La Jolla Help..red crab
 

I have a chance to fish this coming Saturday 5/19 and was wondering how bad the red crabs are. I’d rather not drive two hours for nothing if the crabs are out in full force. Plan B is to fish San Diego Bay as I’ve never fished there before. Thanks.

I live in LA, so for what is worth;

I heard of red tide in SD, and not much about red crabs.

I say still go no matter what. Guys are catching fish and you may have to work for them but what a better way to spend the day.

True that. Worst case I can head in earl and then hit the Bays.

The presence of red crabs are not the deciding factor if fish will bite or not. Before them we blamed lockjaw on the moon, tides, sea lions, too many boats, Humboldts, poachers, wives, kids, bosses... etc. They are a variable but it takes a combination of things for certain things to happen. My advice go out and unlock the secret.

Great input Len. I can tell you that in my neighborhood, we have been living with the red crab for close to two years now. Not an acre or so here and there but miles and miles and miles of them either on the surface or a layer of them at 5 to 10 fathom. They foul your jigs and trolled lures and every fish you catch will puke them up but they are not the food of choice for the fish you want to catch so forget about trying to match the hatch. Give them something better and they will snap at it. A good fin bait, or a jig ripped through the middle of the crab will do just fine.