Refreshing dip and "fulfilling" lunch.

Most of us had brought our hammocks except for Ray who brought his sleeping cot, and our bushmaster, Keong, who “made” his own sleeping cot, table, bench and whathaveyou. While relaxing in the water, I spotted two trees across the creek from each other and in a blink! it brought back the pictures I have seen at the Eagles Nest Outfitters website where campers strapped their hammocks across the water. Yeah, a perfect spot for my hammock.  

A house with a natural pool and spa...

...a postcard-perfect view from my hammock.

Ray's quarter...a sleep cot and flysheet.

Kenny's quarter...he has a flysheet that can cover a family of ten.

Our bushmaster, living up to his title, chose the bushiest spot for his quarter.

Our firemaster, Richard, whose fire I "borrowed" to cook my bamboo rice.

Later, Ray and I decided to continue with our kayak fishing. I realised then hikers made good company as we did not have to worry about leaving our stuff behind. Usually, when we have all kayakers in the group, the campsite would be left empty when we go fishing…but thanks to the hikers, we didn’t have to worry this time. While fishing, we met Jim and his son who just paddled in in their canoe. We directed them to the campsite and continue fishing afterthat. After an hour or so, we decided to head back to the campsite as the fish were not biting.  

Shortly after I started to my “bushcrafting” session, crafting a pot, a bowl, a mug, a ladle and a pair of chopsticks before preparing dinner. I cooked my rice in my bamboo pot on Richard’s open fire stove. Yeah, cooking on an open fire beats cooking on a gas stove anytime. Dinner was simple – rice, kimchi and sardine …washed down with a can of Guinness Stout. 

Dinner under the Brunton light.

After dinner, we sat down together and chatted. Ray and I had planned to go night fishing but were too tired and decided we should fish early next morning instead. Jim had made some delicious bannock for supper…and we continue chatting and drinking for the rest of the night. 

Top left: Ray, Keong, Stanley and Richard. Bottom left: Jim, Bryant (...I think), Kenny and yours truly.

It was beautiful moonlit night. The moon was almost full (a day after Chap Goh Meh) and I could see the water flowing underneath me. I was tempted to get up and remove the tarp above me (so that I could watch the beautiful sky and listen to the therapeutic sounds of flowing water) but laziness gets the better of me. 

I got up at first light. Within minutes I was on my way paddling to Toman Bay. The Underwater Kinetics Vizion headlamp I was wearing lit up the whole place. I could see the bottom of the creek and even spotted a few fishes as I paddled through. As soon as I reached Toman Bay, I could feel the calm and quietness around me. I could see mist floating gently above the water. What a magnificent sight! Truth be told, this is what I came for. Fishing is just a bonus. And, I got my bonus…4 tomans in half an hour. 

Ray joined me about 20 minutes later. 

After my fourth catch I decided to go back to the campsite and have some breakfast. I brought back 2 larger tomans and release the other two.  Our firemaster, Richard, had already got his fire started. He said he would smoke them….what a great idea, I thought. Never had a smoke toman before. As it turned out, it was smoking delicious. Everyone got a pinch-size to eat.

While the fish was smoking, I fired up my China-made multi-fuel stove to boil some water for my 3-in-1 coffee. I had wanted to use petrol for the stove and thought I could fill up the stove canister when I go to the gas station to fill up my truck. Wait a minute! my truck uses diesel. I can’t buy such as small quantity of petrol, can I? So, I end up using diesel for my multifuel stove. Avoid using diesel if you do not want a black pot. As for the stove, it works great. It can fire like a rocket booster – great for stir frying. Yes, I had my coffee in under 2 minutes but with a black pot.

Avoid diesel if you do not want a black pot.

By 11am we had already packed and ready to go home. I must say the trip has been very eventful…house with natural pool and spa, bamboo rice on an open fire, beautiful moonlit night, sounds of flowing water, calm and quiet morning in the lake, gentle mist over the water, and most of all, it was the great company that made this trip the perfect getaway.

Gerald K.

February 19 2011. It was right after the Chinese New Year celebration that we decided to revisit our perfect getaway place, the Empangan Batu or Batu Dam. There were two groups. One group, comprised of kayakers and the other, comprised of hikers. We were to meet at the Riverstone Eco Resort at 8.30am for some briefing before setting out on our adventure.    

