Just thought I would share a link to a recipe I came across recently for Razor Clam Fritters. As you know, I have a HUGE fan of Razor Clams. In spite of all the time and energy necessary to harvest, clean, and cook these delectable diggers, it’s most definitely worth all the effort. They have a taste that is truly unique among shellfish!

Landed Gently Blog – Razor Clam Fry and Fritters

And FYI, the next tentative dig is scheduled for the evenings of Friday, January 20th and Saturday, January 21st. For more information, go to the WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife website.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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And so, the saga continues….

When last we left our hero, he was perilously close to the brink of an icy grave….

Even in the late Summer, the waters of the Hood Canal are surprisingly cold. And in this instance, bone-chilling cold! Perhaps it’s because there’s still run-off from snow that’s melting on the Olympic Mountains? Or that the Hood Canal is over 500 feet deep in some areas, and is part of the Puget Sound waterways, leading to the Pacific Ocean?

Regardless, there I was, treading water for what seemed like an eternity, faithfully holding onto my lost crab pot buoy, patiently awaiting my Mom’s rescue.

I forced my head above the waves and scanned the surface for my trusted C-Dory. Off on the horizon, I could see my Mother hitting the 9hp kicker with a wooden oar.

Gee, that was a comforting sight! Obviously, she hadn’t yet figured out how to operate the motor or vary the rate of speed (as you may recall from my previous installment, my Mom’s first attempt at saving me ended rather abruptly as she passed me at full throttle!).

It was late afternoon by this time, with the water becoming increasingly choppy. The tide was coming in too, and rather rapidly at that. I held on relentlessly to my crab pot buoy and the $150 investment it represented, stubbornly refusing to let go. About every third wave or so, the tension on the submerged buoy & crab line would pull my head underwater.

As my head resurfaced, I looked up just in time to see the bow of my C-Dory heading straight for me! I was on a collison course with my own boat!

I could hear my Mom yelling and cursing as she continued in her valiant attempts to whack the kicker motor into obedience.

Just before the final moment of impact, I heard the Johnson Kicker die, and the trusty C-Dory finally slowed. I reached up, grabbed the bowline eyelet, and straddled the bow with my legs.

I felt like a lamprey, contently attached to a large fish. The boat was still moving, but the drag on my clutched crab line was bringing us to a halt.

However, I guess my Mom was still pretty wigged out though. For I soon heard a blood-curdling scream up above me.

“I’ve killed my son, I’ve killed my son!” she cried out!

I was satisfied just to remain still and quiet from my perch there on the bow, but I couldn’t allow my Mom to think that she had caused my early demise. So I yelled up to her that I was okay, and worked my way around the side of the boat, back to the transom, where I handed her the crab buoy and line intact.

After I climbed back in, we pulled up the pot. I can’t recall if there were any keepers. I don’t think it really mattered much.

As we made our way back to Miami Beach, I think we were both just happy to be alive!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG,ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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The crabbing season has been extended from October 8th until December 31st (Hooray!)

Now the bad news…

That doesn’t include Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) or Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) (Boo Hiss!)

If it’s any consolation, most of the people I’ve talked to reported as having a rather fruitful catch this year.

Of course, I wouldn’t know, seeing that my 40hp Johnson suffered from a severe case of bi-polar schizophrenia, and couldn’t decide if it wanted to work or not.

On a more positive note, my upper body strength has improved tremendously as a result of rowing across Hood Canal for 4 hours. But I’ll save that for a future installment of ‘Stupid Human Boat Tricks.’

So, if you have the good fortune of living anywhere remotely close to any of the other Marine Areas that the WDFW so generously left open to crab fishing (Neah Bay, Sekiu, e.Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juans, Deception Pass, Hope Island, Skagit Bay, Port Susan, Port Gardner, portions of Admiralty Inlet, or Tacoma-Vashon and South Puget Sound opening Nov. 21st), then by all means, knock your socks off!

Or, to borrow a line from one of my favorite movies, Shawshank Redemption:

“Get Busy Crabbing, or get busy dying!”

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife, SoundBiteBlog, and ActiveRain, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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The front page headlines in this morning’s Kitsap Sun, Agreement Reached on Seabeck Marina, evoked a welcomed ‘Hallelujah!’ response.

After a long history of setbacks, work stoppage, and bureaucratic red-tape, the long anticipated Olympic View Marina project in Seabeck WA Marina is finally back on track.

The latest hurdle (renewing the lease agreement between DNR – Dept. of Natural Resources – and the Developers) has been drafted and is awaiting final signature.

Construction is slated to restart within another month or so, with a project completion date of November 2012.

I have to say that I am greatly relieved that this project is finally moving forward. The need for marina services and moorage on the west side of Hood Canal has been a huge unfilled void for much too long. And Seabeck WA is the natural and best candidate to satisfy such a pronounced need.

The Olympic View Marina has the potential for being one of the most positive commercial developments to happen here in Kitsap County WA in a long time. Once completed, I envision other complementary developments, bringing additional business/services to the Seabeck area.

Congratulations to developers Boyer Halverson and Wil Clark, and big thanks to the folks at the DNR for putting common sense before bureaucracy.

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Oh for the days when the Pawn Shop in Poulsbo was still open! Those guys were amazing, and they had everything a crabbing enthusiast would want! Unfortunately, they closed a few years ago, and no one has stepped up to the plate to take their place.

