Northwest Fishing Reports

Can anyone tell me what is the correct bouy colour for your name and address, is there a certain size too also does your rope have to be weighed or floating?

Pretty sure your float for crawdads can be any color. I would just use crab buoys as they are cheap and available. Use a weighted rope, or attach a weight to your rope below the buoy. You are allowed 5 traps per person for crayfish and do not need a license to harvest them.

From the reg book:

Every shellfish pot, ring net, or star trap left unattended in Washington waters must have its own buoy line and a separate buoy that is permanently and legibly marked with the operator’s first name, last name, and permanent address (telephone number is voluntary). It is ILLEGAL to set or pull unattended shellfish gear with a buoy that does not have your name on it, and only one name and address may appear on each buoy. Any angler may assist the person whose name is on the buoy while he or she is pulling the pot. No fisher may set, fish, or pull shellfish gear from a vessel, in Catch Record Card Areas 1-13, from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise. All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days.

Buoys must be constructed of durable material (no bleach, antifreeze, detergent bottles, paint cans, etc.) and must be visible on the surface at all times except during extreme tidal conditions. Personal flags and staff, if attached to buoys, can be of any color. Buoy lines must be weighted sufficiently to prevent them from floating on the surface.

All crab, shrimp, and crawfish pots must be equipped with a biodegradable device (rot/escape cord) and shall include one or more of the following:
(1) securing the pot lid hook or tie down strap with a single loop of cord; or
(2) sewing a 3" by 5" escape panel in the upper half of pot closed with cord; or
(3) attaching the pot lid or one pot side (serving as a pot lid) with no more than three single loops of cord.

Cord used must be untreated 100% cotton or other natural fiber no larger than thread size 120 (1/8"). This cord, when attached as described above, must be able to rot away and allow crab, shrimp, crawfish and fish to escape freely if the pot is lost. A derelict crab pot without proper escape cord can attract and kill crabs for years after the pot has been lost.

Cord used must be untreated 100% cotton or other natural fiber no larger than thread size 120 (1/8"). This cord, when attached as described above, must be able to rot away and allow crab, shrimp, crawfish and fish to escape freely if the pot is lost. A derelict crab pot without proper escape cord can attract and kill crabs for years after the pot has been lost.

this is a tad confusing so you need 2 lines one to retrive the pot, and if that one is lost the other line must be attached to a trap door so they can get out?

The 1/8" cotton cord they are referring too needs to be used to close the escape door on the trap so that if you lost the gear it will rot away and the shellfish inside can escape. They are very strict on this rule, it is one of the most heavily enforced rules during crabbing season.

Your retrieval rope can be any diameter/material. I use the leadcore braided nylon.

well im using 5/32...4mm bungee cords

Nope, I don't think rubberized bungees are legit. Its gotta be a material that will fully rot away once the pot has been lost.

aww bloody hell the bungee cord looks soo nice too

That material only has to be used on the "escape hatch" door too, you can use any other material to connect the trap together, etc.

I could cut another hole and put an over size mesh/screen door on that could be fixed with the 1/8 rope your talking about...

A lot of people do that (ad another, separate door). It says in the regs to cut out a 3" x 5" piece then just reattach it in 4 places with the rotting cord. That's your escape hatch right there.

edit: it also must be on the TOP half of the trap.

Don't screw with my pots you wank! Just bring them back.

I couldn't find anything that talked about the color of a crawfish buoy. Just follow the Buoy info Matt listed staying away from bleach bottles ect ect and you should be fine. As for your main line, I would recommend weighted rope. I would also not recommend leaving your gear alone, especially on a lake that isn't occupied by very many people as it may very likely disappear. You can always email WDFW or call and ask them to be positive about any questions you might have.

Bodofish wrote:Don't screw with my pots you wank! Just bring them back.

Dude , lol.. as if i cut upyour pots. Mine turned out great. Just copied yours, but i may cut me another hatch. saying that i could just get some rope and tie when i go crawdaddding

Im holding off buying bouy's im hoping OE has them on sale this week. They are having a truck sale.