From left: Keong, Ray, Gerald (that's me), Richard, Kenny and Stanley. Also, Jim and his son (not in pic) joined later.

As soon as our group photo was taken, the hiking group started hitting the trail with heavy gear on their backs and, Ray and me, the only two kayakers, drove another 100m to the launch site. Earlier during the briefing, we had agreed to rendezvous at Eagle’s Landing, our campsite location, at noon. It was only half past nine, so we had plenty of time…  

At the launch site. See the rubbish...damn anglers!

Kayaks loaded and all set to go...

We decided we would stop at a few of the many coves and make a few quick casts before heading for Toman Bay. There were few surface activities, so we decided we should head direct to Toman Bay. As the name suggests, there are more tomans here then anywhereelse in the lake. But, because of fishing pressure, their numbers here are dwindling too. While there is no access for cars to this part of the lake, motorcycles can make their way here through the plantations.

As they say, time flies when you have fun…it was almost noon when we arrived at Toman Bay. We could see more activities… and quickly combed the area, hoping to land at least one toman for lunch. But luck was not with us, and by 12.30pm, we decided to paddle upstream of Sungai Pamah to the campsite. The hiking team was already there when we arrived at the campsite.

Ray stopping at one of the many coves for a quick cast.

Ray...all smiles when we finally arrived at the campsite. It was his first trip to this part of Batu Dam.

…to be continued.

WAVES nearly two feet high. Thunder shook the water and clapped my eardrums. Lightning whiting everything, blinding me.

I didn’t take my own advice and let myself be caught in the very teeth of a lightning storm in the middle of Lake Kenneth yesterday.

I found out first hand that when lightning strikes near enough, it is AUDIBLE. The sound of the crackling bolt is very similar to that of a matchstick being snapped in two.

Launching from Peacock Point with the first rays of the sun, the day started quite well. Other than a pleasant brace of peacock bass and toman landed, I even managed to land a table size sebarau on a 14gm Duel Shallow Stick (fire green colour). That was a real surprise; rare in Lake Kenneth. By 5pm, I was trying to get the haruan to strike in Arnold’s Nook.

This Google Earth map will probably not be very clear here. Which is fine, since it is meant to be exclusive to our gang of kayak fishers. But for illustration purposes, I was paddling from the far left to the far right on the main lake.

I could see a storm system wreaking havoc on Kampar to the northeast. It was 16km away if I draw a straight line on the map. But since the wind was blowing from the south, I figured that the storm wouldn’t reach Lake Kenneth.

Then the wind went shivering cold.

Oh shit.

The first sign of a storm coming down on heads after a hot, hot day is always when the wind suddenly turns very cold.

I studied the sky and found another, slightly smaller storm system suddenly developing from the southwest. And the southern wind was blowing it hard to join up with the system terrorizing Kampar.

I knew things were gonna get bad. But I didn’t really worry at first. I took my sweet time paddling out of the Hideout. When I reached Toman Corner, I paused for a cigarette and let the southern wind carry me back to Peacock Point. By the time I finished my puff, I realised I had made a horrible mistake. I was now right between two clashing storms.

The wind suddenly changed direction, and blew hard from the west. I was still at least 1km away from Peacock Point and right in the centre of the lake. Even as I began to paddle hard, the water took the cue from the gusts. Waves nearly two feet tall crashed into my starboard side. My Boogeese rocked like crazy. No choice. Must angle the kayak to take the waves diagonally and reach Peacock Point on a triangular route.

The crashing waves sent volumes of water up deck. Water splashed into my face and sunglasses, obscuring my vision. But I didn’t dare to miss even one stroke of the paddle to clean my face or the wind and waves would push my bow and make me face the waves fully from the starboard again. The winds and waves were so strong that I only had to keep paddling port side most times to keep the kayak in the right direction.

As the fear rose, adrenalin flooded my bloodstream. And I felt gloriously alive! I really love adrenalin, man. I paddled ceaselessly, with a power I never knew I had. The precious hormone fueled my muscles, and I laughed and whooped and shrieked and screamed for none but the jealous gods to hear. Too bad I didn’t bring my camera along. Just a photo of the bow crashing into the two-foot waves, sending spray high up, would have been beautiful.

