Galveston - 04-15-2012

[CraigFos]

The wind has been blowing pretty hard since Friday here.  This morning, I went to run my two traps in a salt pond on Galveston Island.  I brought some nets to run from the kayak, if it was calm enough.  (It was not on Saturday morning.)  I got there and the wind was kicking.  I paddled out to my first trap, well more let the current take me to the trap, and it had one crab in it.  As I was dumping the crab into the basket, a gust of wind blew and the crab ended up back in the water.  I rebaited the trap and had to paddle back out to the center to drop the trap.  The second trap had only one small crab.  As I was rebaiting it, the wind increased, and nearly pushed me into the north shore.  I tried to paddle out to the center to drop this trap, but was not making any headway against the wind.  I ended up dropping it about 25 yards from shore. 

I paddled to shore, but could not get back to where I put in.  I had to wade the kayak back.  No way was I going to be able to run the nets in this wind.  Luckily, I had brought some hand lines. 

I put five lines out in each of two ponds, including one last line at the mouth of culvert that was running with water flowing from one pond to another.  On my first run, I landed three keepers, including one at the line by the culvert.  As I turned to walk away from the last line my foot got tangle in the line and pulled it in some.  I turned around and found that I had two more crabs on the line.  I tossed it out again, and a crab grabbed it before it sunk to the bottom. 

I normally stop or cull to a dozen crabs, because that is what I can eat in a week.  Last week my sister in law raided my stash, so I decided to keep crabbing until I got a second dozen for her.  I had my quota in a little less than two hours, but stayed around for another 30 minutes talking to a family that was crabbing for the first time.  The crabs ranged from just over five inches to the largest of 6 1/4. 

The family had driven down from Spring, north of Houston.  The father, who looked to be in his early 30’s, told me the last time he had gone crabbing was when he was his daughters’ age.  The girls looked about 12 and 13.  I was able to scoop a couple crabs for the younger girl and teach her to pull the line in slowly, and not jerk them.  Mom had a one year old in her hands that made me look forward to the arrival of my first grandchild.  The family looked like they were having fun. 

[BJ1fish]

Looking better.

[wag]

 
     WTG ---- that's showing the wind who's in charge 
     

[Night Wing]

Very nice report. Great photos.

[tattoo]

Thanks for the report and pictures.

[ROCK ON]

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DAY...
ENJOY YOUR CRABS!!!

[grdgrs7491]

You have probably started something for that family, now them girls will want dad to take them crabbing and it is passed on again, good job.  Proud of you.

You will love your grandchild, I miss mine so much after spending 6 months and seeing him daily and taking him fishing.  Need to plan another trip to La Paz.

[capt. ron]

Craig,

Now you have to figure out a way to mount a trolling motor on your kayak.

Ronnie

[CraigFos]

My kayak is to small and unstable for any type of motor.  I'm looking for a used jon boat now so that I can get out into the bay.

[Ronster]

Nice crabs, Craig.

[grdgrs7491]

Craig, as a sport fisherman you must remember you can only use 6 traps.  When you begin moving into the bays, make sure you dont us more than 6 and you have you traps tagged properly.  The Game wardens will be there.  Thank goodness, they do a good job.

[CraigFos]

Craig, as a sport fisherman you must remember you can only use 6 traps.  When you begin moving into the bays, make sure you dont us more than 6 and you have you traps tagged properly.  The Game wardens will be there.  Thank goodness, they do a good job.

Thank you for your concern.  Actually, you are allowed 6 traps per licensed crabber.  Therefore, I could have twelve traps, 6 for me and 6 for my wife. I probable wont run more than six most of the time since my wife doesn't crab as much as me.