Where To Go Crabbing Near Baltimore, Maryland
Blue crabs are a trademark to Baltimore and I’m gonna show you the closest piers and waterways for you to go catch them. I did some research by asking locals, fishermen, and people on the internet where they go crabbing.
The tricky part about finding spots nearby the city of Baltimore is finding a spot that is clean. Because of this, all of the spots on this are not located in the city of Baltimore. Instead, they are within a 15 min to 1-hour drive.
I tried my best to find quality spots as close to the city as possible. So, let’s get started.
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).
Crabbing Piers
I’ll start things off with shoreline crabbing spots, specifically public piers that are perfect for crabbing.
This section is for those who do not have access to a crabbing boat. You can still catch a hefty blue crab dinner without a fancy boat & motor. All you need is the right spot.
To go crabbing from these locations, you’ll be using the classic hand line & dip net method. Collapsible traps and ring nets also work great, but they require a Maryland Recreational Fishing License.
For more information on these methods of crabbing, check out my article: How To Go Crabbing (Everything You Need to Know & More!).
To get a Maryland Recreational Fishing License, check out my article: Maryland Crabbing Regulations Casually Explained (Updated for 2020).
Fort Smallwood Pier
I’ll start with Fort Smallwood Pier. It’s a popular fishing pier close enough to Baltimore that you can see its skyscrapers in the distance. This place is great for crabbing because you’re basically on the Chesapeake Bay, which is full of blue crabs. There’s a reason why it’s one of the best spots to go crabbing in Baltimore.
You’re also away from the dirty waters that come from Baltimore. Personally, I wouldn’t go crabbing in waters any closer to the city. There are people who do, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Dirty water leads to unhealthy blue crabs.
If you go crabbing here, I would do so on a strong incoming high tide. This means you’re catching crabs that are from the cleaner bay than murky Baltimore water.
The pier is apart of Fort Smallwood Park, a small park on Rock Point with walking trails and pavilions. It can get crowded, so I suggest that you get there early in the day.
Green Haven Wharf
Next up is Green Haven Wharf. It’s a little further inland than Fort Smallwood, but it’s still a 30-minute drive from the center of Baltimore. That’s nothing!
It’s also in a mostly-clean body of water, so don’t be anxious about crabbing here. You’re far enough away from the pollution of the city to have to worry about that. However, I would still go crabbing here during an incoming high tide to get the cleaner water from the bay.
If you go crabbing nearby, I wouldn’t do so any further inland than the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I think that spot itself is already too close!
What I like about Green Haven Wharf is its quiet and relaxing atmosphere. You’ll be sure to see plenty of boat traffic but still feel secluded in this nice crabbing spot.
If you can, I recommend taking a kayak with you. If the crabbing gets slow, you can make up for it with a nice paddle up and down the river. It’s the perfect spot.
Because Green Haven Wharf is more inland than other spots, this may lead to there being fewer crabs overall, but the fact that this is a less-popular spot should even it out. You’ll bring home more crabs if you’re the only one at the pier!
Downs Park Public Pier
As we move further south from Baltimore, we have Downs Park Public Pier. Out of these four crabbing piers, this has to be my favorite.
You’re far enough away from Baltimore, so dirty water should be the least of your worries. In fact, you’re on the Chesapeake Bay! Say goodbye to murky river water and hello clean salty water which blue crabs love.
The pier is in a beautiful, large park that attracts a friendly crowd. Along with the fishing pier, Downs Park has beaches, a playground, bathrooms, pavilions, and so much more. It’s a great spot to take the family for a nice day outdoors.
Cox Point Park
The last, most northern spot on this list is Cox Point Park. We’re back up to Baltimore on the Back River. Personally, I’ve never gone crabbing here. But from what I hear, the back river is especially crowded during the crabbing season. You’ll see plenty of commercial and recreational crabbers going after blue crabs.
What’s great about Cox Point Park is that you’re on a pier instead of the busy open water. From here, you can set some traps and relax while the other crabbers fight for crabbing spots.
This spot has been known to bring in lots of crabs. There’s a reason why the Back River is so sought after. If you’re in the area, I recommend you check out Cox Point Park for your next crabbing trip.
North Point State Park
Another nice crabbing spot I found just outside of Baltimore is North Point State Park. The park has a fishing pier that’s low to the water, which makes crabbing really easy.
