Heart of the Dunes 2009

Catch a fresh crab

Published: Monday, May 5th, 2008 Catch a fresh crab Catching and cooking your own crab is an easy task. Basically, you bait a trap, cook the crab and eat. The first items you need are a recreational shellfish license and a crab ring or crab trap; several local businesses rent or sell them and also have the licenses, tide books and regulations.

Crabbing is legal year-round, but at Winchester Bay, the crab are most abundant in August and September. The best time to try your luck is an hour or two before or after high tide. The second thing you need is bait: Frozen fish carcasses are usually cheap and sold at several outlets. Frozen turkey thighs also work and there are a few fishermen who swear by canned cat food.

Only some of the docks at Salmon Harbor are open for crabbing so be sure to check before you haul all the gear down the dock. Once you’ve found a spot, be sure to tie off the end of the rope to the dock.

You won’t have to wait long — oftentimes only 10 minutes or so — before some of the Dungeness or red rock crab find your bait. When hauling back the trap, pull the rope quickly. The critters in the ring will try to escape.

Only male crab are legal to keep and they must be of a certain size. Be sure to check the regulations.

To cook them, boil a deep pot of water. Add three or four tablespoons of salt to the water. Many people also add a splash of vinegar and/or a handful of pickling spices to the bath. Toss the crab in live and cook them for 20 minutes. Take the big shell, the back, off the crab and clean out the gills and guts, then use a nutcracker to crack the shells of the body meat and legs. Enjoy!
Return to articles