Adventures in Crabbing (part deux)

On Canada Day, we attempted to go crabbing, and failed miserably. We were not even able to get into the ocean. Since then, it seems the fates are against us. Every time we are able to get out (day off from work), something happens to prevent us getting the boat in the ocean: the sea is too rough, it’s too windy, it’s too foggy, there is no access, there is no parking…ad infinitum. It seems some people (us) are not meant to get out on the water. Perhaps the Fates are trying to tell us something? Perhaps we should cut our losses whilst we can- sell up and remain landlocked?

This weekend brought a new factor into play…my husband’s truck was so full of heavy stuff from work, that it would take over an hour to clear it out so we could use it (and then another hour to reload it).  I find it very annoying that his employer can get away with forcing him to subsidize them by having to provide a truck for their use, and it makes it very inconvenient when we would like to use the truck that we paid for and insure but are unable to utilize without a great deal of trouble. Grrr.

Oh well, on to our fishing adventures. Since we were unable to use the truck, and therefore, the boat, we decided to try crabbing from the dock. We purchased a couple of “purse traps”, grabbed some bait, and headed out to Sooke, 40 kilometres away, which has a lovely fishing pier. As we parked in the parking lot, before walking downhill to the pier, we experienced some qualms…there were quite a few vehicles there already.  Still, we forged ahead and toddled off down the steep hill, and down the rather steep stairs, through the trees.  It is a lovely walk to the pier.

However, when we actually made it to the pier, we turned around and climbed straight back up the stairs and up that steep slope to our car.  There were a LOT of people already crabbing there, and no space left to tie on. No room at the inn, so to speak. Discouraged, but not wholly disheartened, we drove back towards our home.

Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained- so we decided to try our luck in the Saanichton area. Once again, we parked our car…but this time we went to look before carrying our equipment anywhere. Once again…there was no room for us.

Still slightly hopeful, we pressed on to Sidney and it’s fishing pier. The tide there might be a bit too much for our lightweight traps, but we were determined to at least try, if we could. Luck was finally on our side, and we found a spot on the pier. We baited our traps and tossed them over, then waited to see if we would have any luck.

Well, first we caught a Dungeness crab:

…but it was a female, so we had to throw her back.

Then we caught a Red Rock crab:

…but he was too small, so we had to throw him back.

I wandered off for a little while and bought some groceries. The side of the grocery store is painted as an underwater seascape, but in the lower corner, there is this:

which I thought was quite attractive, so I snapped a photo.

In the meantime, Steve caught another Dungeness crab, but it was too small.

Then we caught this guy:

(along with about 5 pounds of kelp). He was legal size (hurrah), so we took him home and had him for dinner:)

(he was delicious)