole inside Port Gardiner Bay but elsewhere?


That is what I figured. Leave it open for the recs so it "feels" like we are getting something when reality is....there isn't much there.