How to catch Dungeness Crab

Crabbers catch Dungeness from docks on Pacific Coast bays

Dungeness crabs are native to the Pacific Ocean and coastal bays from northern California to Alaska. They remain a favorite for recreational crabbers, who catch them from docks and boats on the numerous bays. You'll find several styles of crab traps available on the market. However, the standard two-ring net remains the most commonly used. Crabbers can purchase nets from coastal sporting goods stores or rent them from bay bait shops that also sell crab bait and a measuring tool. Saltwater fish and large fish heads serve as the most effective bait.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Crab net with attached rope
• Crab bait
• Crab measuring tool
• Plastic bucket, 5-gallon size
• Heavy rubber gloves

1. Bait the net. Tie one or two fish or a large fish head to the bottom of the net with wire or a safety pin clip. Spear the wire through the body of the fish or its eye sockets to keep the bait in place.

2. Drop the net straight down off the dock or the side of the boat. Let the rope slide through your hands until the net reaches bottom. Tie the rope off on the dock or on one of the boat's mooring hooks.

3. Allow the net to sit on the bottom for 20 to 30 minutes, giving the crabs time to find the bait. The crabs will gather on the collapsed net to feed on the bait.

4. Pull the net up quickly, pulling the rope hand over hand. You must pull it up fast to keep the crabs from swimming out of the top of the net. Pull the net out of the water and drop it on the dock or boat floor.

5. Put on the rubber gloves to pick up the crabs. Throw the small crabs back into the water and grab the bigger crabs and measure them with a measuring tool. If undersized, throw the crabs back into the water. Put the legal-sized crabs in a bucket of bay water to keep them alive.

Tips & Warnings

• Two-ring crab nets are designed with a large upper ring and a smaller diameter bottom ring with 12 inches of wire netting connecting them and covering the bottom. The rings lay flat in the water and then become a basket to trap the crabs when it's pulled up.

• Rented crab nets have a rope attached to them. If you purchase a net you will need to tie 50 feet of 1/2-inch nylon rope to the ropes mounted on the net. Use only nylon rope as it will resist deteriorating from the salt water the way sisal rope will.

• You can set out multiple nets, also called crab rings, at the same time.

• The State of Washington state a license to harvest crabs and shell fish. Check all regulations pertaining to licenses, crab sizes, limits and open areas in your state prior to crabbing.

• Pick up and hold crabs from the rear, gripping the top and bottom of the crab from between the back legs. If the crab can reach your fingers with a claw they will clamp down with bone-crushing force. The force can break fingers and finger nails and inflict serious cuts. Handle crabs wearing rubber gloves as protection in case one gets a claw on your fingers.

References

• "Recreational Dungeness Crabbing;" Scott Haugen; 2003

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish