I have been a fisherman for many years, but I have never gone crabbing, and I don’t have an idea what to do or how to catch crabs successfully. Since crabs are delicious to eat and relatively prolific, I decided to do a little research because I want to know when the best time to go crabbing is?
The best nighttime crabbing is during October until the end of January, when the crab population is high. In certain states and regions, the crabbing season extends well into July. In the warmer states like South Carolina and Florida, crab season is all year round.
In Springtime, when the temperatures rise, the crab season starts. Some states have crabbing during winter, but it is not shared. Crabs are more sluggish during the freezing months.
When Are The Best Months To Go Crabbing?
The best months to go crabbing differ between states but primarily between October to January. These are the best months to go crabbing in the following marine areas;
- South Coast Pacific Ocean – Every day and year-round
- Westport Ocean Shores – Every day and year-round
- La Push – Every day and year-round
- Neah-Bay East of Tatoosh Bonilla line – Every day and all year round
- Seiku and Pillar Point – Thursdays to Mondays only, 1st July until 6 September
- Gulf of Georgia – Thursday to Mondays only, August 21 until September 27
- Admiralty Inlet – Thursday to Monday only, 1st July to September 6
The consensus is that the best months for crabbing are between April to mid-May and some states prefer the crabbing to be in winter rather than summer.
What Do I Need To Know Before Crabbing At Night?
Since crabs are nocturnal, it is more productive to go crabbing at night instead of during the day. More experienced crabbers enjoy the quiet of the nighttime, crabs feed in a frenzy, and the catch is usually plentiful.
A great idea would be to take a flashlight with as crabs are attracted to light. You can drop your bait and shine the torch in that area which will attract more crabs. Here are some additional nighttime crabbing tips;
Tips For Nighttime Crabbing
If you have been nighttime crabbing and have failed, you can try a few of the following tips.
- Glowsticks – You might let your crab pot get lost in the darkness, but if you tie a glowstick or two to the sides with superglue.
- Get A Brighter Dipnet – The dipnet is the crabber’s best friend. The great idea is to tie a waterproof flashlight to the bottom, which will attract the crabs.
- Have sufficient bait – Having good fresh bait available is crucial. Crabs love turkey, chicken, clams, etc.
- Bug Repellant – Bugs like mosquitoes are very active at night, so they have a good supply of repellant available to apply on any skin that is exposed. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever possible.
- Dress appropriately – In Summer, it is better to go crabbing at night to avoid the scorching heat of the day.
How Can I Catch Crabs?
There is an array of ways to go crabbing at night. The sets of equipment you would need are;
Handline – While not conventional, a handline is a straightforward way to catch crabs. You will need some skill and even more patience. You will need bait, and specifically, chicken is very popular with crabs, good strong line, and weights.
*A great tip would be to tie a glowstick to the bottom of the line close to the bait, which will attract the crabs faster.
Crab Pots or Traps – Depending on the legalityof using crab pots or traps at night in your state, they are the best way of catching many crabs at a time.
Is Nighttime Crabbing Legal In My State?
Nighttime crabbing is not legal in every state, and finding the correct information can be a little frustrating. A few reputable websites host accurate information, like the Department of Natural Resource website. The rule of thumb is that there are no rules against night crabbing if your state is not mentioned.
- Washington State – No crab pots may be attended to at night from one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
- Maryland – Only registered crab pots are allowed on private property. Dip nets and hand-lines are permitted 24 hours per day.
- Florida – Crab pots and traps are allowed only during the day
- Rhode Island – No night crabbing allowed from sunset to sunrise
- North Carolina – No night crabbing allowed at night
What Tide Time Is The Best For Crabbing?
The best tide time for crab is during the slack water period. Crabs like to forage during the slack water period and walk around a lot more because they are not tumbled or pushed by the tide or exchange.
When Is Crabbing Better – At Sunset or Before Sunrise?
Water temperatures have a significant influence on the activity of crabs. In the hotter, more temperate climates where water tends to have higher temperatures, you will have success early mornings just before sunrise while the crabs are still feeding and just as the sun sets when the crabs become very active for the night.
What Bait Can I Use For Crabbing?
- Chicken – This is the one bait crabs will not leave alone. Have lots of fresh chicken available in your cooler box.
- Crab Attractant – Bait oils like shrimp attractant or Smelly Jelly are two oils used successfully at night.
- Any small fish like anchovies
- Fish heads like salmon or trout
- Cat pellets
- Dog kibble
How Long Should You Leave The Crab Trap In The Water?
You should not leave a baited crab trap or pot in the water for more than 8 hours. Once the bait has been consumed, the crabs will retreat and start to attack one another.
Conclusion
For a better experience and successful catch, crabbing at night will always be better. Depending on your state of the time of year, as long as you have fresh bait and glowsticks, there will be a couple of crabs in the pot.
