Where to Crab at Newport, Oregon (Yaquina Bay)

Type of Crab you will catch in Newport

• 50% Dungeness Crab
• 50% Rock Carb

The type of Crab caught depends on the bottom of the Bay. Rock crabs are like bays with rocky bottoms, while Dungeness Crabs are like sandy bay bottoms with Ell Grass. . If the Bay has both a rocky and sandy bottom, you will catch both types of Crab, and Newport does.

Best time to go crabbing

The general rule of thumb is that the best time to go crabbing is during months that end with “r.” The crabs are the “fattest” in September after shedding their old shell during the summer, but any month is a good time to crab. You will catch “fatter” crabs during the months that end with “r.”

The two (2) popular ways to crab

Option I: Rent a boat from a marina

One of the best ways to succeed while crabbing is to rent a boat from a marina. Boat rentals typically come with all the gear you’ll need, plus helpful instructions from knowledgeable staff. Many marinas are along the coast, but it is also the most expensive way.

The only Bay that rents boats that hold more than 500-600 (2 – 4 people) is at Lincoln City (Siletz Bay) They rent boats that hold up to 1200 lbs (4 – 8 people)

Option II crab from a dock or shore

The second best option is to go crabbing from a public dock. You must bring your own gear or rent from a nearby marina. If most cases, you can purchase the gear for the same price as renting a boat, and renting is a lot less expensive.

Both options are successful, but renting a boat is a lot more fun, especially if you’re crabbing on the Oregon coast with friends.

Three (3) Docks/Piers to choose from in Newport

Crabbing in Lincoln City …. Siletz Bay .... CLICK HERE

Crabbing in Depoe Bay ….. CLICK HERE

Rent Crab Traps to use from docks, piers, boats, shore, or beach

Crabbing for Abbey Street Pier (Dock)

Enjoyed the short, level walk and talking with people on the pier. One of the great things about this pier is that it has an actual working dock, not just tourist shops.  One family caught eighteen crabs in four hours, not counting the ones they threw back, but this was an exception, do not count on doing this every day.

It’s a long stretch of dock open to the public and free. If you don’t want to rent a boat to crab, this is the spot.

This is a working fish dock with many fishing boats of different sizes bringing in their catches.  An excellent place to see seafood being offloaded and get a small taste of the fishing experience. On some days, you can buy fresh fish right off the boats. In-season local fishermen sell their albacore tuna off the boat. Welcome the fishermen as they return home or wave them off as they go to sea. 

Hear the sea lions barking and swimming around the piers by the docks. It’s fun to stand and watch them up close. This is a great area for a stroll. There are many photo ops to take advantage of. You can also watch the fishermen load/unload boats and head out.

A quick and easy detour off Hwy 101 offered great views of Conde McCullough’s Yaquina Bay Bridge, the Newport Marina, and many happy crabbers.

Crabbing from Bay Street Pier (Dock)

This is authentic. Real fishermen are here smoking after coming in after a grueling shift. Some shops sell tourist stuff, and shops sell freshly caught seafood. It has an abundance of good restaurants.

You can find noisy sea lions and noisy kids, and the whole area is permeated with a fishy smell. It’s a great place to people-watch.  Several large and bustling fishing processing plants share space for small piers, lots of restaurants, seals, boardwalks, fishing boats, salt air, lots of shops, and places to explore. Parking is a problem, but worth looking for parking. Usually, find a side street to park.  It has everything from commercial seaside attractions to quaint gift shops and many restaurants. A great place to buy fresh oysters. 

A very enjoyable experience walking both sides of the street. Excellent food, sweet treats, fresh seafood right off the boats, and beautiful products by local artisans. Very relaxed vibe. Anything you’re looking for can probably be found in these few blocks

An easy detour off Hwy 101 offered great views of Conde McCullough’s Yaquina Bay Bridge, the Newport Marina, and many happy crabbers.

Crabbing from the Rogue Pier (Dock)

The third Dock is across the bridge next to the Rogue Brewery.

Newport takes crabbing very seriously. In fact, the phrase “The Dungeness Capital of the World” became a registered trademark of the city in 2007.

Newport’s commercial crabbers have been harvesting record numbers of this prized culinary crustacean for over a decade. Crabbing from a dock or pier is much easier and less expensive than crabbing from a boat, although the availability of crab is limited to the specific area where you choose to drop your traps.

Native red rock crabs, which prefer docks’ complex habitats, are a common catch in these areas. Gear may be set anywhere within public areas along these docks, but it must not interfere with boat traffic.

Rogue Brewery is next to the Dock, offering tours of the brewery. If you’re crabbing with friends, swing by Rogue Brewery for some great beers. The brewery shares a parking lot with the public pier, so swing by after (or before) you’ve had your fix.

Newport has Dungeness crab season year-round in the bay, not the ocean. The Dungeness crab is a saltwater creature. Beginning in September, crabs tend to be more “filled out,” meaning a higher percentage of quality meat.

Free Crabbing Clinic … CLICK HERE

We teach a crabbing system developed by Bill Lackner of Lincoln City has been teaching how to use this system in Siletz Bay since 2004.

The Clinic will provide an overview of Oregon’s crabbing regulations, harvest methods, location of the four (4) crabbing docks, cleaning & cooking methods, and live demonstrations.

Crabbers are allowed to crab with up to three devices per license.  At the Clinic will be demos on how to crab from shore or a kayak. Crab Traps will be available to rent, purchase or bring your own traps for demo.

Crab Licenses .. Oregon State Resident = $10 … Three (3) Day Our of State =$20

YOU ONLY NEED ONE license PER THREE (3) CRAB TRAPS …

Location of Free Crabbing Clinic

Location of clinic will be in Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, or Newport.. Depending on the rains, tides, weather, and registration, the location may change weekly. Once registered, you will be given where the next clinic is located.

Crabbing at the Oregon Coast (HelpfulBest time to go crabbing at the Oregon coast

Any time is the time to Crab, but some or better than others.

Knowing about the importance of tides will greatly improve your success of catching crabs at the Oregon coast. Slack water, also called “Slack Tide,” (peak high or low tide), is the best time to crab. During swift tidal exchanges, crabs often bury themselves, but at slack water, more crabs are walking around foraging since they are less affected by tidal currents.

 The favorite time to harvest crab is roughly the one-hour time slot on each side of the high tides or low daily rides (one hour on each side equals a two-hour time slot). The waves move the slowest, allowing the crabs to roam around and look for food without fighting the current, but crabs can be trapped at any time of day. The lack of current makes it easier for crabs to worry about foraging for food. Crabs move between bays and the ocean, and since they prefer calmer waters, you’re more likely to find them during peak low or high tide.

Crab Licenses 

• State Resident = $10
• Three (3) Days out of State = $20

YOU ONLY NEED ONE license PER THREE (3) CRAB TRAPS …

Adult 24-hour Crab Trap package $50

• Three (3) crab traps and line
• Bait & License not included

Reservation Hours … 8 am – 9pm … 541-765-2109