Crab Fishing

Crab Fishing Basics

Equipment:

• Attachment to allow you to use 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 and 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.