DIY Crabbing
Save money and catch crabs on your own. Types of crabs include Dungeness, yellow, rock, blue and red. Dungeness crabs can be found in the waters of Alaska and California, while blue crabs are harvested in Mississippi and Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Rock crabs are common in Rhode Island. Red crabs can be found in Puget Sound, Washington. Yellow crabs are well distributed from Humboldt Bay to Magdalena Bay in California.
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Things You'll Need
- Crabbing license
- Bait
- Crab or drop net
- String
- Bucket, fishing net or bushel basket
- Crabbing gloves
- Culling stick
Instructions
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1
Get a crabbing license. Most states require a crabbing license or permit. Washington State requires a crabbing license and catch record cards for anyone taking crabs from Puget Sound.
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Collect cutlets of chicken, fish or beef to use as bait. According to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the simplest way to catch crabs is by suspending a crab net baited with small cuts of meat.
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Tie your bait to the bottom of the drop net. Poke holes through the meat and using pieces of string secure the bait to the net with knots.
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Attach the net to a long piece of string. Lower the crab net into the water until it reaches the bottom. Let it lie flat to entice the crabs to go after the bait. Tie the other end of the string to a fixed object and leave it alone.
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Check the net every 3 to 5 minutes. Wait until several crabs have been captured.
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Slowly pull up the net when you are ready to scoop up your crabs. Use crabbing gloves and a culling stick to push and remove the crabs from the net. Place them in a deep bucket, fishing net or bushel basket.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow local crabbing regulations regarding seasons, gear and size limitations.
References
Resources
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