Torpedo Wharf in the Presidio is a popular spot for catching rock crab without a license.“The only time I was successful there was when it was pouring rain, I was out there by myself, and I got three big Dungees in a couple of hours.” ![]() But Kondo can’t in good conscience recommend it. Pacifica Municipal Pier is a popular spot for catching Dungeness without a license, and it can be a scene, with camping chairs and carne asada on the grill.Here are the crowd favorites with Kondo’s recs: “You’ve got to be lucky and keep trying.” He recommends testing a few spots and chatting with other fishermen to see what they’re pulling in. Finding a good crabbing spot, “that comes with time, I guess,” Kondo muses. Kondo snares a Dungeness crab from the beach Outdoor Chef Life Where are the best spots to catch crabs in the Bay Area? But both Kondo and Gus’ also recommend squid, which you can grab at the tackle shop and throw in the freezer until ready to use. He uses mackerel, herring, or another oily fish. This was a silly question because of course Kondo catches his own bait. West Marine is a larger chain with locations in Sausalito, Alameda, and San Carlos.Hi’s Tackle Box in South San Francisco is another local favorite.Kondo got his first gear there and remains a fan: “Stephanie is super nice, very lovely, she’ll take care of you.” (Stephanie Scott is the longtime owner, who famously does not fish.) Gus’ Discount Tackle is an institution and kind of an experience going back more than 60 years in the Outer Richmond.And whenever they are allowed, you’ll need two buoys, and in addition to the fishing license, a special stamp for an additional $2.50. They are the most secure and you can boat out and leave them dropped overnight But there is some fine print this year: Currently, the use of crab traps is temporarily restricted, so check back for an update. A crab trap looks like a box with circular openings.But you have to pull up promptly or the crabs will scuttle off. A hoop net made of two or three rings is what this writer grew up dropping off the edge of a dock with her old man.You can cast out from the shore and hang out on a beach. A rod, reel, and snare with six loops are Kondo’s equipment of choice.It will give you the most flexibility to find the best spots, and “it supports the fishery.” What kind of gear do you need to go crabbing?Ĭhoose your own adventure from three options: “But I recommend getting a license, either way,” Kondo says. The exception is that it’s legal to fish without a license off a public pier, including Pacifica Municipal Pier and Torpedo Wharf in SF, which are both crabbing scenes. Do you need a license to go crabbing around San Francisco?Īnyone 16 years or older is required to have a California fishing license, available online for $54. The recreational crabbing season for the San Francisco Bay Area is open from Novemto July 30, 2022, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Taku Kondo harvesting uni Outdoor Chef Life When is the recreational crab season in the Bay Area, exactly? ![]() “Crabbing is actually pretty simple.” So according to a chef, here’s the scuttlebutt on crabbing in the Bay Area, from the best gear to the best spots - and an important reminder to never forget to pack beer. Kondo says anyone can enjoy the sport, even beginners. Half a million subscribers now watch him paddle out on his kayak to catch local salmon, crab, and uni, then fire up his stove to make nigiri and ramen. ![]() Former sushi chef and San Francisco native Taku Kondo worked at Roka Akor and Hinata, before shifting to focus on fishing and foraging, and launching a popular YouTube channel called Outdoor Chef Life. In short: If you want crab for Thanksgiving, it’s time to take matters into your own claws.Įater readers tend to be more competitive about catching reservations than catching crustaceans, so for anyone who could use a primer or refresher on the noble sport of crabbing, we called in a pro. But while the commercial season won’t start until November 22 at the earliest, the recreational season started promptly on November 6. This year, we’re waiting for sea turtles to swim further out to avoid getting tangled in gear. But the season has been delayed for at least the past five years - due to toxin scares, fishermen strikes, and marine mammal protection. Dungeness crab season has historically started in mid-November, and it’s a local holiday tradition in the Bay Area.
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