The venerable Surf Rider, easily the oldest boat in the Trinidad fleet, heads home. Photos: Ted Pease

After waitingwaitingwaiting for the domoic acid issues to clear, North Coast crabbers are finally landing Dungeness. 

The waiting has been particularly hard on the Trinidad commercial fleet, which has been stuck in between the areas cleared for crabbing after this winter’s domoic acid closures, disastrous for commercial crabbers. 

The zone from the South Jetty in Eureka to Redwood Creek in Orick — about 35 miles — was still off-limits for crabbing until last week. But the latest tests finally came in OK for crab off Trinidad Head, north and south. Trinidad’s fleet had been steaming north to set pots off Orick, but now can set closer to home. 

The beasties were coming ashore Friday and through the weekend, despite some bouncy weather. 

Nervous about whether the crabs are safe to eat? The scientists say they’re OK, and local crabber captain Dan Cox of the Express says he’s eaten some, and he’s still OK, mostly. The advice is to remove the backs and fully clean out the “viscera” (which sounds like a good idea anyway). The crab meat itself is not affected by the domoic acid neuro stuff, experts tell us. 

I haven’t had any yet, but I am going to set my sport crab pot tomorrow. 

Toad out.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/health-advisories

Off-loading crab on the Trinidad Pier on Friday.

I’ll take 2. Back ’em and clean ’em well before cooking.

Watching the hoist.

Louie.

Crabs!

Crabs!

Trinidad Harbor Honcho Joe Rollings pilots the taxi.

More crabs! watched by crabber Cameron Cox and his daughter.