No storm photo. But here, the section of the lake in the background is where I was caught. I was way out there. This photo makes the lake look so placid, doesn't it? Photo by Howard, with thanks.

Then I officially became in trouble. It sounds just like a matchstick being snapped in two. Just a slight ‘tck-tck’. White filled my vision. Half a second later, the thunder clapped. It was so loud that I felt it in my chest cavity.

A few seconds later. It happened again. Tck-tck. White. Thunderclap.

The realization that I was attracting lightning brought a sickening feeling of horror. I was out on flat terrain. My stupid head was the highest point on the lake. My rod was graphite composite. My paddle was aluminum. My bloodstream was now nearly neat with adrenalin.

Old photo. Nearly in the centre of Lake Kenneth. Photo by Gerald, with thanks.

When I reached Peacock Point, in one smooth flow, I jumped out, ran forward, grabbed the Boogeese tow line, pulled the kayak up the beach and raced to squat beneath a rock ledge. Always find the lowest depression on the ground. Never hide under a tree.

But 10 seconds later, I raced back to the kayak to grab my tackle box and doubled back just as quickly to the rock ledge, all the time imagining that Zeus had his sniper scope aimed directly at me. Why did I do that? Because my cigarettes were in my tackle box! It might be great to die in Lake Kenneth, but if it’s gonna be like that, I wanna die with a cigarette between my teeth!

The rain never did hit Lake Kenneth. The hard wind blew the two storms together in a mad symphony of crashing thunder. I watched the western wind send the storm off from Kampar to the Teluk Intan area.

When I finally felt safe enough to stand up, the sky right above me was bright again.

Still intoxicated with adrenalin, I drove the 20km off road to reach home while singing to Bon Jovi at the top of my lungs.

Alive. Gloriously alive.

Why is SUP a hot trend?

Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Tasik Biru, Kundang, Selangor

Here are 10 reasons:

1. SUP is easy to learn

SUP boards are very stable and in calm water anyone will be able to stand up and paddle in no time.

2. SUP is for everyone

Any age can enjoy this sport. You can even take your dog for a ride.

3. SUP anywhere there is water

You can paddle board anywhere there is water…lakes, rivers and the coasts.

4. SUP is fun

SUP is a great way to get out on the water and is fun to do on your own or with a group. It is a great sport that the whole family can enjoy together. 

5. SUP equals great workout

Paddling while maintaining your balance works all the core muscles in your body… legs, arms, torso and upper body. Stand Up Paddling builds strength, endurance, balance, and gives you a great cardio and core muscle workout…while having fun on the water and getting a tan.

6. SUP offers a new experience and perspective on water – the feeling of “walking on water” as you glide across the water on a paddle board is a new experience that has to be felt to be understood. A session on a paddle board can be therapeutic…it takes away the stress and relaxes the mind.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding gives you a great vantage point to see what’s in and above the water around you. It gives you a great perspective view of marine and coastal life as you stand above the water on your board whether for photography, fishing or simply, enjoying the Nature.

7. SUP is light and easy to maintain

No more backbreaking heavy equipment to carry. No engine failures to worry about. Just hose it down with water after use.

8. SUP is green

Paddle Boarding is simple, just a board and paddle. No motors and no noise. Paddle Boarding doesn’t harm the waterways or the environment, or disturb the peace.

9. SUP is many sports in one

If you like, you can surf the waves (from small waves just for fun to the biggest waves on the planet for some challenge) or join a race (SUP races are being held all around the world now) or tackle whitewater rapids (River Sup is growing and people are challenging themselves on river runs on their paddle boards) or go board fishing! (whether flyfishing for bonefish or simply fishing in a lake, board fishing is gaining popularity among anglers around the world).

10. SUP is affordable

You don’t have to mortgage your house to own a SUP. And, no more expensive maintenance and repairs.

Both taking the summer off from life, sisters Katie and Elizabeth McPhail found themselves in the same boat – headed on a 6,000 mile voyage on a watery path known as The Great Loop.

“The day after graduation, we got on the boat,” Elizabeth, 22, said.  The new grad walked off the platform at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., with a diploma in hand, and no real plans in mind. But Katie had an idea that led the girls and friend Sammy Almohandis, 22, to Destin for a couple of days.

