How to use crab rings and pots to catch dungeness crabs

Catching crabs using crab rings is fairly easy and just about anyone can do it. This is a great activity to do on the Oregon coast and can be done by one person or a whole family. Then of course there is the good part of the crabbing, you get to eat the dungeness crab.

Step 1 Bait:

Just about any meat can be used for bait. The most commonly used baits here in Bandon, Oregon are fish heads, fish carcasses, turkey and chicken. Fish are usually a little better but sometimes get stolen by seals depending on what kind of bait holder you have. Chicken legs and turkey legs work real well because they are cheap and the seals don’t much like them.

Step 2 Crab Rings / Traps:

There are two common ways to catch dungeness crab off the docks. The first is a crab ring and the second is a crab trap. They both work on the same premise with the main difference being rings are pulled every 10-20 minutes vs a trap which should be out for at least a couple of hours or better yet through a full tide. Below you will see a picture of a crab ring and a crab trap

Crab ring for catching Dungeness Crabs

Dungeness Crab Trap

Once you have your bait in or on the trap you just need to throw it in the water. For a both types you can toss them in very much like you would throw a frisbee.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that you have your rope tied off to the dock or other structure. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen someone throw a crab ring or trap only to realize it isn’t tied off and catch the rope at the last second. I have also seen some who didn’t catch the rope and off it goes. They are hard to get back with no rope.

Step 3 Waiting:

If using crab rings you want to wait 10 – 20 minutes before pulling them. With a trap every couple of hours. With rings you can adjust that time based on how you are doing. If you are not seeing crabs, wait longer. If you are getting a lot of crabs, pull sooner. Eventually you will find a good balance. With traps the time is less important because the crabs can go in and the big ones are trapped whereas the smaller ones are able to get out via small holes or through the sides.

Step 4 Checking Your Crabs:

Now that you have crabs you need to do two things. First you need to determine which ones are male vs which ones are female. In Oregon you can only keep male dungeness crabs that are 5 3/4 inches across the back as measured IN FRONT OF THE SPIKES on the widest part of the shell. Below is a picture showing a male vs a female dungeness crab.

Picture showing a male and a female dungeness crab

This next picture shows where to measure the crab to make sure the male crab is of legal size in Bandon, Oregon.

Where to measure dungeness crabs

Step 5 Enjoy:

So now you have caught your crabs, what next. Cooking and eating is the next step.

If you have any questions on how to catch dungeness crabs feel free to ask any of the friendly staff at Bandon Bait.