The Best Spots to go Crabbing in Georgia (And Catch Shrimp)
Welcome to the Georgia Coast! Here, you’ll find plenty of shrimp and blue crabs, and I’m going to show you where to catch them. From The Golden Isles to Savannah, there are plenty of public piers, fishing bridges, and shorelines to catch crabs from shore as well as public boat launches to crab by boat.
After plenty of research, cold calling, and asking locals I’ve put together a list of the best public crabbing spots. When it comes to crabbing from shore, I recommend you use the Frank O. Downing Pier Fishing in Savannah, GA. If you’re south of Savannah, try crabbing from a pier along Historic Route 17 including the James Allen Williamson Champney River Park or Blackbeard Creek Public pier.
Just knowing the name of the spot is the tip of the iceberg. In this article, I’ll go over the amenities at each spot, their strengths, weaknesses, and include plenty more places to catch crabs. I’ll also mention whether or not each spot is good for catching shrimp.
Click one of the images below to navigate to that part of the article, or keep reading for a complete map of GA crabbing spots and boat launches.
If you are a beginner when it comes to fishing, crabbing, or shrimping it might be worth your time to look at Fishing Charters in Georgia. To read more, scroll to the bottom of the post or click here.
Complete Map of Crabbing Spots in Georgia
To help you narrow down which spot to choose from, I color-coded each spot.
- Locations with a Green Pinpoint are Boat Ramps to catch shellfish by boat.
- Locations with a Blue Pinpoint are Public Piers to catch shellfish from shore.
Before Anything, Consider a Fishing Charter.
Crabbing isn’t overly complicated, but it can be overwhelming for anyone going on their first trip. You will need to buy licenses, gear, and bait to catch the crabs. Once you catch the crabs, you will need a cooler and steamer to cook them. This will add up in price, and it’s a lot to carry around. I’m also going to assume you’re vacationing here, and don’t have all this stuff on hand.
I don’t say this to deter you from crabbing, but it’s something you have to keep in mind. I recommend you ask yourself why you’re going crabbing. If you just want an experience on the water and don’t plan to make this a regular activity, I do not recommend investing all that time and money in stuff you’ll never use again.
On top of the price tag, there’s still a learning curve. If you’re new to crabbing, I wouldn’t bet on bringing in a bushel of blue crabs on your first try. It takes some experience to get good at crabbing.
Hearing all this may sound a bit discouraging, but I have a solution for you. Beginners will benefit by going crabbing and fishing with a knowledgeable guide. A fishing charter is exactly that. On a charter boat, you do not need to buy any gear as they will provide for you. This includes bait, traps, and sometimes even fishing licenses.
On Fishingbooker, you can browse hundreds of Captains in your area. The site is kind of like Airbnb but for fishermen. Instead of their house, they list their boat. On a trip, they’ll take you out on their boat, help you catch fish or crabs, and teach you a thing or two along the way. At the end of the day, most charters will fillet your catch and let you take it home. You get a cool experience and a meal at the end of the day. If you’re interested, Click here to browse fishing charters on FishingBooker.com (Affiliate Link).
The Best Spots to go Crabbing from Shore
I compared each pier and shoreline in my extensive research on where to go crabbing in Georgia. I weeded out a few spots that are great for every type of crab trap, have the opportunity to catch shrimp, and are generally clean and enjoyable locations. I’ll go over each spot and what to expect from each one.
Keep in mind that you will need a Georgia Fishing License recreationally fish for any shellfish (unless stated otherwise). Click here to read about Georgia’s Fishing & Crabbing Regulations (eregulations.com).
W.E. Honey Park (Savannah GA)
Located in the heart of Savannah GA, this 200ft fishing pier is a great local spot to go crabbing. It’s located off Route 80 along the Wilmington River. I like this spot because it’s surrounded by crab-filled saltwater marshlands.
The park has plenty of parking that’s in close proximity to the public pier. It’s equipped with playground equipment, decently-kept porta-potties, and a Pavillion with picnic tables. The pier is not especially large, which can make it get crowded during the busier parts of the day (usually the afternoon).
