We had penciled in two possible days to make the trip. Two days before the opener, Thursday, November 8, we looked at the weather forecast and bet on Tuesday the 13th. The opener was unfishable. Sunday, Captain Dave got limits of crab for his charter but the sea was too lumpy to continue on after rock fish and they were forced back to harbor.

Monday the fleet couldn't get out of harbor. Dave called me around 11 am. "We're going to fish tomorrow." He said. "The wind is already starting to die down." He added. We jumped in the truck, already packed, and hit the road.

The weather also made booking a room for the night before a challenge, but Abby Myers, the manager at Chanslor Ranch Bed & Breakfast, worked with us because it was a weekday. We finally confirmed our reservation via cell phone while driving down Monday afternoon. Located only minutes north of the harbor, the B & B has a special "Bunk Room" deal for anglers. The room has its own entrance, a private bathroom and four bunk beds for just $90.00. Abby makes sure there are muffins, bagels and cream cheese, and coffee for anglers at 4:30 am, which is really nice, since there is not another place in town that's open at that hour.

It looked like the trip was coming together if the weather would cooperate.

It was overcast and breezy when we arrived at the docks. As the first light of day appeared, we rounded Bodega Head and turned North. The Payback pounded through the heavy sea, occasionally slamming a trough so hard it made your fillings hurt. We arrived at Dave's string of crab traps, near the mouth of the Russian River, about an hour later. Everyone on board participated in the crabbing. Dave worked the winch and I drove the boat while others prepared bait, cleaned traps, and counted. We had seven limits of crab (6 each)and only pulled 5 pots.

As we left the crab string, heading north, we spotted the first of the larger party boats in the distance.

We stopped to make our first drift for rockfish just south of Fort Ross. "I'm not optimistic about this spot, but if we can scrounge up some fish here, it will shorten the ride," Capt. Dave told me. We made three drifts over the rock pile and picked up two small black cod. It started to rain hard as Dave told us to "Bring 'em in".

Dave kept the Payback heading north while the rest of us donned rain gear. We stopped off Timber Cove and tried again, with the same results. "Hang on," Dave shouted over the boat and ocean noise. "I know where the fish are, its just going to take a little time to get there."

After enduring another 45 minute cruise, we arrived at Stewart's Point. Within an hour we all had limits of mostly black and blue cod. We could hear the party boat skippers over the radio as we headed back to port. One of the boats was just getting to Fort Ross and hadn't picked up their crab yet. The last of the boats got back to port at 5 PM with a load of sore passengers. As it worked out, we were back in port, had the fish cleaned and on ice, and were on the road by 1 PM.

Note: The Shell Station on Westshore Rd. sells shaved commercial fishing ice for $1.00 per 5 gallon bucket. This stuff works way better than blocks and cubes!

Why would one want to endure such a pounding for a few crabs and some fish? Just like fresh fish, there is nothing like fresh crab. We cooked ours the following morning and had it with sourdough for breakfast.

Another reason is to be able to brag to your fishing buddies you were tough enough to do it. Remember the old "Croix de Candlestick" pins the San Francisco Giants used to give fans that stayed to the end of an extra inning night game? They should give out medals for days on the water like that.

The best reason is knowing you have secured the best possible ingredients for the last holiday traditions of the season, Crab Crepes on Christmas Day and Cioppino on New Years Day!

Cooking and Cleaning Crab