Wayne Kruse’s Pick of the Week: Winter crab

By Wayne Kruse

For The Herald

Just three weekends remain in the winter recreational crab season, which has been, if not gunnysack, at least respectable in most places.

“Most places” means not everywhere, requiring crabbers to cover some water to find the honey holes — particularly since, according to state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Don Velasquez in Mill Creek, the tribes started fishing before the first of the month and non-tribal commercials opened Dec. 8.

The good news is that results of the commercial fisheries have been at least fair, and perhaps a little better than that in some places in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2 and 9.

The winter season is never as well attended as its summer counterpart, but some winter crabbers claim cold-weather Dungeness are firmer and a little more flavorful. Is that true, Don?

“Could be, or maybe a few of the folks are simply finding small populations farther from the molt and with harder shells,” Velasquez said.

Sport crabbing is open seven days a week through Dec. 31 in all Marine Areas except 10 (Seattle), 11 (Vashon Island), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (south Puget Sound).

But, hey, you can be the most popular house on the block if you can run out the morning of Dec. 30, come back with a limit, and host a crab feed while watching the Huskies win the Fiesta Bowl.

And brother, she don’t get no better’n that.

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