Crabbing is a popular hobby around the DMV and an important part of the local culture. You can find several varieties in area waters, and many of them are edible, such as the Atlantic Ghost Crab and Fiddler Crab, but the Atlantic Blue Crab is the most popular, prized for its sweet and tender meat. Lucky for us, the Chesapeake Bay is one of the best places in the world to find them. Crabbing is a great activity for the whole family, whether you’re a beginner or an old hand. April is peak season, so start planning your trip now.
🦀 Where to Go
Point Lookout State Park (Scotland, Md.)
Point Lookout sits between the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. The area is quiet, secluded and restful. There’s a lot to do here, including a museum, nature center, lighthouse, boat rentals, hiking and a cruise to Smith Island. If you enjoy bird-watching you might even spot a bald eagle. There’s a 700-foot fishing pier and the camp store sells crabbing equipment.
Solomons Island (Solomons, Md.)
This is a family-friendly nook in Calvert County on the Chesapeake Bay where people have been crabbing since colonial times. In town you’ll find a marina, seafood restaurants, gift shops, sculpture garden, a boardwalk along the Patuxent and Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center. The pier is a great spot for crabbing.
Westmoreland State Park (Montross, Va.)
Westmoreland is a 1,300-acre historic site on the Potomac. The park is well equipped with a snack bar, camp store, boat ramp, campgrounds, cabins, information center, hiking trails and more. Your kids will enjoy hunting for shark teeth and fossils. This is an ideal spot for late-season crabbing.
First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Situated on Cape Henry, the park has over a mile of beach along the Chesapeake. It’s a popular spot for fishing, swimming, cycling, crabbing, boating, camping, educational exhibits, the summer crabbing class and cabin rentals. Weekdays are best, to avoid the crowds.
Endeavor Point (Benedict, Md.)
Benedict is a tiny fishing village in Calvert County. Located on the Patuxent, it’s not as crowded as some of the other crabbing spots. Enjoy kayaking, SUP-ing, stargazing, fishing or making a bonfire at night. You can rent a fully equipped cottage, rent hammocks, tiki torches and crabbing equipment. Endeavor Point is very family oriented – they even sell s’mores kits.
Carr’s Wharf (Mayo, Md.)
This is a community park in Anne Arundel County, open from sunup to sundown. It features a 309-foot pier on the Rhode River, where most of the crabbing takes place. Carr’s Wharf has a boat launch and it’s a great fishing spot. Nearby, there are plenty of beaches.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Cape Charles, Va.)
This is probably the most popular crabbing spot in the DMV. The area includes four human-made islands and 17 miles of bridge with a wide variety of locations to crab (Sandy Point Beach and Matapeake State Park are minutes away). You can also head out to deeper waters to find larger crabs.
York River State Park (Williamsburg, Va.)
This lovely, serene park has a lot to offer – hiking trails, picnic areas and plenty of recreational activities. The waters are filled with blue crabs, clams, oysters and Atlantic croakers. The best place to crab is Croaker Landing, an archeological site listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
🦀 How To Do It
If you want to find crabs, try the marshy grasses around docks, bridges and piers. During summer, they can be found in shallow areas, but as the weather turns cold they move toward deeper waters.
There are many ways to catch a crab, but a hand line is the easiest. It consists of a rope with a weighted hook. Toss your baited line into the water, about 10 feet out. As soon as the line tightens or moves, you’ve caught something, so draw it in slowly. Once you see the crab, scoop it up with a net before it gets away.
Traps are another popular method, though if you use a trap in Virginia or Maryland you’ll need a license. Consult the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for more details (how many you’re allowed to catch, what size they need to be, etc.). Traps can be used at a dock or jetty, but more commonly from a boat. Lower the trap into the water, let in sit at the bottom for 5-10 minutes, and pull it back up with one quick motion to see if you’ve caught anything.
Trotlines are another option. They’re long lines that run along the bottom of the water with snoods (shorter lines with bait) attached at intervals. Using this method, you can catch a number of crabs quickly.
🦀 What You’ll Need
To buy or rent the equipment, check your local tackle shop or hardware store, or see if there’s a camp store at the crabbing site. Aside from a net and a line or trap, you’ll want a basket to place the crabs in, tongs to get them out of the net, heavy-duty gloves, and a ruler or gauge to make sure your crabs meet the size requirements. You’ll also need bait. Chicken necks, fish heads, chicken legs, hot dogs, turkey – when it comes to dining, crabs aren’t too picky.
Over time, you’ll figure out what works best. You’ll make a few mistakes at first, but eventually you’ll get the hang of it. The quickest way to improve is to get tips from more experienced crabbers.
🦀 Where to Eat Crabs in the DC
Catching crabs can be a lot of fun, but eating them is even better. Try one of these local restaurants to get your fill.
📍 Maryland
- Bethesda Crab House, Bethesda, Md.
- Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge, Chevy Chase, Md.
- JC Crab House, Silver Spring, Md.
- The Grilled Oyster Company, Gaithersburg, Md.
📍 Northern Virginia
- Captain Pell’s, Fairfax, Va.
- Quarter Deck, Arlington, Va.
📍 Washington, D.C.
- Georgetown Seafood, Washington D.C.
- Hook & Reel, Washington, D.C.
Andrew Madigan grew up in the D.C. area but has lived in Dubai, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Okinawa, South Korea and the U.K. He’s worked as a professor, magazine editor, university administrator, fraud investigator and Bill Murray’s stand-in. He’s a father of two. His most recent novel is the thriller A Nice, Safe Place.
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Andrew Madigan grew up in the D.C. area but has lived in Dubai, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Okinawa, South Korea and the U.K. He’s worked as a professor, magazine editor, university administrator, fraud investigator and Bill Murray’s stand-in. He’s a father of two. His most recent novel is the thriller A Nice, Safe Place.
