Things I learned this week- crabbing edition

Today, we went crabbing in Newport with my husband's brother and his three kids, and his mother and stepfather and their teenage son. Because of the high kid-overboard potential, we crabbed off the public pier with the railings on the South side of Yaquina bay, rather than our favorite, less-safe, and far less-crowded spot across the water.

One good thing about the long pier is that on the shore end, there are restrooms and a fish cleaning station. The fish cleaning station has trough sinks, hoses, counters, and a dumpster which is filled with fresh fish carcasses. I suggested we dig some bait out of the dumpster, but was voted down because of the ickyness of rooting in a dumpster.
After we had pulled our rings for the second time and found them empty, I decided I was goin' rootin'. I walked down to the end of the pier, and with a glove, pulled out what was left of a fileted tuna- the head, spine and tail.
That fish carcass got HEAVY by the time I had hauled it all the way back to our rings, and I would like to say that due to my dumpster diving, we caught zillions of delicious crab, but we didn't. We did however, catch some- some female and too-small male Dungeness.. and a few red rock crabs, which we kept- but went home with the in-laws, so I can't attest to their deliciousness.
Here's what else I learned:

*I learned that the crab ring ropes have worried grooves into the pier.
* I learned that the president is going to give an address to school kids on Tuesday, the day before my daughter starts school. I'll be sure she watches at home.

* I learned a few other lessons that I ought not blog about. But I learned them. If you ask me about them, I'll tell you.

* I learned that many schools start before Labor Day. This, in my opinion, is ridiculous.