Pelagic red crabs return to Monterey, bad sign for fishermen

Monday, millions of pelagic red crabs washed ashore on Del Monte Beach in Monterey. A rare sight for beach goers but bad news for fisherman.

“When I was a tuna fisherman we used to see them down south, and down south near the equator, down there that’s a good sign to catch tuna, but up here seeing them it’s not such a good sign,” said Gaspar Catanzaro with the Monterey Fish Company.

These crabs like warm water and this past El Nio has kept the Monterey Bay warmer than usual. These conditions are preventing nutrient filled water to mix up to the surface

“The thicker layer of warmer water prevents the up-welling of the nutrient filled water we normally see in the springtime and summertime,” said Francisco Chavez, a climate expert with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

And as a result the commercial squid season has been a bust since it opened in April. According to Catanzaro, his 6 boats have had a tough time catching any squid locally.

“They go out once or twice a week just to survey the area, and they haven’t seen anything, they haven’t gotten anything. It hurts us really big, the fisherman, the fishing community, and anybody that makes their living off of the ocean,” said Catanzaro.

Now fishermen are traveling farther to find squid. Recently there was a catch up along the California – Oregon border.

“When they do have to travel or its light, you know they’re getting top dollar for the squid. The squid is the highest I’ve ever paid,” said Dominic Mercurio, owner of Caf Fina on the Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey.

Mercurio said he paid over four dollars a pound, that’s about double the normal price. However for local fishermen, it’s just another day.

“You know, being a fisherman is like going to Las Vegas, and you put the money in the slot machine. Either your money is going to come back out or you’re getting nothing,” said Catanzaro.

Fishermen hope to see squid back in the Monterey Bay no later than mid-June.