Originally Posted By: paker
Originally Posted By: WN1A
We can complain about the tribes and the commercial fisheries and quotas but if the recreational crabbers violate the most basic rules the complaints don't carry much weight.


+1

I heard this complaint often from the Commission.

Recreational crabbers have absolutely no ground to stand on if they can't clean up their own house first.


While that is an obvious truism just because WDFW LEOs are recovering pots does not mean all those pots were being intentionally fished illegally.

If you believe the NW Straits' assertion that 10,000 pots are "lost" annually and look at the tidal exchange this past week-end and Monday (14 foot swings) I am absolutely sure that a lot of those pots were "lost" either having been relocated by the strong currents or not recoverable and effectively abandoned due to insufficient scope only to be found at lower tides during WDFW sweeps.

And, yes, there is the 30% of endorsements each year being sold to folks new to crabbing and the ongoing need for reminders to read the regs.
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Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!

It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)