The pier is also higher off the ground. For this spot, I would use collapsible crab traps with extended lines. The pier has railings to tie your lines to. To get the pier to yourself, come in the early morning to beat the crowds.
During low tide, you can make your way down to the exposed beach past the rock barriers. There, you can use hand lines for crabs and use a cast net to catch shrimp.
Fort McAllister Fishing Pier (Richmond Hill, GA)
Just south of Savannah is Fort McAllister State Park. Here, you’ll find a fishing pier that stretches over 100 feet into the Ogeechee River. This is a fast-moving body of water, so be sure to weigh your traps before crabbing here.
This pier is designed for fishing, instead of crabbing, which makes this pier a bit higher off of the water with high railings. Because of this, you need to use either crab pots or collapsible traps. Hand lines will only work on the shoreline. Bring extra rope in case your lines fall short.
To park at Fort McAllister State Park and use the fishing pier, there is a $5.00 entrance fee (as of March 2022). Don’t let that turn you away! This spot comes with well-maintained restrooms and other facilities to add to your crabbing adventure. There are plenty of hiking trails, historical monuments, and other activities to do when the crabbing gets slow.
Check out Georgia’s DNR Website for more information on the park.
James Allen Williamson Champney River Park
As you take Route 17 to Brunswick, James Allen Williamson Champney River Park is a public fishing pier and boat ramp along the Altamaha River.
The park offers plenty of parking, porta-potties as restrooms, and picnic tables. Besides the fact that this place tends to be underwater at high tide, it’s a great spot to launch your boat or set crab traps from the pier.
Unless it’s low tide, you won’t have access to the shoreline to use a cast net for shrimp. Instead, I would use a shrimp pot from the same pier you’d set your crab pots. For the same reason, hand lines will not work at this pier. Be sure to bring crab pots or collapsible traps.
Lainer Island Boat Ramp
A local secret crabbing, fishing, and shrimping spot is at the end of Marina Dr on St. Simons Island, GA. If you live in Brunswick and I’m giving away your crabbing spot, sorry!
If you take the FJ Torras Causeway from Brunswick into St. Simon’s Island, you can set crab traps from the old Mackay River Bridge. It’s closed off from drivers and open to fishermen. This spot also has beach access so you can throw in a cast net for bait and shrimp. You can also use handlines from the shore.
The Mackay River is fast-moving, so I would add extra weight to your collapsible traps. Crab pots will also need extra weight. If you see your traps moving in the water, it’s a sign you need more weight.
This spot does not have any restrooms, but it does have trash cans. I hear they fill up and are not collected regularly, but I feel that the lack of crowds makes up for that.
Where to go Crabbing by Boat
If you have a boat and want to catch crabs in Georgia, you’re in a great position. The Georgia Coast is nothing but saltwater marshes where crabs and shrimp thrive year-round. I did some research and found over a dozen well-kept boat ramps for several waterways up and down the Georgia Coast.
Wilmington River
The Wilmington River is a local waterway for Savannah Residents to go crabbing. It feeds in the Wassaw Sound and borders acres of crab-filled saltwater tidal marsh. A few public boat ramps include:
- Frank W Spencer Park (View on Google Maps)
- Turner Creek Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
- Thunderbolt Public Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
Blackbeard Creek
Blackbeard Creek consists of several waterways that surround St. Catherine’s and Sapelo Island. Besides being a beautiful spot along the Georgia Coast and may have buried pirate treasure, it’s filled with blue crabs and shrimp. A few spots to launch your boat here include:
- Belleville Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
- Sunbury Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
Mackay River (& Surrounding Waterways)
The Brunswick Penninsula is surrounded by apparently endless tidal waterways and saltwater marshes. A few spots to launch your boat here include:
- Lanier Island Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
- Blythe Island County Park (View on Google Maps)
East River
In the southernmost part of Georgia, you have the East River. A few spots to launch your boat here include:
- St. Mary’s Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
- Crooked River State Park Boat Ramp (View on Google Maps)
