The Outdoor Line Forum

If I go crabbing after work and catch my limit, can I redrop my pots and come check them the next day?
Or if you catch your limit, you can't have gear in the water the same day.
I want to make sure I don't become another recreational crabber story for the WDFW.

Thanks for the help

Leave 'em in.

Fish on...

Todd

I think the rules always talk about possession.

Hey TM,
Great question and one that bears an explanation.
While your pots are in the water, by definition you are not actively fishing.
WDFW defines fishing a crab pot as actually pulling it.
So, when WDFW regulations state that you cannot "fish" a crab pot from dusk until dawn, the intent of the rule is to keep people from pulling pots in the dark.
You can indeed soak a pot overnight and pull it in daylight hours.
To directly address your question. as long as the crab you have on board are legaly recorded on your catch record card, you may indeed splash your gear with the intent of pulling it the next day.
I will ask WDFW Deputy Chief of Enforcement Mike Cenci to weigh in on this issue or to review my interpretation.
FYI: here is a link to the podcast to Mike's interview from Saturday: http://www.theoutdoorline.com/Podcasts/8.aspx

Nelly -
I hear Mike on your show and was surprised at the low violation rate. From what I saw on the first the violation rate was huge - beteen Everett and Muliteo here was nearly 100 pots in the water well in advance of the 7:00 AM opener.

Over the summer am constantly seeing folks with gear in the water, gear all ready in the water, or reports on various forums above folks on the weekly openings dumping their gear in the water at daylight before heading to work.

Tight lines\
Curt

From what I can read the 7:00 AM rule only applies to the "opening date" ie July 1. So 12:01 am Thurs morning I am legal to drop pots, just can't pull them till 1hr before sunrise.