crab pots / floats in surf at Manzanita

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 274 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

Someone dropped crab pots / floats (one is labelled #01777) all up and down the Manzanita beach, every few hundred yards, all very very near shore, with over 1/2 of them in the wave zone (depending on wave size). And most of them have excess rope floating around in various directions depending on the currents, some of which is now starting to get coated in algae making it harder to see / avoid. These crab pots appear to have abandoned, as they've been in the water for over 2 weeks now. It's impossible to avoid running over the lines, my fins typically hit line 10 times a session, and if you are foiling, it's an even bigger problem. Aaron was out foiling today, he had two wipe outs because he didn't see the line in time.

I do my best to avoid them, but with that said, in the past week, I have been on two large waves where I encountered crab pot line stretched on the wave face that I had to deal with, once I went over fine, and once I could feel it getting between my fins as I was riding the wave in same direction as the line, doing everything possible to avoid losing control.

I talked to the Nehalem State Park ranger today about it, he told me to contact the Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife, as he only has responsibilty for the ocean shore. I sent an email to the ODFW this evening to notify them that these crab pots are a hazard to us. I hope something can be done about them before someone gets entangled in the lines that are floating all over the place out there now. With the strong currents, it's a serious hazard.

Jeremy

Ho-Toe · Sat Jun 03, 23 9:11 pm

Here’s how I’ve dealt with this problem at [SPOT NAME REDACTED]:

Wait for a calm, flat day.

Slip a viccy knife inside the sleeve of your wetsuit.

Paddle out to the crab pot on your longboard, and make the leash off to the float or just beneath it, depending on how the line has been terminated.

Descend along the crab pot line by “climbing” down it hand-over-hand. Don’t kick much; it increases the risk of entanglement.

Cut the line as close to the pot as you can.

Carefully ascend, get back on your board, and paddle the whole mess ashore.

A buddy is nice to have. A mask might be somewhat helpful too, but don’t expect to be able to see much besides shadows.

This solution is not for everyone, but I have found it to be more effective than emailing.

If there is a really low tide, you may be able to wade out to them, free the pots from the sand (lots of rocking back & forth helps), and sell them on Craigslist… Cool

Good luck. Freakin’ amateur crabbers…

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2093 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Yeah, those pots are buried in the sand. Bye Bye. Those lines are a hazard. I like Ho-toes idea.

dhhr · Since 09 Jul 2015 30 Posts Hood River

Thanks for the post! I also saw those floats on Friday, they were easier to see as the waves were smaller and wind was lighter, but definitely more of a hazard as the wind/waves increased over the weekend when they were much harder to spot until I was right next to them. I initially thought the floats were all attached, as in a 'long-line system' instead of individual pots, as some of the ropes seemed to connect the bouys from what I could see on Friday afternoon.

Either way definitely a hazard!

I'll also try contacting the Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife and see if I can get a response.

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 274 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

I just got email today from ODFW that the fishermen recovered most or all of the buoys that were near shore at Manzanita Beach, and a visual inspection was done this morning at the -1.0 low tide, and only one buoy was spotted in the wave zone.

I have also got confirmation from a friend that kited yesterday that the buoys are mostly gone. Thanks to all that emailed ODFW, they stepped up and got the buoys removed. I wasn't expecting such a good outcome and I am looking forward to kiting again out there without all those damn buoys.

Yippee !!

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2595 Posts The 503 METAL

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 278 Posts Obsessed

Nice work Jeremy and crew! Thanks for looking out for us all!