The major concern is commercial crabbing. As far as I know there is no regulatory limit with regard to distance off shore. What I have observed is the crabbers seldom set their pots deeper than 100 fathoms which is usually 25 to 27 miles off shore. Unfortunately there is no set season. Regulators open and close crabbing based on a number of variables.thanks for your response(s).
Regarding crab season.....
I imagine commercial vs. recreational crab seasons are different and distances out are different. I'd appreciate a crash course on that!
JD
Ive run the US west coast more times than I can count. Pot buoys are not always easy to see in daylight. I've been surprised by buoys that pop up in front of the boat as I crest a swell. I've seen lots of them barely at the surface and just below the surface due to current. Often with so much extra line streaming just below the surface that it is important to keep track of the current diretion to round the pot on the safe side.If you are only traveling by day then its easy to see the pot buoys and avoid them. If traveling at night its a very different story. In order to avoid them you need to get out into deeper water. Its rare to see a crab pot placed in water over 350' but I do occasionally see them as deep as 400'. I have never seen them in water 500' or deeper. I try to stay in 500' of water at night. There are a few places that require being 27 miles off shore to stay this deep. Often you are only 15 miles off shore. Most Insurance riders say no more than 25 miles. If you ask your broker to be allowed to go beyond the 25 mile limit to stay in 500' of water to avoid crab pots, it almost always granted with no extra fee.
If you are only traveling by day then its easy to see the pot buoys and avoid them. If traveling at night its a very different story. In order to avoid them you need to get out into deeper water. Its rare to see a crab pot placed in water over 350' but I do occasionally see them as deep as 400'. I have never seen them in water 500' or deeper. I try to stay in 500' of water at night. There are a few places that require being 27 miles off shore to stay this deep. Often you are only 15 miles off shore. Most Insurance riders say no more than 25 miles. If you ask your broker to be allowed to go beyond the 25 mile limit to stay in 500' of water to avoid crab pots, it almost always granted with no extra fee.