Experimental Effects of Soak Time on Catch of Legal-Sized and Nonlegal Red King Crabs by Commercial King Crab Pots

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Bristol Bay, Alaska, to assess the effects of soak time on catch per pot of legal (males ≥165 mm carapace width) and nonlegal (females and sublegal-sized males) red king crabs Paralithodes camtschaticus. Soak times of 12, 24, and 72 h were tested because they cover the typical range of soak times in the Bristol Bay commercial fishery. Catch per pot increased with each increase of soak time for both legal and nonlegal red king crabs, but catch per pot per soak-hour decreased with increasing soak time. Additionally, the ratio of nonlegal red king crabs to legal red king crabs decreased with increased soak time, although local conditions were also shown to have a significant effect on bycatch rates of nonlegal crabs. Authors: DOUGLAS PENGILLY and DONN TRACY are fishery biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, 211 Mission Road, Kodiak, AK 99615. Acknowledgments: ADF&G’s Susan Engle, Holly Moore, and Michael Ruccio — served on the data-collection crew during this study. Skipper Ken Ostebo and crew — services of the chartered commercial fishing vessel, F/V Grand Duchess. Project Sponsorship: This project was funded by ADF&G’s Bering Sea Crab Test Fishery Program. 81 Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin 5(2):81–87. 1998. Copyright © 1998 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game