Branden Mendoza sent over a report this evening: "Hey willy just wanted to let you know limits of good dungeness are still out there if you run north. Me and my dad went out for 2 limits in 80 feet of water. We had 8 hoop pots took us 3 hours to get limits with a few keepers released. We made homemade clam chowder and crab. It was a day well spent " Looks like a pretty good evening eating as well. The Dungeness are mostly out of the clutch (the time when mommy and daddy crab get too busy being mommies and daddies and don't want to eat or otherwise do things that could end up with them in crab pots) and are now hungry. A boat from here today had 150ish crab, 40ish of which were Dungeness, and never left the bay. The area around Marker 5 seems like it's a hot spot again. The outer bay has also been good for some. Use your traps quickly because the end is nigh. The whales are coming (many are already here) and the most recent recommendation to the CDFW is this "Therefore, CDFW Marine Region staff’s preliminary recommendation is to prohibit the use of recreational traps in Fishing Zones 3-5 effective May 15, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon). Staff also recommend implementing a 30-fathom Depth Constraint and a 50% Gear Reduction (trap reduction) for Fishing Zones 1 and 2 effective May 15, 2023." We are in Zone 3, so it looks like we got an extra month over the commercial guys. Hoops and cones after noon on the 15th, probably. They'll likely make it official on Monday. 

    In fish news, a bit more information about the second halibut caught here. It was outside of the bar in 50 feet of water and the water temp was 49º. So, it was a fluke. Your results will almost certainly vary. In good news, the ospreys are no longer the only ones catching surfperch. There's been some very nice perch coming in from Dillon Beach. Finally. All the wind has formed up a bit of structure along the beach to concentrate the fish. Walk and cast, looks for changes in the beach break, and most importantly be a bit lucky.