How to Catch Dungeness Crab

4 Tips for Catching Your Limit of Dungeness Crab

Like a lot of west coast natives, I was taught how to catch Dungeness crab almost as soon as I could hold a rope. In those days, Dungeness crab was an abundant species in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It required very little time and almost no skill to catch a limit of that succulent crustacean. As children, we spent many Saturday afternoons fishing for crab from the boat docks near home. In an hour we'd be proudly carrying home our limit of crab for Mom to put on the dinner table. But, stocks of Dungeness crab, along with other fishing stocks, have declined significantly over the years. Today, in order to catch your limit every time, you'll need to know:

1. What is the best Dungeness crab bait to use?

Crabs are bottom feeders - the garbage men of the sea. They consume the dead fish and sea creatures that fall to the ocean bottom. The best bait for Dungeness crab, therefore, is an old fish carcass, but raw poultry and canned cat food are adequate substitutes. Poultry (chicken and turkey) has an advantage when there are seals or sea lions actively fishing in the area. They are not attracted to the scent of poultry and are less likely to destroy your crab pot, steal your bait or decimate your crab catch.

Salmon and rockfish carcasses are the best. Frozen herring (salmon bait) works, too. If those aren't readily available, fish-based canned cat food works very well. It's loose consistency resembles chum, the scent dissipates quickly and presents a strong attraction for crab. Many local crabbers use nothing but cat food as bait for Dungeness crab. The tackle shop where you purchase crab traps and rings will have the small plastic containers needed to hold loose chum baits, like cat food. A wire mesh basket is best for holding fish carcasses or poultry. Both are best secured inside the crab trap with a length of wire.

2. What is the best Dungeness crab trap to use?