Where to go Crabbing in Destin, FL (Secret Spots)
Welcome to The Panhandle! If you’re visiting the Emerald Coast for the first time and want to find a spot to go crabbing, I’ve found a few great spots in the Destin Area. I focused on low-lying and less-popular fishing piers where it’s easy to use handlines and collapsible traps.
I’ll go over what these methods are at the end of this article, as well as when to go crabbing in Destin. But first, let’s go over where to catch Blue Crabs in Destin, Florida.
Before Anything, Consider a Fishing Charter!
Crabbing isn’t overly complicated, but it can be expensive for anyone going on their first trip. You will need to buy licenses, traps, and bait to catch the crabs. That’ll add up to around $100 or so. Once you catch the crabs, you will need a cooler and steamer to cook the crabs. This adds another $200 to the price at the least. I don’t say this to deter you from crabbing, but it’s something you have to keep in mind. I’m also going to assume you’re vacationing at Destin, and don’t have all this stuff on hand.
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 be a bit discouraging, but there are ways around it. Beginners will benefit by going crabbing and fishing with a knowledgeable guide. A fishing charter is exactly that. On Fishingbooker, you can browse hundreds of Captains in the Destin Area. They’ll take you out on their boat, help you catch fish and 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. This way, 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).
Mattie Kelly Pier
The first spot on this list and the best, in my opinion, is the Mattie Kelly Fishing Pier off of Beach Dr. It’s free to park along the side of the road, or in the parking lot just south of the pier. I like that these spots are especially close to the pier so you don’t have to lug all your crabbing supplies over a long distance to the pier and back.
This spot is on Joe’s Bayou, which is connected to the crab-filled Choctawhatchee Bay. You’ll find a few spots on this list to be on Joe’s Bayou. The pier is over 400ft long and stands above around 2 feet of water. This is perfect because you can see the crabs as you enter your traps. This visibility makes crabbing very easy for children and beginners.
The only downside of this spot is that there are no public restrooms. Keep that in mind before coming here.
Main Street Park
Main Street Park, another spot along Joe’s Bayou, is a quieter version of Mattie Kelly Nature Walk. It has a small fishing pier that’s perfect for crabbing. I like that it’s shaded since I burn easily. The problem is that this pier is small and will feel crowded if there is someone fishing or crabbing there already.
This spot has limited parking, with only a few spots along the road. There are also no public restrooms.
Valparaiso Fishing Pier
Valparaiso Fishing Pier is a popular fishing pier in the area because of its size and reputation of being a clean and well-maintained pier. If you’re willing to pay the toll on the 293 Mid-Bay bridge, this spot could be a great option for you.
Unlike the other spots on this list, this pier has benches, plenty of parking, porta potties, and trash cans. Parking spots are at the base of the pier, so you don’t have to walk as far with your crabbing gear. The only issue is that this spot is a drive over the toll bridge from Destin.
Clement Taylor Park
Back in Destin, Clement Taylor Park is a hidden gem when it comes to crabbing spots. The park is equipped with an actual restroom, plenty of parking, a pier, and a pavilion.
If you want to go crabbing with handlines, you can set lines from the shoreline. To prevent erosion, the park is equipped with shoreline walls. These put you in the perfect position to use handlines. You can also use collapsible traps from here and on the pier.
Captain Leonard City Park
Another spot located in the heart of Destin is Captain Leonard City Park. As far as amenities go, this spot has it all. You’ll find a fishing pier here, a playground, clean bathrooms with a shower area, a small beach, and so much more.
This is the spot to go to if you’re bringing children. If they aren’t interested in crabbing, you’ll have plenty of other activities to keep them occupied. One drawback is that this park attracts a large crowd, so you may have to get there early to secure a crabbing spot on the pier.
Haugen Park
This park is a bit out of the way from everything, and just outside of Destin. There is very limited parking (only three spaces) and no restrooms, but it’s a quiet spot that’s rarely crowded. There is no pier at this spot, unlike the others, but there is a dock along the shore of the pier. This dock makes crabbing with handlines or collapsible traps easy.
Lions Park
Lions Park is another spot over the toll bridge, but it’s a little-known spot that’s great for crabbing. There is no set pier here, but instead, a seawall where you can set handlines and collapsible traps. The main selling point here is that most people just use this as a spot to walk their dogs. I love a crabbing spot with no competition!
There is plenty of parking here along Bayshore Drive. I wonder if that’s named after the song. There are clean, public restrooms and benches to sit on while you wait to catch blue crabs.
Cessna Landing
This spot is a bit further away from Destin, but also further away from the crowds! This fishing pier stretches into Hogtown Bayou and doubles as a boat ramp. It has porta-potties as public restrooms, a playground, and grills.
Baytowne Wharf Fishing Pier
This long stretch of the fishing pier is perfect for setting collapsible traps. There’s a zoo here, restaurants, and plenty of other activities to do besides crabbing. There are not many crabbing spots that have live music, but this spot does! If you want a crabbing adventure this may just be for you.
Many restaurants have public restrooms, but parking may be an issue as this spot gets crowded.
How to Catch Blue Crabs in Destin (Brief)
I want to briefly go over when and how to catch crabs. For the how-part, I recommend you read my articles: How to go Crabbing with Folding Traps (Collapsible Traps) & How to Catch Blue Crabs With a String (Handlines Guide) to learn how to catch crabs. Folding traps are the most beginner-friendly. So, I recommend starting there.
For this post, I’m going to assume you’re crabbing for Blue Crabs. Blue Crabs are active in Florida year-round, but it’s best to go crabbing when the water is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This usually starts in Spring and lasts until Fall. I also recommend going crabbing two hours before high tide, so you can catch crabs when the water is moving most. This stirs up the crabs, making them easier to catch.
Lastly, you will need to review Florida’s crabbing regulations before going crabbing. Click here to see my list of every state’s crabbing regulations.
