Oregon Secret Crabbing Spot
The Secret Spot is “Crab Alley” at Siletz Bay by Lincoln City
We rent and manufacture crab traps. We listen to what our customers say about locations, trap design, and results.
We talk to locals, scout forums, and ask commercial crabbers where they go crabbing.
We are attempting to assemble all this in an immersive website listing the results of crabbing spots in Oregon, at http://www.CatchDinner.com
Whether you have a boat and plan to set dozens of crab traps or want to set a trap from a pier, we will have a spot for you.
Kind of Crabs will catch at “Crab Alley”
- 99 % Dungeness Crab
- 1 % Rock Crab
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 Crabs. There is nearly no rocks in Siletz Bay.
The Dock in Lincoln City is limited.
The dock has been standing on the beach alongside 51st Street in Lincoln City since 1946. This south part of Lincoln City is called Historic Taft. Today the historic Taft Dock has a new look and more strength to weather battering wind and rainstorms and thousands of annual visitor footsteps.
The Taft Dock entrance is west of the Mo Restaurant but normally does not go into the water very far, except during high tides during the winter.
If the tide is not high enough, walk about one (1) block west of MO’s restaurant towards the ocean. You will come to a Channel, called ” Crab Alley,”
All the Crabs must go through “Crab Alley” to get into the Bay
Three (3) Crab traps can be commonly used at Lincoln City.
- Danielson Trap is best used from a dock or a Boat
- Crab Ring best used from a Boat
- Round Crab Max can be used from dock, boat or “Crab Alley”
All trap can only be rented from our location south of Lincoln City. We also clean and cook Crabs at that location.
Danielson Crab Trap….. is a “SOAKER” type of Crab Trap. This means you pull the trap after soaking it for an hour or so. It is 2 ft by 2 ft by 1 ft. Danielson works by using the Crab’s instincts to trap itself. It lures the Crab with a bait bag into the large cage through strategically placed openings that they can enter but cannot escape.
Due to the size of the trap, this trap is best used from a dock, pier or boat.
Ring Crab Trap … The concept is straightforward: bait the crabs into the ring and “pull” the trap up when you think the crabs are inside. The absolute most straightforward crab ring is a two-ring crab net. You should pull the Crab Ring up quickly, as the outer ring forms a wall so the Crab cannot escape. You will pull a Crab Ring up every 5 -10 minutes, depending on the crab activity.
This trap is best used from a dock, pier or boat because If you pull it crooked, you may lose your Crabs.
The Round Crab Max Trap is similar to the Ring Trap except that when you pull, the top of the trap closes with all the crabs captured inside. It consists of two metal netted 24-inch sides. When lying flat, it takes the shape of a 24-inch circle. It is the only Crab trap that can be used from the beach, shore, dock, pier, or boat.
It has 50% more Crab catching area than triangle or square traps.
This is the only trap that can be used anywhere because when you pull the trap, the crabs in the netting area are caught and cannot escape.
All three (3) types of Crab Traps can be picked up at the Siletz River Location, 82 Siletz Hwy, One (1) mile south of Lincoln City at the intersection of RT 124 and Hwy 101, for the same price.
Rent Three Traps 24-hour option: A set of (3) Crab Traps, a bucket, and a crab gauge @$50/set. The Crab Traps can be picked up from 8 AM to dark.
Rent-One-Trap is a 24-hour option. It includes one crab trap, a bucket, and a crab gauge for $40. With reservations, the crab trap can be picked up from 8 AM to dark.
PURCHASE Three Trap Option …. Three (3) Crab Trappers, a bucket, and crab gauge @$150/set.
PURCHASE Three Trap Option ….. One (1) Crab Trapper, a bucket, and a crab gauge @$50. The office sales & reservation staff is only available to ask questions and sales… 541-765-2109
Crab License … must-have. Available at our Siletz River Location. Instate @$10/year…. Out of State @$20/3 days.
Two (2) -three (3) hour Crab Bait package available $10 . … we recommend you buy raw dark meat chicken for bait, seals do not like chicken, but crab do.
Rent Single and Tandem Kayaks AVAILABLE NOW
- Kayak Launches available 8 AM – Dark. The office reservations staff is available @ 541-765-2109 to ask questions from noon – 9 PM
- Reservations for Single and Tandem Kayaks are made online. There is No Deposit. To make a reservation today, call 541-765-2109.
