Mission Bay Snorkel Report 7-2-17 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

blitzburgh · 07-03-2017, 07:27 AM

Spent a bay day with Wifey, kiddos and friends at Mariners Basin. Perfect weather with s little breeze. Brought one bass rod to poke around later in the day as well as snorkel gear. It is always cool to see how much life is down there. Spotties everywhere including some trophy models. Swim right over them and they just stare you down lol. Angel sharks, tons of juvi Calico's. I never spotted any Halibut but did find a few Diamond Turbot, eating size at that. Nice size schools of 3 to 7" Smelt everywhere and big mullet, one swam right by me had to be had to be 20".

Also, came across a few, LARGE (I think) Dungeness crabs that were bedding down in the sand. One was friggin huge, guessing 10 or 11" across, with a female locked up under him. I tried, unsuccessfully to pick them up but those fuggers were quick. Every time I would locate one and try to play, they b-lined it for cover. Anyone know for sure what crabs these are? Sorry no pics.

Mahigeer · 07-03-2017, 07:36 AM

Thanks for the report.

Are we talking about Mission Bay in San Diego?

If so it would be very unusual to have Dungeness crabs in Southern California.

They are a northern California species. They have some markings on their back.

Perhaps yellow or red crabs were what you saw.

Too bad you did not have a spear gun with you.

Baja_Traveler · 07-03-2017, 09:35 AM

Spider crabs most likely...

blitzburgh · 07-04-2017, 08:13 AM

Yeah Mariners Basin in Mission Bay. Definitely not a Spider Crab, caught plenty of those guys. After a google search I learned there are a few close cousins to the Dungeness that are common in our waters so I'm thinking it was one of them. Pretty neat.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/...Dungeness-Crab

Saba Slayer · 07-04-2017, 10:39 AM

Local Red and Yellow Rock Crabs...

07-03-2017, 07:27 AM	#1
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Mission Bay Snorkel Report 7-2-17 Spent a bay day with Wifey, kiddos and friends at Mariners Basin. Perfect weather with s little breeze. Brought one bass rod to poke around later in the day as well as snorkel gear. It is always cool to see how much life is down there. Spotties everywhere including some trophy models. Swim right over them and they just stare you down lol. Angel sharks, tons of juvi Calico's. I never spotted any Halibut but did find a few Diamond Turbot, eating size at that. Nice size schools of 3 to 7" Smelt everywhere and big mullet, one swam right by me had to be had to be 20". Also, came across a few, LARGE (I think) Dungeness crabs that were bedding down in the sand. One was friggin huge, guessing 10 or 11" across, with a female locked up under him. I tried, unsuccessfully to pick them up but those fuggers were quick. Every time I would locate one and try to play, they b-lined it for cover. Anyone know for sure what crabs these are? Sorry no pics. __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-04-2017, 08:13 AM	#4
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Yeah Mariners Basin in Mission Bay. Definitely not a Spider Crab, caught plenty of those guys. After a google search I learned there are a few close cousins to the Dungeness that are common in our waters so I'm thinking it was one of them. Pretty neat. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/...Dungeness-Crab __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-04-2017, 10:39 AM	#5
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,855	Red and Yellows Local Red and Yellow Rock Crabs... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

07-03-2017, 07:36 AM	#2
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,891	Thanks for the report. Are we talking about Mission Bay in San Diego? If so it would be very unusual to have Dungeness crabs in Southern California. They are a northern California species. They have some markings on their back. Perhaps yellow or red crabs were what you saw. Too bad you did not have a spear gun with you.

07-03-2017, 09:35 AM	#3
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	Spider crabs most likely...