So, the Dungeness closure is official for the commercial fleet. Ours is coming: "

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program Update

March 25, 2022

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced the closure of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border) effective at noon on April 8, 2022. This closure is being implemented because of two recent humpback whale entanglements that occurred off San Mateo County and in Monterey Bay involving California commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear. All commercial Dungeness crab traps must be removed from the fishing grounds by the April 8 closure date. The recreational fishery in these zones remains open but may be subject to a future trap restriction when humpbacks return to forage during the spring and summer. In addition, CDFW is continuing a Fleet Advisory and reminds all in the commercial and recreational fisheries to implement best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide. While this closure shortens the season for many fishermen, the RAMP regulations are designed to minimize risk and provide for a long-term viable fishery for all Californians. In addition, the Director has authorized the Lost and Abandoned Gear Retrieval Program to begin removing commercial Dungeness crab traps left in the water beginning April 15, 2022, at noon in Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6. The full news release can be found at the CDFW News Room and for more information, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries Webpage.

"  The crabbing has been good in the bay for some and not good at all for others. Your results will vary. At least one boat today caught three limits near Marker 5 (not at, but near) so the crab exist. It's just that the time for traps is now limited, and probably very limited. I can't see sports getting a pass to run traps while the commercials get kicked to the curb. It could happen, at least for a little while, but not for too long. So, if you have traps and want go crabbing, go soon, or wait until next December or later. 

   Rockfish opens om the 1st and salmon on the 2nd, and good timing, because the stripers are a fickle fish. Gage and I found a couple of biters (not biting enough to stick to the hooks for more than three seconds) last night but today there were no takers. Last night had two on and off, three other bites and four surfperch, two redtails and two barred. The sand crabs are insanely thick and are probably the food source of choice right now. What bites we had were awful close to shore. They also happened around the turn of the high tide. Three evenings of no bites and then a flurry. There were a few guys bagging perch today, so they're still biting, at least.