- Kayaks are launched one hour before high tides. CLICK HERE for the High Tide table
- Kayak Launches are available from 8 AM to 6 PM. The office reservations staff can be reached at 541-765-2109 to ask questions.
- Launched times depend on tides. Tide table
- Bring your own trap, come for information, rent or purchase traps at the location
- The location will be given after your reservation has been received.
Private Crab Clinic Details AVAILABLE NOW
- Twenty ($25) for the entire group, no limit
- The location will change depending on the group size and the weather.
- The location will be given after your reservation has been received.
The following video shows how to use the Round Crab Max from the shore at “Crab Alley”
Kayak & Crabbing Information …. 8 am – 10 pm 541-765-2109
You do not need much money or preparation to go crabbing in Lincoln City. It is an excellent excursion for individuals and families.
There is a narrow channel from the ocean to Siletz Bay. All the Crabs and Fish come through this channel. One can stand on the shore and throw the Crab Trap into this channel to catch a Dungeness Crab. There are very few Rock Crabs in Siletz Bay.
New to Crabbing? …. Weekly Crab Clinic … CHICK HERE
Private Crab Clinic Available by Appointment 7 days a week & Crab cooking
The Crab Master will show you his favorite Crab location that does require a dock, pier, or dock. He will spend 30 minutes showing you how to catch Crab, catch Crab, explain the Oregon Crab laws and everything about Crabbing for $25.
Call 541-765-2109 for an appointment. The Guide considers your traps, rental traps, or purchases from the mentor the same.
Where can you Cook Crab? …. We help you fix your dinner
We provide the kitchen equipment to cook Crab and show you how to clean & cook the Crab…. ready to eat…. $2.50/crab
Weekly Free Crab Clinic …
We teach a crabbing system developed by Bill Lackner of Newport, who has taught how to use it in Siletz Bay since 2004.
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 …
Gloves if you are going to handle the Crab
Valid credit card info to be used if Crab Trap not returned
Three (3) locations to choose from… Lincoln City (Historic Taft), Depoe Bay, or Newport
Three (3) Docks are available in Newport, and they are all free to use. It is less expensive to go crabbing from the pier than it is to crab from a boat. Unfortunately, you will be limited to where you can drop your line or traps.
Dungeness crab season is year-round in the Oregon Bays. The Dungeness crab is a saltwater creature. Beginning in September, crabs tend to be more “filled out,” meaning there is a higher percentage of quality meat.
Crabbing in Depoe Bay …. CLICK HERE
Crabbing in Newport …. CLICK HERE
Free Crab 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.
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 …
The clinic is in Lincoln City. The location will change depending on rain, tides, weather, and registration.
Best Time to Crab
Any time is the time to Crab, but some or better than others.
Slack water, also called “Slack Tide,” (the times of 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 for the day (one hour on each side equals a two-hour time slot). The tide is moving the slowest, allowing the crabs to roam around and look for food without fighting the current, but crabs can be trapped any time of day.
The State of Oregon allows residents and visitors to explore and experience fishing, crabbing, and clamming without needing a license or tags on specific listed dates throughout the year.
Crab Licenses
- State Resident = $10
- Three (3) Days out of State = $20
YOU ONLY NEED ONE license PER THREE (3) CRAB TRAPS …
FREE Kid’s Crabbing Special
Every kid ages 8, 9, 10, or 11 needs the opportunity to Crab at no charge for 24 hours,. The only restriction is one per family with 3 trap adult rentals & valid Credit Card
Everything a Kid ages 8, 9, 10, and 11 needs the opportunity to Crab at no charge for 24 hours,. The only
Adult 24-hour Crab Trap package $50
- Three (3) Crab Traps and line
- Bait & License not included
Equipment that can be rented from Siletz Rentals …
- Crab Traps
- Kayak
- Crabbing
- Fishing boats
- Touring
- National Wildlife Refuge
- Guides
- Crab-Cats
Crab information personnel available … 8 am – 10 pm
There is no cost or obligation to make a Reservation
Reservation Office Hours …. 8 pm – 10 pm …. Everyday … 541-765-2109
Crab Cooking hours – 8am – Dark (by Reservation Only)
- Cooking Location 82 Siletz Highway
- Lincoln City, OR 97267
- 541-765-2109
82 Siletz Hwy Lincoln City OR 97367
Living Center Oregon 
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