“I first heard about the Great Loop earlier this year,” said Katie, a 26-year-old Issaquah, Wash., native.

The Great Loop is the circumnavigation of the Eastern United States by the waterways that divide it from the rest of the continent. ‘Loopers’ typically chart a course through the nation’s river systems, lakes and coastlines through the Intracoastal Waterway. The voyage usually stretches anywhere from 5,000 to 7,500 miles. The McPhail sisters estimate their trip will cover about 6,000 miles before it is over.

Katie (left) and Elizabeth McPhail

“I read a book called ‘Only in America’ by John Mirassou,” Katie said.

The book chronicled three young men from Southern California, who made the Great Loop in a 17-foot Boston Whaler in 1987 as they traveled the miles of water, battling the elements and the local wildlife.

After reading the book, Katie set her mind to loading down a bright yellow 16-foot aluminum Duroboat, manufactured by her father’s small company north of Seattle, to make her own go of The Great Loop. Elizabeth decided to come along, since she and the rest of her graduating friends were entering a transition stage as new grads.

Also fresh out of Knox College with an economics degree, Almohandis took a flight to Mobile and joined the girls as they reached the big milestone in their trip. From Mobile, the three boated to Almohandis’ grandparents’ home near Destin.

They tied up at Bluewater Bay Marina and began to relax for the first time since leaving Chicago via Lake Michigan on June 4.  Since they launched, their route has taken them around the Chicago, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, Kentucky Lake, down the Tom Bigby Waterway into Mobile and along the Intracoastal Waterway to Destin.

“This is the first place where the water has been this clear,” Katie said. “This is one of the most relaxing stops we’ve had.”

They have kept the trip pretty simple. Their Duroboat is loaded down only with a few duffle bags and safety equipment donated by other boat outfitters. They also carry a couple of tanks of extra gasoline for the longer stretches.

Katie saved her money for the trip before leaving. She said they are on a tight budget, usually just getting a cheeseburger once a day or keeping fruit on board to munch as they travel.

As for sleep, they pitch a tent on the small boat or bunk with other boaters they’ve met along the way. They spring for a motel room when they need to shower and enjoy a little air conditioning.

“This is the cheapest way you could ever go on a trip like this,” she said.

A swim in clear water at Crab Island

Katie said the boat gets 10 miles per gallon and fuel takes the largest chunk out of her budget. On average they cruise at a speed of 22 to 25 mph. They aim to travel 100 miles a day, spending about five hours a day in motion.

The siblings joined America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, an organization of Great Loop enthusiasts who assist one another with safety, navigation or just having someone to greet them at port.

Katie said their goal is to complete the trip by the first of August. They have to make that deadline so she can return to her jobs working for her dad at Duroboat and handling the communications for a preschool. Elizabeth plans to return to Seattle to find a job.

The loopers departed Destin on Wednesday morning to make the next leg, continue meeting new people at port and catching rays.

“We put sunscreen on six or seven times a day,” Katie said.

More on the voyage, go to www.duroboat.com.

The Grand from put-in to takeout is 226 miles and we decided to do an 11-day self-support kayak trip (actually 9.5 days of paddling as the put in day starts at noon and the takeout day ends at 9 in the morning) so that means we needed to average 23 miles a day.

That doesn’t sound too bad but considering the gear alone weighed in the neighborhood of 100 lbs + each, 23 miles started to sound like a very long way to paddle each day. The Grand Canyon is famous for its big volume rapids like Crystal, Granite and of course Lava.

…but what most people don’t realize is that 92% of the Canyon is flat-water with these crazy boils, swirly currents and weird whirlpools that seem to show up out of no where. Boat of choice for this mission was the Remix XP 10 and we could not have been happier. The XP 10 was comfortable, packed easily (the back hatch was key), stable even loaded with gear

but the most remarkable thing about the XP 10 was the retractable skeg. When paddling the crazy flat-water sections the skeg allowed us to cut through the funky currents and would track like an arrow

 (Woody paddling the flats…. skeg down)

but when we got to the top of a rapid a quick flick of the lever and the boat would loosen up and give us what we wanted maneuverability. This trip to me solidified what the XP series was designed as…The first and only “true” crossover/go anywhere kayak, a kayak that answers the question of having one boat that does it all….. more stuff on the Grand Canyon to come later.

