Been crabbing the Canal right off the Potlatch boat launch fairly successfully every day since the opener, and have limited for the family pretty much every day, although the size and numbers are not there like they were last year. Sunday when I went to check my pots I had a nasty surprise, one pot was way out of position and the other was missing, I asked around and found out that the lowest scum of lifeform, the crab pot stealer, was spotted Saturday afternoon grabbing any pot he could and running off with them, dumping crab in his boat and throwing the pot over on the run. One of mine must have gotten in several hundred feet of water and is long gone, the other I found as it had enough rope. I talked to a guy who's freind spotted the boat, got the numbers, and called the Poaching Hotline, but if anyone has any info call the WDFW Region 6 office, 360-249-4628, and talk to Enforcement, I talked to Captain Woods myself and he is interested in hearing more. This kind of cr@p pretty much ruins my season, is keeping my pots out of the water, and is tempting me to do things like spending the day watching them through the scope of my 30-06 the next time I put them in

Sorry to hear this Bob. I hope you catch the guy!

I've seen this before myself. I kinda hope you have your -06 if/when you do catch the guy.

I don't understand stealing crabs. It's not like they are that hard to catch. And how many can you eat? How pitiful do you have to be to send the time to go around stealing crabs?

That suck's.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Nothing worse than a thief!!!!!

Sounds like this is common place this year. Area 13 is having the same problem off Quartermaster and up the west side of Vashon Island. Be carfull and keep an eye open.

I've had pots stolen off of Everet before. I can't understand why somebody would do that?

Ive only been crabbing here for about four years,but , because of all the thefts that I keep hearing about I do not leave my pots. I will drop them and fish in the area. You said that you have the numbers from the boat, are they running them to see who owns the boat, hope they catch that lowlife son of a scum.Maybe we could scuttle his boat while he's in it...............................Fishy.......

This crap really steams me too!

Got a buddy that got two sets of pots stolen two years in a row outside the Ocean Shores Marina in Grays Harbor. My brother got two stolen last year. All nice commercial grade pots too! I donated mine to my brother this year so he gets another chance to go crabbing again. Hope that one survives the season.

give us the boat numbers! i will keep an eye open

somebody on first ave needs to give him crabs

This crap has started all over again. My pots have been ravaged through every day for the last four. People have been stealing crabs and bait.

There are a couple of things you can do to reduce this theft but you can't stop it. First, identify your pot with flags ($1.98 for 10' pvc pipe, $3.99 construction ribbon, identifies three pots). It seperates your bouy from every one elses. I have done this to two pots, out of six, people seem to leave them alone. Second, I put snap ties on the lids (next step pad locks), This detours a few but there is always someone who will cut them. Third, weight the hell out of your pot. I have one that weighs about 40lbs. It hasn't been pulled by any one else yet. It has been the go to pot, averaging 13 keepers a pull.

If you are getting violated, report it. That is the only way law enforcement will increase.

LT

I'm about ready to put razor blades on my crab pot bouys. I know where they are others don't. Got ripped last Saturday by a couple of guys I could not get to them as my sail boat only does 6.5 knots but glassed them pulling my pot. Both guys looked like they were older which surprised me. Too much movement to get a boat # and it was a small open boat at that.