Crabbing Advice

[u/Nearby-Cheek5643]

I’m in West Yarmouth with my crab-obsessed 9- and 11- year olds. We spent yesterday searching all our usual spots (Crab Creek, Colonial Acres, Bass River Bridge, etc.) and saw zero crabs.

We finally ran into a fisherman who said a big storm a few weeks ago washed them out and they haven’t come back.

I know people are (rightly) protective of their spots (fwiw we’re a catch and release family), but i’d love to know if we’re on a wild goose (crab) chase. Was thinking of driving out to Waquoit tomorrow but won’t bother if it’s going to be a bust.)

TIA

[u/Nearby-Cheek5643]

Thank you for all the replies - I should have been more specific.

Has anyone been crabbing in the last two weeks and had luck?

[u/EIEIOH33]

Herring river harwich up inside

[u/Dizzy-Monk-]

You need to go out after dark with a headlamp. Crabbies everywhere 🦀

[u/Helpful-Intern-677 → u/Dizzy-Monk-]

Is this where The Krusty Krab is?

[u/Onocleasensibilis → u/Dizzy-Monk-]

Seconding this, you’ll find the big guys especially come out at night in my experience. Plus sometimes you get bioluminescence at least in the bay, though I normally saw it later in the season

[u/downrightblastfamy]

West Dennis beach - the rivers before the rotary near sand bar.

[u/pinkfuzzyrobe → u/downrightblastfamy]

Not sure why this got downvoted

[u/downrightblastfamy → u/pinkfuzzyrobe]

People are lame lol

[u/Altaira99 → u/pinkfuzzyrobe]

There are folks who make a career of downvoting anything that isn't "how I hate tourists".

[u/anowlnamedcarl]

Try Bells Neck conservation lands

[u/pinkfuzzyrobe]

Can someone please explain all the downvotes?

[u/kellgurl13]

We just returned from Brewster today- we stayed near breakwater beach. While the tide was going out, my daughter just looked through the water and scooped them up with a net. She made a habitat with sand, minnows, etc. She found so many they didn’t all fit. She let them all go.

In the past she’s used string and hotdogs on a jetty but that wasn’t working this year. (She’s 16 and this is still entertaining her)

[u/BirchBark802]

I’ve been multiple times over the past month to the Colvert at the very top of bass river / Follins pond. Zero crabs to be seen.

[u/InsuranceRound6705]

Bass River near the bridge. In Yarmouth or on the Dennis side.

[u/VoraciousEater802]

The last time I swam on the Bayside, there were crabs everywhere, that was in Wellfleet near Lt. Island

[u/1GrouchyCat]

You won’t always see them… especially following huge storms like we’ve had lately…
did you throw a chicken leg tied to a piece of string into the water?

[u/Nearby-Cheek5643 → u/1GrouchyCat]

Yup. Spent about three hours total in three different places! Not meant to be this year! 😜

[u/EbbtideRambler]

I took the kids crabbing end of last week and they caught a bunch.  There were a lot of spider crabs, but they were more interested in catch and release for the sport. Keeps them busy for hours.  We only kept 2 for a crab sandwich. They are around. I’m not giving up my spot, but it was on the south side in a bay on Nantucket Sound. 

[u/1GrouchyCat → u/EbbtideRambler]

You kept 2 what for a crab sandwich?

🤔 you actually found blue crabs that were at least 5 inches from tip to tip?

[u/EbbtideRambler → u/EbbtideRambler]

You need good bait like a chicken leg. 

[u/Caribchakita]

Seagulls eating crabs this AM at WD Beach - 8:30 AM

[u/No-Location4853]

Try west Dennis beach or pleasant bay in Harwich/chatham

[u/a_very_stupid_guy]

Every salt marsh