Woody

With many regular spots under fishing pressure, recreational anglers are going kayak fishing to seek out more productive fishing grounds inaccessible to larger boats or from land. In addition to more productive fishing grounds, kayak anglers can also explore other fishing methods such as trolling and drifting and other fishing activities such as crabbing, lobstering, prawning and squidding.

Here’s an interesting kayak crab-lobster-prawn fishing story.

A couple of nights ago I went out and dropped a couple of nets inside the harbour baited with heads and bones from the fishmonger and weighted down with a couple of decent stones. Last night I went out to haul them up and have a look:

Hoisted aboard, they fit nicely across the lap on a yak, and access to the catch is easy.

First out was this fella. A one-armed bandit, he was too small at 60mm carapace length to keep so after being admired went back in.

His cellmate, a velvet swimmer, got a well-deserved CRABSBO before following him back in the water.

Star prize went to this guy, who amazed me at being able to get in.

Some blatant gratuitous prawn now, I would have expected a lot more of these and would have had a pint or two on the seaward side of the harbour wall, these being the length of my finger.

I only had eight in total that were decent size so only a small snack – but boiled up with salt they tasted absolutely spot-on, firmer and sweeter than any you’ll buy anywhere. I’m out drop-netting on Sunday subject to conditions.

Next net yielded another lobster, again undersized but with both claws his time. Another pair of pics because I just find them so beautiful.

I also had edible and shore crabs, all of which went back due to being undersized or in small quantity (shore crab are cooked up for a smashing bisque and are a delicacy in France where my wife is from. I haven’t tried it yet but will do sometime if I get a decent haul of them).

A sealouse also made an appearance. Weird looking things. Reminds me of my ex.

Last catch, on the rod on the way in, was another shore crab. He just didn’t want to let go! Roll on the fish taking a bite though, still no joy there.

A good night out again. If the wind drops I’ll check again tonight, perhaps dinner will be awaiting?

Once you’ve had the experience of letting the wind carry you along at speeds you’d never be able to sustain under paddle power, you’ll look at every fair wind with an eye toward sailing.

As kayakers, we frequently have to contend with the wind. Sometimes we have to struggle against it, at other times we just tolerate it. With a sail, we can often take advantage of it. 

In the early days of recreational boating, in the 19th century, most paddling craft were rigged for sailing. Many of the manufacturers of folding kayaks have carried that tradition through to the present, but sailing is not widely practiced by modern-day kayakers. There are now many options available that can be used aboard almost any kayak. They range from simple sails that can push you along when the wind is at your back to rigs that turn a kayak into a fast and efficient sailing vessel.

The kind of sail you choose depends upon how much time you want to commit to sailing and to the kinds of conditions you’d like to sail in. Some of the downwind sails can be carried in compact packages that can be stowed on deck, ready to use at a moment’s notice. The more sophisticated rigs that offer you the ability to sail at an angle into the wind may include outriggers and leeboards and foil-shaped sails that must be set up at the beach and remain in place while you are on the water.

Click link below for a review of the sailing rigs.

13 Kayak Sails Reviewed

Kayaks + Kids = A Great Day’s Fishing.  One of life’s joys is going fishing with a kid, and kayak fishing is no different. Watching a child hook up with a fish and experience the thrill of the fight is one of those moments that parents treasure. I know because my son, Wyatt, loves to come fishing with me on our kayak, and the pleasure is just as much mine as it is his. 

There are, of course, some things to consider before venturing out for a day’s fishing with a small child in a kayak. But proper equipment and planning will insure a wonderful time on the water for both of you.

What kind of kayak is best for fishing with a child? I use a Malibu Extreme with a Gator Hatch, which provides a molded in seat for a child up to 70lbs or so directly in front of and facing me. I find this to be a great layout compared to a tandem kayak in which the child would sit up front facing away, at least until the young ‘un is big enough to paddle their own (around age 8-10).

Whatever you choose, you want to make sure you both have ample room, are comfortable, and that the child is within reach. Safety-wise, you must both wear PFDs, of course. A kayak that is designed for a stable ride like a sit-on-top is ideal. Sit inside kayaks do not lend themselves to fishing with a child although it can be done.

