Dungeness Crab Catching Tips and Tricks

Before we proceed, let me issue a disclaimer. To succeed at crabbing, you need a boat. This article does not tell you how to get a boat. So if you don't have a boat and you don't know how to get one, you probably don't need to read this.

If that's the case, I feel bad for you because I know you want some fresh Dungeness crabs. So I researched a bit and found a free website that teaches you how to build a boat.

Go do that, and then come back and finish reading this article. Those of you who have a boat or can borrow one may now continue.

There are several types of crab traps but my favorite by far is the star trap, a pyramid-shaped wire mesh trap. When it hits the bottom of the ocean, the sides fold down and lie flat on the ocean floor.

In that position it looks like a four-point star. Some clever person noticed that and named the trap accordingly.

The reason I prefer this trap is because it's very easy to drop and pull up, making it possible to check it frequently. It's an excellent trap for hungry, impatient people. It's also simple to use. Tie a frozen turkey leg into the center.

If you prefer turkey to crab, disregard the rest of this article and barbecue the turkey leg. Otherwise, drop the trap from the boat into about 50 to 80 feet of water. You'll need 100 feet of rope to be safe.

Wait about ten minutes and then pull the trap rapidly to the surface.

If it's empty (and the bait is still there), try again and leave the trap down a bit longer. If it still comes up empty you're not in a good spot.

Finding a good spot is a lot less effort than you might think. Just look for a lot of crab buoys. These are round or oblong objects about 6 to 12 inches in diameter that float on the surface. Each one is tied to a trap that is sitting somewhere below it.

If there are a lot of buoys in an area, it's a very good indication crab frequent this spot. At least it's an indication that a lot of people think crab frequent this spot.

You don't have to use a buoy unless you are going to leave your trap there for a while. You're not going anywhere, so you don't need one.

When you find a good spot to drop the trap, you'll be hauling up five to ten crab at a time. You'll have to pull the trap up quickly because when it starts moving, the crab will try to escape. Even though the pyramid closes when you lift it, the crabs can still force their way out of it.

Once you have the trap securely on the boat, be sure to keep the crabs contained. They'll scatter otherwise. Grab the hind part of a crab, so its pincers can't reach you, and turn it over to check its gender.

Try to stay calm. If you scream and drop it, it only makes things more difficult for you and the crab. The females have a broad abdomen that's easy to differentiate from the small skinny abdomen on the male.

Measure the males and if their shell is less than 6 and 1/4 inches across you'll need to return them. You'll also return all of the females. Be gentle when putting them back in the water so as not to injure them. They're more delicate than they look.

Clean and cook them immediately for the best flavor. You can cook them before or after cleaning them. I prefer to clean them first. Lay the crab on its back and split it lengthways with a cleaver. Don't cut all the way through to its back; just split the front shell.

Remove the abdomen and then the outer shell, by inserting your thumb into the hole where the abdomen used to be and lifting the entire shell off. Clean out the spongy gills on both sides of the body and rinse out the guts.

Break off the mouth or mandibles. You won't be using those. Break the crab in half along its center line and drop it into boiling water for ten minutes. Eat it. I like mine dipped in olive oil and lemon juice.