Foggy Day For Crabbing
We wake up to a foggy day at James and Maureen’s house but according to them it is a good day for crabbing because the waves are low. Maureen packs breakfast and warm drinks in our flasks and we are at the Garibaldi Pier around 9 in the morning. It is a foggy day for crabbing but I don’t mind as long as the waves are calm. James says he will only sail his dory boat around the Garibaldi Bay to cast the crab pots. I’m all for that because after getting sea sick a few years ago, crabbing and fishing in the open ocean is not something I’m excited to participate. The bay is safe….or so I thought.
Painted Rock
James and Shane drop the crab pots near the edge of Bayocean Dike Road. Then we sail the dory towards Painted Rock, a big rock formation that juts out just off the coast between Bayview City and Garibaldi. The reason why it’s called painted rock is because of the seabirds guano (birds’ droppings). It stinks as we get closer to it, especially when the wind is blowing into our direction. Ewww… I read seabirds guano makes very good fertilizer because of their 100% seafood diet. But…ummm…nope, not going to harvest poop on this trip! However, click HERE for an interesting read on guano fertilizer. We are just going to be crabbing and fishing around painted rock – well, I’ll be watching the sea birds and seals while the rest of the group cast out their fishing rods.
Sea Sick, But Worth It!
The fog starts to clear up and it is beautiful out here. Shane and Maureen are busy trying to catch a fish, any fish for that matter because they haven’t been able to catch one in all the trips we made so far. I’m sitting on the bow of the boat taking photos. It’s not a good position to sit especially when I am susceptible to getting sea sick. The more I think about it, the more I feel like chumming whatever I have in my stomach for the fishes! I don’t want to spoil the group’s fun. Shane takes one look at my face and snaps a photo! We have been out in the water for 3 hours so the men quickly retrieve all the crab pots. A big tray of crabs to enjoy later and I get to eat the single Rock Crab that was in the crab pot too. I am sea sick, but it’s worth it! LOL
