The Ultimate Guide to Crabbing on the Oregon Coast
Getting Started
Crabbing is more than just a weekend hobby – it’s a way of life here on the Oregon coast. There’s something magical about pulling up a pot brimming full of feisty Dungeness crabs, feeling the salty breeze in your air and wiping the morning’s dew from your gear.
If you’ve ever pictured yourself trying this adventure, there are a few basic starting points. Crabbing can be either tide-based or time-based. Locals who’ve been crabbing these coastlines for generations know to crab at slack tide, that brief pause in the wave movement when crabs are most active. Time-based crabbing is less dependent on tide cycles, but if you’re taking a boat out, rising early is the unspoken rule of the bay.
Oregon Coastal Crabbing Locations
Lincoln City, Newport, and Coos Bay are among the most popular crabbing destinations on the coast. If you’re closest to downtown Portland, Tillamook Bay is an easy jaunt through Highway 101. Known for its expansive shoreline and calmer waters, locals fondly refer to the bay as “the pathway to crab haven”.
Just down the coast, Netarts Bay is a quieter, also a highly appreciated crabbing locale. Not a fan of crowded docks? Netarts is known for being uncrowded and teeming with crab.
Seasons and Conditions
No matter where you crab, Oregon’s crabbing season technically runs year-round, but the peak season is in the cooler months between December through late August when Dungeness crabs are meatier. Red Rock crabs, which are a less popular option, can be more abundant during the off-season from September to November.
Weather plays a significant role, as coastal weather can change rapidly in the afternoons. Locals who have spent years crabbing in Oregon recommend dressing in layers and always checking the local weather before venturing out.
Crabbing Equipment
Oregon specific stores like Fisherman’s Marine & Outdoor, Englund Marine, and even Fred Meyer have an array of crabbing gear that ranges from the simple crab ring for dock crabbing to the more complex pot set-up for boat crabbing. Always remember – simplicity can be your best friend, especially for beginners.
Oregon Crabbing Regulations
There are rules and regulations that locals worth their salt comply with. To crab on the Oregon coast, you need a shellfish license if you’re over 12. You’re allowed to catch up to 12 male Dungeness that are at least 5 ¾” or 24 any size Red Rock crabs.
The Art and the Catch
Crabbing along the Oregon coast is more an art, developed over time with much trial and error. Locals know to use chicken, fish or clams as bait and leave their pots for a few hours or overnight. When you pull in your pot, be patient – sometimes the biggest crabs hang on the outside and take a moment to shake off.
Wrapping up the Day
When the day draws to an end, you’ll often find locals gathering around fire pits trading tales of the day’s catch. Sometimes, they’ll highlight their preferred spots. Other times, they’ll give a friendly reminder to avoid the South Jetty of Newport on windy days — it’s a known trap for unknowing tourists.
Verify your catch, make sure it’s legal, place your crab in the coolers, and head back home or to one of the homely shoreline shacks. Many local joints like South Beach Fish Market or Fishermen’s Seafood Market in the heart of Coos Bay are more than happy to cook your catch straight from the sea, an Oregon tradition that isn’t changing anytime soon.
Concluding Tips
For locals and newcomers alike, crabbing is a pursuit that often turns into a beloved tradition filled with the smell of the sea, the thrill of the catch, and the taste of succulent crab meat served up with a buttery roll and a squeeze of lemon. It’s a deeply cherished part of coastal Oregon living.
Happy crabbing, always remind yourself to respect the environment, the ocean, and its creatures. And as the Texas Street locals would say, keep calm and crab on!