![]() Also, the sand and soft sediments where crabs reside are less likely to be affected by the large king crab pots than other habitat types. Pots are considered to be less damaging than mobile gear because they remain in one location and don’t impact a large area of the seafloor. ![]() Larger fishing boats of 100 feet or more average around 250 pots.įishing Pot: A box-shaped trap made from a steel frame and covered with a wire mesh, used to capture king crabs. Depending on the size of the fishing boat, crews will have between 150 and 300 pots per boat. These pots can weigh anywhere from 600-800 pounds each. When fishing for the Alaska king crab, most fishermen/women use what is called a pot, a steel, square-framed trap made covered with a wire mesh. Though the season will depend on the fishing guidelines or quota established for the year, king crab fishing takes place during the winter months of October through January. Red and blue king crab tend to go from shallow water to deep water each year. In general, king crabs are sensitive to water temperature and prefer freezing waters, thus it is not unusual for a red king crab to migrate a mile per day. Stocks of red king crab live in Bristol Bay, Norton Sound, Aleutian-Adak Islands, the Gulf of Alaska, Sea of Okhotsk, Pribilof Islands and along the Kamchatka shelf. Red king crabs are also less aggressive than blue or golden king crab. Of all the king crab, red king crab is the most sought after for commercial use. Red king crab typically roam on flatter terrain of sand and silt ocean bottoms ranging from 120 to 600 feet, similar to the blue king crab. The fishers mark the depth of each pot with a buoy for identification. The golden king crab exists around the Aleutian-Adak Islands and is located deeper in the water - between 600 to 1,600 feet deep. They are typically caught somewhere between 600 feet deep and the intertidal zone, or the part of the ocean that is underwater during the high tide and exposed during low tide. Stocks of blue king crab are typically found off the Pribilof Islands and St. So where do these crews find king crab? Generally, it’s found in Alaska and Russian waters, though each crab type has their specific region and habitat. Though those who make a career of it find the reward is worth the risk - as well as the arduous meticulous work. Outside the refuge and warmth of a crab fishing vessel lies deep waters and freezing temperatures. To read more about some popular king crab fishing vessels (F/V), here boats from the Discovery Channel show “ Deadliest Catch”:
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