Location of Depoe Bay’s Free Crab Clinic

Driving Southbound, you’ll pass through Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, & Newport.

From Lincoln City to Depoe Bay is 15 minutes.

From Newport to Depoe Bay is 20 minutes.

All in all, it takes ~35 minutes to drive from Newport to Lincoln City to this stretch (without making stops.)

Before heading out to the shoreline to toss a line, meet our local expert for an overview of Oregon’s crabbing regulations, harvest methods, identification, cleaning, and cooking techniques

Each crabber is allowed to use up to three devices.

Meet our guide at the pavilion at 135 SE S 40 Lane, Depoe Bay, OR..

Depoe Bay City overlooks the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor, currently covering approximately six acres. It has a 50-foot wide, 100-foot long rockbound, dog-legged channel connecting to the Pacific Ocean.

Depoe Bay City Park is located at 135 SE S 40 Lane, Depoe Bay, OR

Dates .. .June 29 – July 13, 2024

Space is limited Call 541-765-2109 if you want a plane … .it is Free.

Fri July 5 2024… 6 am
Sat July 6 2024 … 7 am

The location of the Free one (1) hour Crab Clinic will be at the Taft part of Lincoln City.

No shellfish license is required to attend the Free Crab Clinic, but a license is required for those 12 or older to catch crabs. For an Annual Shellfish License ($10 for Oregon Residences, $28 for out-of-state,$20 for three (3) days out-of-state),

One can harvest 12 to 24 pounds/day of the highest-quality food available with a license.

CLICK HERE to see why it is highest quality food ..….. if you know HOW and WERE to crab.

That is the purpose of this Crab Clinic.

Classroom 30 minutes and 30 minutes on Beach with traps

“Keepers” are only Males, ….. no Females

5 3/4 inches to be a “Keeper” You will need a gauge.

Three (3) types of Crabs to be caught in Oregon

1…Dungeness…up to one (1) pound of meat/Crab. Much bigger than the red rock crab, the Dungeness weighs up to 2 pounds on average. Most of this crab’s weight is mostly meat, which makes it the most sought-after.

2…Red Rock …less meat, only meat in the Claws. The red rock crab is a household regular, and you guessed it! It looks like a red rock, while small, they are very mean animals and will pinch when approached.

European green crab … envasive crab do not belong in Oregon …..no value, you catch them we compost them.

They eat the ell grass, which is the home of the Dungeness Crab.

Adult crab shell (carapace) width is 2-4″.

.
Best identification characteristics:

3 bumps between the eyes
5 spines on each side of carapace

The color can be green, black, or yellow on top of the carapace and white, yellow, orange, or reddish undersides and leg joints.

The type of Crab you catch depends on the nature of the Bay. For example:

CLICK HERE for Lincoln City Bay details ….. with lots of EeL grass and Sandy bottom nearly 100% Dungeness
CLICK HERE for Newport Bay for details …… 50% Eel Grass and 50% Rocky, nearly 50% Dungeness, and 50% Rock Crab.
CLICJK HERE for Depoe Bay details……. 90% rocky, thus 90% Rock Crabs.
Green Crabs …… They are found everywhere.
.

What is the best time to crab? When the water is not moving, and it has not been raining upstream

SLACK TIDE …….. When the tide is not coming in or going out is the best time to crab, or if there is not much difference between HIGH TIDE and LOW TIDE, For example, if the difference is only 2 ft, any time is a good time to crab. CLICK HERE TO SEE TIDE TABLES.

NO fRESH WATER ….. When it rains upstream, the bays fill with fresh water, and the crabs retreat to the salty ocean since they are saltwater creatures. During the summer, we may go 90 days without rain. Then, anytime is a good time to crab in the bays.

Crab Bait to use .. Lean rockfish, mink, or chicken. We recommend fresh Chicken Drumsticks (inexpensive and available at any grocery store.

I am Josh, one of the Crab Masters who teaches at the Sustainable Living Center Free Crab Clinics.

We Crab Masters are paid based on the performance of the clinic attendees and the number of crabs they catch.

To improve the performance of our attendees, we have negotiated with the Sustainable Center to offer you the following:

If you rent Traps because of the Clinic, you will receive 48 hours to Crab instead of the normal 24 hours
You will receive a reduced price if you purchase three (3) Traps. Because you attend the Clinic, you will also receive a Bucket and a Gauge with your purchase.
.

Each style of Crab Trap has advantages and disadvantages, whether you rent or purchase.

The Sustainable Living Center has been renting crab traps for nine (9) years. We have rented all different types of Crab Traps. The following are recommendations on each of the types:

Round Commerical Pots is heavy, expensive, must “soak,” and crabs must find the “door”
Danielson Square is light and inexpensive. It must “soak,” and crabs must find the “door.”
Ring Traps are inexpensive, open-door traps, but they must be pulled straight up, or you lose the crab. They are best with a boat.
.Triangle Castable ….. Pull in any direction, and no lost crabs
..Round Castable ….. 50% more net catching area, Open door, pull any direction, and no lost crabs.

With the new Round Crab Max, in the fall of 2023, Josh caught 15 crabs in one pull.

Three (3) were small or females, but the rest were KEEPERS

At the Docks, 30 minutes …..Demonstration and crabbing options

Demonstration of each type of crab trap and how to use it.
Crab License (Oregon and out of State) will be available to purchase at the Clinic
Two hours of Crab bait (Chicken Drumsticks) will be available to purchase at the Clinic
Crab Traps that are demonstrated will be available to rent or purchase at the Clinic or available from 8 am to dark,…..7 days a week at 82 Siletz Highway, Lincoln City, OR
.

“Oregon’s Crabs” book will be available at the Clinic. The author, William Lackner, will be at some of the Free Crab Clinics, but not all.

All the information necessary to take Dungeness and red rock crabs from Oregon’s Coastal Waters.
Stimulates the interest of young crabbers in the complexity and diversity of the crabs common to the Pacific Northwest.
Evaluates the methods used to take Dungeness and red rock crabs.
Updated maps of Oregon’s Bays that disclose the areas of Oregon’s Bays where crabs are commonly caught.

Oregon’s Crabs Books

The complete guide for taking Oregon’s Crabs$0.00Click here to purchase.

$25.00

The book “Oregon Crabs” will be available for purchase.

Space is limited…To Schedule a place at the Free Crab Clinic, Call 541-765-2109

Living Center Oregon