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05-22-2019, 12:09 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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Desolation Sound - shrimp and crab?
Going to be making the trip to Desolation Sound mid June and haven't been there in over 20yrs. Currently setting up the tender for shrimping and crabbing, anyone care to share their favorite spots, and what depths? Thanks in advance!
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05-23-2019, 11:26 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Capricorn
Vessel Model: Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,019
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I can't help you but upon googling such a request I came up with some who love the Spot Prawns: Steve's American Tug News: Catching Prawns in Desolation Sound
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05-23-2019, 12:02 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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Thanks, that was going to be my general default...look for other traps. It will be an experience either way!
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05-23-2019, 12:32 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Powell River, BC
Vessel Name: Northern Spy
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 26
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,075
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Just realize that the commercial prawn season started on May 17th and is in full swing now. Usually ends mid to end of June.
Recreational traps on top of commercial traps are not well received.
There can be 50 traps on each commercial string.
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05-23-2019, 04:23 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,973
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There's a 300 - 400 ft depth area south of the Tenedos park anchorage. Used to be productive, but that was 30 years ago. Also, close to the entrance to Squirrel cove we always see prawn traps.
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Ken on Hatt Trick
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05-23-2019, 08:43 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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Quote:
Originally Posted by w8n4sun
Going to be making the trip to Desolation Sound mid June and haven't been there in over 20yrs. Currently setting up the tender for shrimping and crabbing, anyone care to share their favorite spots, and what depths? Thanks in advance!
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So many people there in the summer nobody should fish for anything IMO.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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05-24-2019, 08:19 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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If the season is open I don't see a problem following the rules.
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05-24-2019, 08:31 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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I had almost no crab success and limited prawn in desolation, far better places either north or south. Prawn season has been great in the San Juan’s, pulled 3 people’s limit both days with 4 pots and 1 soak.
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Kadey-Krogen 54
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05-24-2019, 10:34 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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Thanks Arthur.
On a side note, a friend recently invited us to look at a KK 54 and we really liked it. How long have you had yours?
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05-24-2019, 11:21 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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Over 2 years now. Absolutely love her.
I did a full retrofit (new wiring, plumbing, electronics, engine, genset, paint, bright work, windows, etc) but couldn’t be happier. Built like a tank, handles anything. Happy to go into details if you are interested.
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Kadey-Krogen 54
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05-24-2019, 02:26 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: SoCal and Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Tortuga
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 63
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthurc
I had almost no crab success and limited prawn in desolation, far better places either north or south. Prawn season has been great in the San Juan’s, pulled 3 people’s limit both days with 4 pots and 1 soak.
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Maybe I'm reading the regs incorrectly, but it appears to me like the San Juans are closed for crab. I'm new to the area so what am I missing?
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfis...gulations/crab
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05-24-2019, 03:23 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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You aren’t incorrect, prawns are open now(ish), depends on area. Crab will open up mid july(ish)
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Kadey-Krogen 54
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05-24-2019, 03:33 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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Thanks for giving the lowdown on KK 54s to my buddy. Really cool boat!
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05-24-2019, 04:13 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Sea Bear
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 752
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Happy to help
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Kadey-Krogen 54
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05-24-2019, 04:31 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: SoCal and Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Tortuga
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 63
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthurc
You aren’t incorrect, prawns are open now(ish), depends on area. Crab will open up mid july(ish)
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Got it. You wrote prawns and I read crab. Thanks for the clarification.
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05-24-2019, 05:52 PM
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#16
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,663
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Crabs are rarely good in the Desolation Sound area. So poor most folks don't bother with the crab trap.
Prawns, on the other hand are usually pretty good, especially after the commercial season closes (usually early July). Those who reliably catch prawns do so because they have tried everything and have found a combination that works for them. Also because they are not tied to a location and will move to where their friends who are having success advise them to go. There are no guarantees that a place will produce. Overfishing will ruin any good producing place in a short while.
Get your Canadian License, observe the limits, don't crowd a busy prawn ground, good luck.
__________________
Keith
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05-24-2019, 07:03 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Mabuhay
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 399
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Great advice. We are doing so more for the experience and are heading to Vancouver this weekend to grab licenses and a Telus SIM card. Flying the kids up to Deso for part of the trip and this, kayaking and paddle boarding should keep them busy and entertained.
I just want to get away from work and the rat race for 3 weeks and enjoy the beauty of the cruising area.
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05-24-2019, 07:31 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
City: Perth
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 374
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guy with a boat
Got it. You wrote prawns and I read crab. Thanks for the clarification.
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'guy with a boat'
now there's a beautiful modest understatement of a user name
__________________
Sea the swells out on the ocean
All a-movin' in a rhythm, If I didn't have to be here
I would surely be-ee there with them
song-'bali waters' from film-'morning of the earth'
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05-31-2019, 12:39 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
City: Prescott, Arizona, USA
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 128
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I have not had good luck in Desolation in the mid-summer. Too crowded and too many others trying to do the same thing. I go up to the Broughtons, normally crab in 40 feet more or less and try to look for an outfall coming down from the land, a small drainage or the like. I have tried cat food, chicken and salmon heads for bait. Salmon heads seem to work better. Be sure your licenses are in order.
As an aside, you can't get to the Broughtons from the south without traversing rapids. But they are a non-event at slack water, so read the tide chart and proceed.
Best of luck, let us know how the trip went.
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05-31-2019, 01:01 PM
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#20
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Veteran Member
City: Vancouver
Vessel Name: NorWyn
Vessel Model: Camano Troll
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Exctyengr
I have not had good luck in Desolation in the mid-summer. Too crowded and too many others trying to do the same thing. I go up to the Broughtons, normally crab in 40 feet more or less and try to look for an outfall coming down from the land, a small drainage or the like. I have tried cat food, chicken and salmon heads for bait. Salmon heads seem to work better. Be sure your licenses are in order.
As an aside, you can't get to the Broughtons from the south without traversing rapids. But they are a non-event at slack water, so read the tide chart and proceed.
Best of luck, let us know how the trip went.
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Just back from 3 weeks in Desolation and the Broughtons, as far up as Port McNeil. Agree totally respecting the rapids on slack. Also if you time the currents you can really save on fuel. We were making 10.8 knots at our normal 6 knot rpm at times. (Averaged 1GPH for most of the trip)
The downside is you may need to “rise and shine” to catch the slack and tide direction you want or conversely wait things out.
Enjoy!
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