The CDFW has spoken, and commercial crab will open, but only above Point Arena and not until January 5. Here in Area 3, no commercial fishing and no traps yet. Maybe next month. We still have hundreds of pelicans feeding here and 57º+ water just offshore, so conditions now seem like there wight still be quite a bit of food out there, and whales, like any heavyset mammal, really like their food. They may not be leaving if there's still food on the table. But, all it takes is a few days of west wind and all bets are off. El Nino is pretty tough, but probably not as tough as our northwest wind. If the Nino dude lets it blow. I guess we'll find out later. 

     The crabbing inside Tomales Bay has been.....challenging, but I can't say it's bad. Most guys in boats are catching a few and some guys are still limiting out, mostly in the channel across from the Landing and south for a mile or so. Some jockeying around within that general area is necessary, and where a guy caught a bunch one day may not produce the next day. Fish have fins and crabs have legs, and they use them, but the crabs usually can't go quite as far as fast as the finned ones. Patience, calculated movement and good bait are the keys. Shore guys are getting a few with snares but going over limit really hasn't been a consideration. Outer bay inside the reef has been mostly slow with good spots. Outside of the reef is better, but deeper, and again, there's places you can't yet drop a net. If you're not aware, click that link.