When taking a child out on a kayak or canoe planning is vital to make sure the experience is enjoyable whether you catch fish or not. Make sure you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and snacks – particularly the bad ones Mom doesn’t let you have (cheesy puffs, beef jerky, and soda keep my fella happy).

Also make sure you have thought out how to go about using nature’s facilities. Boys are a bit easier than girls, but knowing there is a handy spot with some hard bottom where someone can go potty is critical. Also take a dry bag with a spare change of clothes and towel in case your little one gets uncomfortably wet (from any reason).

While there is nothing wrong with taking home some nice fish for dinner, make sure your kids are ready for this. While my son thinks we should keep every fish, many children are trained to believe keeping a fish is akin to murder. One father I know had his son break into tears when he put a nice red into the cooler. Teach your child good conservatiuon methods, but don’t go overboard (pun intended) and create an emotional trauma. Show kids proper release techniques; but let them know, contrary to PETA’s kids’ campaign, that fish are FOOD not friends. I remember one day when I released a small red with one hand my son informed me that was no way to release a fish. He then proceeded to show me how to release a red with two hands the way he learned watching fishing shows on TV.

A camera in the kayak goes a long way in helping you to preserve those priceless moments when your kids face lights up with their catch. If you are lucky enough to spend the day baiting and re-rigging your kid’s line as he or she keeps reeling in fish you have reached kid fishing nirvana. It’s not about you, it’s about getting them to enjoy fishing, being out on the water together, and if you’re lucky enough catching fish too.

Crab-fishing in kayak calls for judgment and tough fingers.  The best procedure for inviting a crab to come home with you for dinner can be a wee bit hard to nail down. I discovered this as I simultaneously juggled a hoop net on my knees, tried to maintain balance in a kayak, to keep my grip on a wildly flailing red rock crab, and to hold a measuring stick across his back to see if he was legal.

Meanwhile, that crab focused on one, simple action. He reached below his tummy, grabbed one of my fingers between his claws, then drove a pincer through my skin at the base of the fingernail.

If Sunday’s morning sky hadn’t been sunny and clear, my cusswords could’ve painted a blue streak straight across it.

“Remember, you drew the first blood!” I snarled, in my best Sly Stallone voice. Then I tossed the crab into my harvest bag.

A crimson stream wound down my hand and dripped into Half Moon Bay – and I fantasized a shark taking a keen interest in my whereabouts. Ah well. If you thrust yourself into the marine food chain, you must accept that you won’t necessarily end up at the top.

But despite that throbbing finger, I was having a fabulous time. After just two hours at sea, I paddled back with a harvest of three exceptionally large Dungeness crabs, as well as four big, red rock crabs.

The sport of kayak fishing has grown in popularity for years. But I’d not heard of anyone using kayaks for crabbing. So, on the second day of the sport season for Dungeness crab, I thought I’d give it a shot. Actually, I’d even considered going out on opening day, but cold rain, stiff winds and high seas hammering the coast Saturday persuaded me otherwise. That big “lump” (swell) continued Sunday. But it had a northerly angle, so it was relatively easy for me to find coves sheltered by bulges of coastline. Look at a chart or map, and you can do the same: Bodega Head, Point Reyes, Pillar Point all can provide shelter from prevailing northwesterlies.

Everything that I accomplished in a small, “sit-on-top” (open cockpit) kayak could also be achieved in a rowboat, skiff or dinghy – as long as the angler selects protected areas, does not exceed his or her level of marine skills, and takes sensible precautions such as wearing a life jacket and informing folks about where and when they’re going.

Hoop nets or crab rings, commonly tossed off the ends of fishing piers by shore-based fishermen, are lighter than conventional crab traps (which weigh 60 pounds and up) and much easier to handle. Collapsed, they can lie flat and be lashed to a deck. Once on the water, if you deploy more than one, after each trap settles on the bottom, you can tie off its haul rope to an empty bleach bottle or the like, then go a short distance away to set another trap.

A hoop net is formed by a set of concentric metal rings. In the middle is a small wire cage an enterprising crabber crams with bait – the stinkier, the better. So, bait could be just about anything you find on the bottom shelf of a bachelor’s refrigerator. Or it can be stuff like I brought: an aged package of barbecued chicken, and a sack of the spine, skin and other body parts of a salmon who had come to dinner two weeks ago. The result of Sunday’s marginally scientific survey is: discriminating crabs of Half Moon Bay prefer old salmon parts to barbecued chicken at a ratio of two-to-one.

