Crabbing
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Crabbing on Oregon’s Adventure Coast

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No trip to Oregon's Adventure Coast is complete without Dungeness crab, and the best crab are always the ones you bring up yourself from the waters of lower Coos Bay. Rent or buy a crab ring and try your luck; the payoff will be a fresh crab feast you'll always remember. And you'll keep coming back for more!

While Oregon's best-known crab is the Dungeness, there are other species along the coast, including the native red rock crab and the invasive European green crab. Both of these species, like the Dungeness, are fun to catch and tasty to eat.

Crabbing Tips and What to Bring

Here are a few key crabbing tips from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife crabbing guide (opens in new tab). Be sure to read the How to Crab instructional flyer (PDF) (opens in new tab) for important details.

  • Make sure you have your shellfish license (12 and older requires a shellfish license), crab measuring tool, pots or rings, cooler, gloves, bait holders and bait supply. Three-day licenses are available at local ODFW offices and at many local sporting goods and hardware stores on Oregon's Adventure Coast.
  • Slack water (the time around high or low tide) is the best time to crab. During slack water, crabs are generally walking around and foraging since they are not getting pushed around by tidal exchange.
  • Check all lines on crab pots or rings for kinks or knots to ensure they are durable and will allow gear to work correctly.
  • Fresh bait is best. Many different types of bait are used for crabbing, including turkey, chicken, mink, fish carcass, shad, herring, clams, etc . . .
  • Tie the end of your crab line to the dock or pier from where you are crabbing. Drop your crab pot or ring in the water gently – so you don't draw attention from hungry seals and sea lions ­– and start crabbing.
  • Allow between one to two hours before retrieving your gear if you are crabbing with crab pots and 15 to 30 minutes if you are crabbing with rings.
  • Make sure your crabs are legal. Immediately release all female Dungeness crab. With a crab gauge, measure all male Dungeness crab retained. Crab must be 5 ¾” inches across (NOT including the points) or wider.
  • Check with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish regulations and harvest notice (opens in new tab) website for the most current shellfish regulations and harvest notices.

Crabbing Limits: You may keep no more than 12 male Dungeness crab per shellfish license. You may keep up to 24 Red Rock crab and up to 35 European Green Crab per day per shellfish license.

Whole Dungeness crabs piled on a wooden piling with commercial fishing boats docked behind.

Best Locations for Crabbing

A man throwing a crab ring net from a pier at Hollering Place under a vivid pink and orange sunrise sky reflected in the calm water below.

Lower Coos Bay Crabbing Map (opens in new tab)

The lower bay (from ocean entrance to the airport) is “marine dominated,” meaning there is little freshwater influence, which makes for some of Oregon’s most productive shellfishing opportunities.

A man casting a crab ring net from a dock at Charleston Marina, with other crabbers and gear visible in the background.

Charleston Area Crabbing Map (opens in new tab)

Dock crabbing is available throughout the commercial docks in Charleston. Additionally, the Charleston Visitor Center and the T-docks South of the bridge provide excellent dock crabbing.

Equip. Rental Sales & Advice

Rental crab rings are available at many RV parks and other lodging facilities, and tackle and marine supply stores often rent and sell rings. Here's a short list of some locations:

The Bite's On Bait and Tackle storefront with an Open sign and crab rings for rent.

The Bite's On Bait & Tackle (opens in new tab)

750 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay OR 97420
541-888-4015

Davey Jones Locker Grocery & Deli storefront with a nautical sign and rope-wrapped porch posts.

Davey Jones Locker (opens in new tab)

Cape Arago Hwy & Boat Basin Rd, Charleston, OR 97420
541-888-3941

Interior of Englund Marine's Coos Bay store, aisles stocked with marine and fishing gear.

Englund Marine (opens in new tab)

91146 Cape Arago Hwy, Charleston OR 97420
541-888-6723

Explore Clamming & Fishing!

A hand holding a large freshly dug clam against a pale blue sky.

Clamming

Oregon’s Adventure Coast is not just known for great crabbing, but excellent clamming as well. It’s relatively easy and the reward is a tasty treat best served in chowder, steamed or fried. Learn more about Clamming.

hand holding a silver salmon close up, showing its iridescent scales and open mouth.

World-Class Fishing

Fishing opportunities are in no short supply here. There are fish for every season and an endless choice of prime fishing spots to select from.Visit our Fishing page for information on charters and more!