Here’s what I’ve found:

Outdoor Outfitters aka Wholesale Sports in Silverdale – they may have boatloads of good stuff for hunters and hikers, but a week before crabbing season opens, this place totally sucks. About the only good thing I can say is that they have leaded line in bulk that they can cut to size. They’re the only ones who offer this. Aside from that, they’re pretty much worthless, unless you want to pay $80+ for a crab pot.

Wally World aka Wal-Mart – You can always count on Wal-Mart to stock the basics during the season. They don’t have everything you need, but they attempt to carry most of it. And, as typical, the prices are pretty reasonable. The basic Danielson crab pot is $23 and change.

Fred Meyer – These guys win the award for best overall stock and prices. The basic Danielson crab pot was just under $20. They stock the buoys separately, and actually have bait cages, stainless clips, etc.. Be aware, they have two places they keep their inventory – in the aisle, and a center standing display.

As far as bait is concerned, I am totally bummed that Silverdale Red Apple Market closed their doors. The butcher there always hooked me up with some slammin’ prices on salmon guts. My back-up is Central Market over in Poulsbo. You can get salmon guts for $1.99 per pound.

So there ya go! Gear up and go get ‘em!….

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK,  Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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With July 1st is just around the corner, most Marine Areas in the Puget Sound will officially open to recreational crabbing!

To find the official start dates/times and regulations for WA State, go to WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

The biggest and best change to the regulations this year is the days that are allowed for crabbing. Previously, you could only drop your pots off on Wednesday through Saturday. This put a huge crimp in your weekend crabbing style. Now, the new regulations permit crabbing Thursday through Monday! Catch quantity limits are still remain five (5) male Dungeness and six (6) Rock crab (either sex) per day.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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I recently received an email from a reader in Spokane WA who asked if I knew of any places along Hood Canal WA that offered boat rentals.

Back in the day, crab populations around Puget Sound were such that you could easily find your dinner faire by simply walking out during a good minus tide. Nowadays, without a boat, you’re hard-pressed to have any measure of success.

About the only place I know on Hood Canal where you can rent small outboard boats is Hood Canal Adventures.

Another source on the Kitsap Peninsula is Northwest Boat Rentals in Poulsbo WA.

If any of my readers know of any additional resources, please feel free to contact me or leave information in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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A popular clam digging location, Point Whitney Tidelands and Lagoon is opening for a short season, starting March 15th. The Lagoon will be open from March 1st through March 31st, and the Tidelands will be open from March 15th until April 30th.

You’ll need to have your WA State Fishing or Shellfishing License with you (last years 2010 license is still good through March 31st.

Remember the legal limit you can dig each day is only forty (40) of all species combined, i.e. native littlenecks, manilas, and butter clams.

Jake’s Steamed Heaven

Soak your clams in fresh water for an hour or so to allow the to spit out their grit. Scrub and rinse your clams. Discard any that are cracked or open.

In a large kettle, I like to saute some freshly chopped onion and garlic in butter, add in some parsley, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and a 1/4 cup of white wine. Then add in the clams and pour in water until it’s just about an inch below the top of the clams. Cover and bring to boil. Shortly after it reaches boiling, the clams should all be opened up. Turn off the heat and cover for 5 minutes.

I always try to serve steamed clams with a tossed Romaine salad, generous amounts of sourdough french bread dripping with garlic butter,  and a nice chilled glass of Pinot Grigio.

Can You Dig It?

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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I don’t normally mix business with pleasure here on my ‘CrabbingIntheHood’ blog, but I wanted to let my readers know about a really awesome property that I’ve recently listed over in the Chico area, just off Seabeck Highway.

The house is located at 5578 NW Millglade Lane, Bremerton WA. It’s a 2003 quality-built home situated on a secluded 1.33 acre parcel on a dead end cul-de-sac in Central Kitsap County.

You can access the virtual tour by going to this link:

http://www.realestateshows.com/553858

and the virtual flyer is at this link:

http://kitsaplife.vflyer.com/home/flyer/home/4103302

and lastly, as the home shows up on the Windermere Website:

http://www.windermere.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=listing.SearchLanding&searchConstraintType=mls&ln=183246

If you know of anyone who is in the market for a great home, just send them my phone number or email address:

Rich Jacobson, Broker

cell phone:   360.440.4758   email:  rich@windermere.com

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1.  You believe the current recreational crabbing season in Puget Sound is too short.

2.  You will do ANYTHING to catch Dungeness Crab and you’re not afraid of cold weather.

3.  Your boat motor held you hostage for most of the season and you’re still playing catch-up.

Four marine areas of the Puget Sound will reopen to recreational crab fishing starting Nov. 15th, based on summer catch assessments by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) that show more crab are available for harvest.

At 8 a.m. on Nov. 15, Marine Areas 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 12 (Hood Canal) will reopen for sport crabbing seven days a week through Jan. 2, 2011

Crab fishing will also remain open seven days a week through Jan. 2 in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), and 13 (South Puget Sound), where the fishery has continued uninterrupted since June 18.

The following Marine Areas remained closed: 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) and 11 (Tacoma/Vashon Island),

And don’t forget to report your catch on the Winter Catch Cards!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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