Crab Fishing

Crab Fishing Basics

Equipment:

• Attachment to allow use of:

  • Fishing pole

  • Ring net (2)

  • Crab pot (2)

• Bait

• Shellfish license

• Crab catch card endorsement

• Bucket to keep crab alive

• Measuring device

• Red & white float with your name & address

• Leaded line – 100’ per pot

• Tide book

• Discover Pass

Where & When To Go:

Seasons generally are posted in June and September for summer and winter fishing seasons.  Catch cards need to be returned by September 1 to help set winter season. 

Rules & Regulations:

Obtain pamphlet from WDFW that describe legal equipment, areas open to crabbing, licensing (15 years old) Generally limit is 6 Dungeness 6-1/4” or larger or 6 Rock 5” or larger.  Crab must be male and not soft shell-see pamphlet for Identifying, measuring, determining if soft. 

Techniques:

Most popular is using baited crab pots (2) per person fished in 50-100’ deep salt water, pulled after 2- hour soak. Ring nets can be pulled after 20 minutes as crab just climb on top to feed. Crab can also be caught using spinning rod with proper attachment and bait or even while wading. 

Tips:

Keep crab alive until you are ready to cook or kill- clean-& ice. Look for where others are putting out pots by spotting floats and fish near them, pull ring nets steadily until crab to surface to keep them from swimming out, Fish on mild tides or tide change when crab can feed easily on the bottom. Fresh bait catches more crab.  Change bait after a few hours.  Try deeper water after you get into the season.