Crabbing in Puget Sound | Everett + Underwater GoPro!!

In this video, me and Kat went crabbing in Puget Sound, just off the shores of Everett, WA. We caught Dungeness and Red Rock crabs. We launched our 12' Porta-Bote from the Port of Everett’s 10th St. Boat Launch. This boat launch is great, since it has a launch lane for small boats and watercraft that don’t have a trailer. The visitor parking lot also has plenty of parking spaces for cars that don’t have a trailer attached.

After we launched our boat, we traveled just south of the Everett Jetty, and dropped the crab traps near the piers that are just east of the southern-most side of the Everett Naval Station docks. This area contained a lot of Red Rock and Dungeness crabs. We dropped our pots in water with a depth of about 50 to 60 feet deep. For bait, we filled our pots with raw bone-in Chicken with skin, as well as Salmon heads. We attached a GoPro to the inside of the traps for underwater GoPro video.

We used two (2) Protoco Slip Ring crab traps. One of the traps was their Medium/RV Size, and the other trap was their Large/Original Size. We also used one (1) EZ Puller Crab Keeper pot. The Protoco Slip Rings and EZ Puller Crab Keeper pot fished great and caught lots of crabs. The Slip Rings fished really well when the soak time was 30 minutes or less, and smaller Red Rock crabs were being targeted (these rings have a smaller mesh size, so smaller crabs don’t escape when pulling the trap). EZ Puller Crab Keeper pot worked fantastic in slightly longer soak times (90 minutes or more), and larger Dungeness crab were being targeted. Please note that if you plan to keep the EZ Puller Crab Keeper pot in the water for longer soak times (or during stronger currents), then you should add additional weight to the pot, so it doesn’t walk or drift away.

I purchased the Protoco Slip Ring (Medium/RV Size) from Amazon, and I was very pleased with the overall build quality of this Slip Ring. I think it fishes well (especially from piers or docks), and it has quickly become one of my favorite crab traps! I prefer this style of Slip Ring over a standard crab ring trap.

I've included an Amazon Affiliate link for the Slip Ring below. As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through Amazon Affiliate links in this post.

Protoco Slip Ring: https://amzn.to/336cbmR

I couldn’t find any stores locally near Seattle that carried the EZ Puller Crab Keeper pot, so I contacted the company directly and ordered one pot. The company is located in Capitola, California. I only used this Crab Keeper pot a couple of times, but I think it fishes fast because of the three (3) ramps. This pot is especially good for longer soak times (but just be sure to add additional weight to the pot, since it’s a bit on the light side). You can call EZ Puller during normal business hours at (360) 427-1122 to order a pot directly from the company.

In general, the best time to be crabbing is during slack tide, since crab can easily move around the ocean floor. We also like to go crabbing an hour or two before and after High Tide. Raw Chicken and Salmon are both great baits for both Red Rock and Dungeness crabs.

**VERY IMPORTANT**
Before going crabbing in Washington State, review the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) rules on Shellfishing. You can download a copy of the rules at the WDFW website (https://wdfw.wa.gov/). Also, make sure you have the proper license (and the proper catch record card, if you’re crabbing for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound).

On the same day you plan to go crabbing in Washington State, you should also do the following:
(1) Seasons and Areas: Check the WDFW website for current Seasons and Areas at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/crab; and
(2) Emergency Rule Changes: Check to see if there are any Emergency Rule changes that are applicable at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/; and
(3) Shellfish safety and season information: You can check up-to-date health and season information for shellfish here: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html

You can get updated Tides & Current information for certain location in Washington State from the NOAA Tides & Currents website (including slack tide info): https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html?gid=1415

Lastly, if you will be crabbing from a boat, then be sure to check the weather forecast for the area (including surrounding areas) that you will be crabbing before you leave. Weather can change rapidly on the water, so be sure to continue checking the weather forecast throughout the day. The National Weather Service website is a good resource for their Marine Zone Forecast (Puget Sound and Hood Canal): https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=pzz135#.X269ihSSmUk.
[**Please pay special attention to any Small Craft Advisory (or Small Craft Warning).**]

If you go crabbing, please be careful and have fun!

Видео Crabbing in Puget Sound | Everett + Underwater GoPro!! канала genjster