I was told Dungeness crab prefer hanging out on sand to rocks, mud or weeds. Results of my roaming to varied bay locations support that notion. Anyway, if you fish around rocks, your traps will haul up much more crap than crab. So sand’s better from that perspective, as well.

Carrie Wilson, a Department of Fish and Game marine biologist who’s also public information officer for the Marine Region (all of our 1,100 miles of coast), said Dungeness occupy a huge stretch of Pacific shore, from the Aleutians all the way down to Santa Barbara. They’re found from intertidal zones out to depths of 750 feet. Not many go beyond 300 feet.

Some anglers say the best crabbing is done at depths of 40 feet or more. However, I did manage to have a satisfactory result while lowering my traps to just 20 feet. That may be due to making my foray so early in the season, when crabs are most numerous.

Dungeness is California’s most abundant crab. It’s been considered a San Francisco treat ever since the Gold Rush. Commercial landings recently have an annual average of 1.7 million pounds, brought in to every major fishing port north of Monterey. Although Department of Fish and Game biologists say 80-90 percent of the large Dungeness male crabs get taken each season, the population and the harvest remain stable primarily due to the incredible fecundity of the female crabs. They carry 500,000 to 2 million eggs apiece. Research indicates most females are serviced, even when male numbers get reduced. Commercial anglers are allowed to keep only large males.

The big Dungeness questions are: Who’s catching most of these crabs, when and where do they go ashore? Most Dungeness that boil in kettles along Fisherman’s Wharf come in on local boats that carry 200-250 crab traps each. But local fishermen resent the early-season intrusion by huge boats from Oregon that can bring well over 1,000 traps into California waters – although those boats are limited to a maximum of 500 traps in their own state.

A bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, that would have restricted trap numbers to 250 in the waters between Half Moon Bay and Mendocino passed the Legislature for the second time, but was vetoed once more by Gov. Schwarzenegger, who says the state Fish and Game Commission should regulate this fishery, not the Legislature. However, Department of Fish and Game representatives say the commission can’t legally regulate it because the Legislature has kept laws on the crab fishery under its own purview. Leno says the commission should at least pass a resolution, urging the Legislature to restrict trap numbers.

“We want to level the playing field,” Leno said. “Those big boats can manage the ocean and get down here to rip off our resource for the first weeks of the season, while the smaller boats of our family concerns can’t reciprocate by going north for the first part of the Oregon season. We feel that if they want to come down and fish in our waters, they should at least play by our rules.”

There matters sit.

The stronger the effort and the faster the harvest after the commercial season that opened Wednesday, the slimmer the pickings as we move toward June, when it closes. The upshot, as far as recreational anglers are concerned, is that the start of the season, when crabs are still plentiful, is the best time to get busy. Biologists predict that this Dungeness season could be the third best on record.

Before I reached shore on Sunday, I took a cell phone from a watertight case and called my wife.

“Feeling crabby today?” I asked. “Well, you will by dinnertime!”

In a few hours, sitting before the fireplace with a plate of hot, steaming Dungeness, fresh baked sourdough, a bowl of melted garlic butter and a bottle of crisp, chilled white wine, we were both feeling entirely crabby. And very San Franciscan.

Open seasonThe sport season for Dungeness crab opened Saturday and runs to the end of June, from Sonoma to Monterey counties. You need a license, and take is permitted only in the ocean, not in San Francisco Bay.

Anglers aboard a commercial party boat can set a maximum of six traps, take a maximum of six Dungeness per day, and these must be at least 6 inches across – excluding the points on the shell. Recreational anglers in their own vessels can set unlimited traps (though it’s smart to not go hog-wild on this), can take 10 Dungeness per day (while having only 10 in possession, including in your fridge or freezer or ice chest) and these can be a minimum of 53/4 inches across.

To be sporting, if you catch a female barely above the size limit (females have a proportionally larger abdominal flap), throw her back to perpetuate her kind.

The season for yellow, rock (red) and slender crabs is year round, the bag limit is 35, and the minimum size is 4 inches.