seattle: part 2

we went crabbing! (well back in august but i'm slow in posting.)

 

 

i loved the excitement before each crab pot reached the top!

it's so much more fun than fishing because something is nearly always in the pot.

(i mean what crab can resist those raw chicken and salmon heads in the center compartment)

plus, there's no waiting - just reel in the line.

 



 

indiviudals are allowed a limited number of crab pots

which can only be kept in the water a limited number of days per week. 

each individual (w/ a license) can keep five crab a day and must record them in a log.

 

 

flags are used to distinquish one person's pots from anothers.

it reminded me of the characters in grumpier old men picking the best fishing locations.

 

a big male (below) - the catch above is taken. : )

 



 

right before kyle got pinched!  "a serious hurt," as terry put it.

 

lots of females.



only males over a certain size can be kept.

this guy is a keeper. see the long, narrow triangle on his belly. 

 



and this momma gets returned to the sea. as you can tell, the triangle is much wider.

during certain seasons, orange eggs can be seen poking out around the rim of the triangle.

 

old man barnacle.

crab are stacked and boiled for 20 minutes in salt water.

rock salt is the key to avoid stringy meat.  

the crab are cooled under running water and backed
- the process of removing the shell and guts.
i've discovered i'm a natural, though i have no pictures to prove it. :)