Crabbing in New Jersey is a beloved pastime that offers both excitement and relaxation. With its extensive coastline and numerous bays, the Garden State provides ideal conditions for catching blue crabs.
Popular crabbing spots include the bays of Wildwood where enthusiasts can enjoy a day out on the water with friends and family and watch the sunset in Wildwood Crest by Sunset Bay.
Crabbing In Wildwood 2024
The Wildwood Video Archive filmed our latest crabbing trip which you can watch in the video at the bottom of this article.
To get started crabbing you’ll need a few basic supplies: a crab trap or net, bait (such as chicken necks or bunker), a sturdy bucket, and a valid New Jersey fishing license if you plan on doing large pots (or traps).
Many local bait and tackle shops offer rental equipment and advice on the best crabbing techniques and locations. We will not reveal our location since it is a secret (hint, its in the video)
Crabbing is best during the summer months, from late May to early October, when water temperatures are warm. Earlier in the season, crabs are shedding, so we usually wait until later in the summer.
Early morning and late afternoon are prime times to catch crabs, as they are most active during these periods. However, it’s more important to keep an eye on the tide chart; too much movement and the crabs won’t be out.
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On our trip, we left Pier 47 around 1 pm with some smelly bunker on a pontoon boat. Pier 47 has always been our go-to place to rent boats and gear for half or a full day.
We crabbed from 1 pm until 5 pm and caught 19 crabs–much better than expected for early in the season.
We used three different traps: hand lines, small traps, and a non-commercial pot. You can obtain a New Jersey state license for the trap at Walmart.To get a New Jersey state license for the trap you can run over to Walmart.
With our bountiful catch, we made a big seafood boil, a bit different from our usual ones. This boil included corn, potatoes, sausage, lemon, and shrimp, all tied together with Old Bay seasoning.
Nothing tastes better than catching your own dinner and eating it just hours after being on a boat!
In our video below we documented our trip and even shared with you our dinner (if only 5D was a thing)
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