Should I Go Crabbing At Night?

  

Whenever I go crabbing, It’s usually during the day. I never really thought twice about it since I’ve always had decent luck crabbing when the sun’s up. Recently I was falling down a Youtube blackhole watching every recommended video I could. I eventually stumbled upon a video about crabbing at night. It seemed promising, so I did some research. Should I go crabbing at night? 

  

Crabs are nocturnal, making nighttime the best time to go crabbing. It’s a relaxing experience and you usually have the water to yourself. Nighttime crabbers also have a secret weapon: flashlights. Crabs are drawn to the light, which makes for a large catch.  

  

Nighttime Crabbing Tips

 

Everything flops when you’re crabbing at night. There are little problems you need to look out for that you wouldn’t need to worry about during the day. 

  

1. Bring glow sticks. – It’s dark. If you’re using crab pots, they can get lost in the dark waters. I’ve found glow sticks to be a great solution to this problem. With superglue and/or duct tape, attach the glow stick on the dry side of the buoy, or whatever marker you’re using,  and you’ll be able to see it for miles. An Alternative to glowsticks is reflective tape.
   
2. Brighten up your dipnet. – Your dipnet is your best friend. It comes in handy with most crab traps, but it needs some modifying for nighttime crabbing. I recommend taking a waterproof flashlight, and attaching it right below the net on the pole so that the light shines in the net. This will help tremendously catching crabs in the dark bay waters.
3. Look out for mosquitos! – Nobody likes mosquitos. They’re irritating, they bite, and they bite some more. If you think they’re bad in your backyard, just wait until you’re on the river at night… yeesh! Bring at least two bottles of mosquito repellent, and wear long sleeves and pants. 
4. Prepare to be cold and wet. I highly recommend nighttime crabbing in the heat of summer. You’ll skip the hot sun and enjoy the warm waters and cool summer breeze. If you’re more adventurous and plan to crab in the fall or spring, it’s gonna be cold! Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and bring extra pairs just in case. A jacket, boots, whatever it takes to keep you warm and comfortable. 

 

Light, Light, and More Light. 

 

Here’s a fun fact: Native Americans in the Eastern Woodlands would go fishing at night. They would find a calm lake or river and create a small fire on their canoe to draw the fish with the light. Then they would their spears and nets to catch baskets full of fish. 

  

Nighttime crabbers use the same tactic: use light to draw the crabs. Make sure you’re flashlight is bright! You want it to shine the floor for waters at least 4 feet deep. 

 

I live in Maryland, where it’s only legal to go crabbing at night with hand lines. I plan to set up on a pier with a few car batteries and a floodlight, and a few comfy chairs. I’ll be sure to bring a friend to help shine the light on the crabs while I handle the lines.

 

Light doesn’t only attract crabs but it helps with visibility. Be sure to use sufficient lighting when crabbing at night.

 

Is Nighttime Crabbing Legal In My State?

 

Believe it or not, some states have regulations for crabbing at night. I’ve scoured the internet for nighttime crabbing laws in every coastal state. I found this information on reputable sites, but this is the internet where everything’s true… Check your local DNR (Department of Natural Resources) for the most accurate rules and regulations.

Note: If your state isn’t mentioned, I didn’t find any rules against crabbing at night. 

 

Florida – (Source) – “Traps must be pulled only during daylight hours”

 

Maryland – (Source) –

“Rivers, creeks and tributaries:

• April and Oct through Dec. 15— one-half hour after sunrise to sunset.
• May through Sept— one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Chesapeake Bay Mainstem:

• April and October through Dec. 15—one half hour after sunrise to 5 p.m.
• May through September—one half hour before sunrise to 5 p.m.

Using properly registered crab pots on private property, dip nets or hand-lines is permitted 24 hours a day.”

 

Washington State – (Source) – “Crab pots may not be tended from a vessel at night (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise).”

 

North Carolina – (Source) – “The pots may not be fished at night” (referring to crab pots)

  

Rhode Island – (Source) – “It is illegal to harvest crabs from sunset to sunrise.”

 

Again, Check with your local Department of Natural Resources for the most accurate crabbing regulations. 

 

How Can You Go Crabbing at Night?

 

There’s plenty of ways to go crabbing at night, not much different than crabbing during the day. My top 3 are handlines, ring nets, and crab pots. 

 

Crab Pots 

 

I personally cannot use crab pots at night because I live in Maryland. If you live in a state that permits pots after dark, you’re in luck! They are a great way to catch crabs. 

 

CrabbingHQ has some great information on how to set up and use crab pots. You can check out their post here.

 

Handlines 

  

Next to trotlines, handlines are my favorite way to catch crabs. They require patience, skill, and perfect technique. 

  

You will need a strong string or fishing line which you will use to pull in the crab. At one end, you tie a weight to make your line easier to cast.

 

Along with the weight, you’ll need to tie some bait to your line. Here’s a secret: crabs love chicken. A few inches above the weight, tie a small piece of chicken to your line. The string should be tied around a bone in the chicken, to keep it secure. 

 

That’s it! You have a handline ready to catch some crabs. Cast it out as far as comfortable into shallow water. Be careful not to let the string fly out of your hands. 

  

I prefer using them on the edge of a pier over shallow water, it may be easier to use them along the shore. Where ever you can easily pull in the string and scoop up the crab. 

 

Keep an eye on the string. Since it’s dark you should hold it since it’s hard to visually see if a crab’s pulling on it. Instead you’ll feel small tugs and you’ll know there’s a crab on the line. 

 

Slowly reel in the crab and have a friend scoop it up with a dip net. For a visual example you can watch the video below. 

 

Ring Nets

 

Last but not least, ring nets. They’re easy, fun for all ages, and work great crabbing day or night. 

 

You simply need a ring net, bait, and a cooler to store all your crabs. 

 

Tie some bait to the center of your net and lower it off a dock or pier, wait 5-12 minutes then pull it up. I recommend using at least 3 nets and set them around 15 feet apart to catch as many crabs possible. 

 

For more information about ring nets, check out the video below.