How to Go Crabbing

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

Crabbing needs four things: a bucket of seawater, a hook-free crab line with bait in a net bag, a harbour wall or pontoon, and a rising tide. Lower the bait to the bottom, wait a few minutes, then lift slowly. That is the whole method, and the kit is cheap.

The parts most crabbing UK guides skim are picking a spot where crabbing is allowed and getting every crab back unharmed. This guide covers both, using welfare advice from Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

For many families it is also the first step into sea fishing techniques proper.

Step 1: Pick a Quay, Pontoon or Harbour Wall Where Crabbing Is Allowed

The best crabbing spot is usually the one nearest the car park, not the one at the top of a listicle. What matters is whether you can drop a line safely and whether you are allowed to.

Look for:

Sheltered water. Estuary quays, inner harbours and pontoons are calmer than open sea walls.
Somewhere safe to stand. A rail or a low edge matters most with children.
Water at high tide. Some quays dry out at low water, so pick one that still has depth when the tide is in.
A weedy or muddy bottom near the wall. Crabs feed and hide there.

Crabbing is not allowed everywhere. Check for signs, and ask the harbour master or harbour authority if there are none. Some harbours run their own codes: the Looe crabbing code was produced by Looe Marine Conservation Group with Looe Harbour Authority.

In South Devon, popular spots include Kingsbridge Embankment, Dartmouth embankment, Salcombe’s Victoria Quay, Dittisham pontoon, Stoke Gabriel mill pool and Brixham harbour walls. Access rules and parking at these spots have not been checked here, so read the signs or ask the harbour master before you go.

The same judgement applies later if you move on to pier fishing. If you are new to an area, start at the nearest sheltered quay and ask the harbour office whether crabbing is allowed.

Step 2: Go on a Rising Tide, From Late Spring to Early Autumn

At low tide the crabs have not gone anywhere. They are buried in the mud, out of reach of your line.

The Camping and Caravanning Club rates late spring to early autumn as the best season for crabbing. Within that window, aim for around or just before high tide while the water is still rising.

As the tide comes in, it covers the ground beside the wall and the crabs come out to feed within reach of a line dropped from the quay. Fish the same wall at dead low water and you may be lowering bait onto bare mud.

Plan the trip before you leave home:

Find the tide table for the nearest port, ideally the one published by the harbour authority.
Note the time of high water.
Arrive an hour or two before it.

If tide tables are new to you, see how to read tide tables for sea fishing.

The incoming tide also covers lower steps and slipways, so note the way you came down and keep it in sight.

Getting the timing right does more to fill the bucket than any choice of bait.

Step 3: Get a Hook-Free Crab Line, Bucket and the Best Bait

Some seaside shops still sell crab lines with hooks and buckets barely big enough for a sandwich. Neither is good for the crabs, and the right kit costs about the same.

Pack:

A crab line with a weight and a mesh bait bag on the end. Coastal shops sell them.
A large bucket. Bigger is better, for reasons covered in Step 5.
A small landing net to slip under the crab at the top.
Seaweed from the shore to put in the bucket.
Gloves (optional) for nervous hands.

The bait goes in a net bag, or wrapped in old tights or netting, never on a hook. The Looe code is plain on this: crab lines need no hooks.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust suggests a biodegradable crab line you can make at home:

Wind about 5m of biodegradable twine round a stick.
Tie a weight near the end, leaving a 30cm tail.
Tie the bait (bacon works well) securely to the tail.

Bacon is the usual best bait for crabbing, but four other common baits also work.

Bait	Why use it	Practical point
Bacon, rind on	The usual crabbing bait	Cheap from any shop; buy it with the rind on
Sardine	Oily, with a strong scent	Soft, so keep it in a bag
Squid	Tough	Stays in the bag for a long session
Fish heads	Strong-smelling	Ask a fishmonger
Raw liver	Strong-smelling	Messy; always use a bag

A shop-bought hook-free line is the quickest start for a one-off holiday afternoon. The DIY twine version suits families who crab often and want a line that leaves no plastic behind if it snaps.

Step 4: Lower the Line, Wait and Lift Slowly

The slow lift is the whole trick. Crabs cling to the bait on the way up but let go if the line is jerked or they break the surface too fast.

Before you drop the line, part-fill the bucket with seawater, add a handful of seaweed and stand it in the shade. Any crab you catch then goes straight into cool water.

Then:

Lower the baited bag until the line goes slack. That means it is on the bottom.
Hold the line loosely and wait a few minutes. A crab feeding on the bag gives small tugs.
Lift slowly and steadily. Keep the pace even all the way up.
Slip the net under the crab as it reaches the top, then tip it gently into the bucket.

If the crab drops off, lower the bait back to the same spot and wait again.

Keep the crabbing safe:

Stand behind rails where there are any.
Harbour steps and slipways are slippery with weed, so walk slowly and keep hands free.
The rising tide covers the lower steps, so do not crab from a step you could be cut off on.
Never let children lean over an unrailed edge, or crab unsupervised.
Keep clear of boats, mooring lines and the working areas of the harbour.

Crabbing suits children old enough to hold a line and wait a few minutes. With very young children, skip high walls without rails and pick a pontoon or low quay instead.

Once the crab is in the bucket, the welfare part starts.

Step 5: Handle Crabs Gently and Put Them Back

A shallow bucket left in the sun warms up and loses oxygen quickly. Cornwall Wildlife Trust reports the RSPCA’s view that crowded buckets and rapid temperature changes cause crabs severe stress.

The wildlife trusts set clear rules. The Looe crabbing code says:

No more than three crabs per bucket.
Keep crabs in the shade.
Refresh the seawater regularly.
Remove crabs that start fighting.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust goes further: change the seawater every 10 minutes, add shade and seaweed, limit each crab’s time out of water to one minute and separate any that fight.

Some guides suggest far more crabs per bucket. Use a large bucket and keep as few crabs in it as you can.

To pick a crab up, hold it by the sides of the shell from behind, never from underneath. Use both hands for a large spider crab.

At the end of the session, return every crab carefully, close to the water where you found it. Do not tip the bucket off the top of a wall.

Can you keep any?

Shore crabs caught crabbing should go back. Edible crab is a different species with legal minimum sizes. In Devon and Severn IFCA’s district, that is 140mm for females and 160mm for males, measured across the broadest part of the back. Other districts differ (North Western IFCA uses 130mm), so check your local IFCA and our guide to fish size and take limits.

Big bucket, few crabs, plenty of shade, and everything back where it came from.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to go crabbing in the UK?

The GOV.UK rod licence page for England and Wales covers salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt and eel, and does not mention sea fishing. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check GOV.UK and the local harbour authority before you go.

What is the best bait for crabbing?

Bacon with the rind on, held in a net bag, is the standard crabbing bait. It is cheap and sold everywhere. Sardine, squid, fish heads and raw liver also work. Never put any bait on a hook. See the bait table in Step 3 for the practical points on each.

Can you take crabs home to eat?

Shore crabs should go back, gently and close to the water. Edible crab can only be kept above the legal minimum size, which is set by each IFCA district: 140mm for females and 160mm for males in Devon and Severn, and 130mm in the North Western district. Check your local IFCA byelaws before keeping any.

What should we try after crabbing?

Fishing from a pier or harbour wall for small sea fish is the natural next step. Crabbing has already taught the habits that matter, reading the tide, choosing a safe spot to stand and treating what you catch with care. Our guide to sea fishing for beginners is the place to start.