The park itself is also a gem. If you want to go kayaking, hiking, or just be in a beautiful spot along The Bay, North Point may be for you.
I especially like this spot because later in the crabbing season (mid-July through October) it’s a nice taste of what it’s like to go crabbing South of the Bay Bridge. The only difference is that it’s a 30 minute drive from Baltimore.
Annapolis Crabbing Spots
Maryland’s capital and all of its crabbing spots are just a quick drive south from Baltimore. If these spots don’t do it for you, I highly recommend that you read my article: 10 Amazing Spots To Go Crabbing In Annapolis Maryland.
I cover small piers within and around the city, as well as some great spots within a 45 minute driving distance of Annapolis. This is a reasonable drive from Baltimore, but sometimes a better option for those who really want to bring home a nice catch.
Amazing Crabbing Spots Outside of Baltimore
The Chesapeake Bay has plenty of spots and waterways to go crabbing. Why limit yourself to just the Baltimore & Annapolis area? To add to this post, I wanted to share a few public spots that I believe are worth the long drive from Baltimore.
Bill Burton Fishing Pier
For this spot, you’re going to be driving all the way to Cambrige. That’s a 2 hour drive for most people in Baltimore. Don’t scroll yet! I wouldn’t ask you to drive this far if it wasn’t worth it.
Bill Burton Fishing Pier is the old Route 50 bridge into Cambridge turned into a fishing pier. This means you have a pier that spans almost the entire length of the Choptank River. Can you imagine how many traps you could set?
The pier has plenty of porta-potties and parking. I would recommend that you bring chairs, a cooler with drinks, and sun screen. If you could bring some sort of wagon or rolling cooler, I would recommend it. It’s a long fishing pier.
Many crabbers take the trip down to this pier and leave with plenty of blue crabs, so you need to be smart about when you’re going. First of all, pick a time that’s ideal for crabbing (check out my crabbing guide for more information). Next, you need to pick a day that wouldn’t be crowded, so avoid holidays and weekends.
Romancoke Fishing Pier
Next, we have Romancoke Fishing Pier. The pier is in a small town at the bottom of Kent Island right after the Bay Bridge.
I mentioned this spot in my Annapolis post, but I want to showcase it here. It’s about 40 minutes closer than Bill Burton Pier.
The pier is next to a nice park, has bathrooms, and kayak access. If you are to come here, I recommend bringing a few kayaks incase crabbing gets slow.
This spot’s nice because it doesn’t ever get too crowded, unless you decide to go on holidays in the summer. It also has plenty of parking that’s close to the pier, so less walking!
Solomons Island Fishing Pier
Next up, we have Solomons Island Fishing Pier. This spot’s on the West side of The Bay. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Baltimore, but an absolutely beautiful spot.
You’re situated next to Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge on a decently-sized fishing pier. It doubles as a boat ramp, and has a huge amount of parking paces.
It can get crowded, and often is. But, if you come early in the day, you’ll be sure to get a nice spot before the crowd roles in. I’ve read a few crabbing reports from the area, and this spot rarely disappoints.
The Wye, Miles, & Chester River Area
Waterways
Who says you’re limited to going crabbing from a pier? If you own or rent a fishing boat, you can go crabbing out on the open water! This can serve as a huge advantage. Instead of dip nets and handlines, you can use dozens of topless traps and trotlines! Crabbing from a boat is much more efficient at catching crabs and, in my opinion, more enjoyable.
There are plenty of waterways up and down the Chesapeake Bay. If you’re in Baltimore, you’re in a unique spot that’s not too far from several great bodies of water to go crabbing from. So, let’s get into it!
Hart Miller Island
Just outside of Baltimore is Hart Miller Island. It’s an artificial island in the Chesapeake Bay. The island isn’t much, but the water around it is good for crabbing.
If you decide to go crabbing here, set your traps in water that isn’t directly in front of the outflow from the Back or Middle River. You want a spot that isn’t freshwater outflow, but instead saltwater influx.
If I was going crabbing here, I would set my traps at the northern end of Hart Miller Island or along the coast of North Point State Park.
Rocky Point Park has a boat ramp very close to Hart Miller Island. I would launch from there.
The Gunpowder & Bush River
We’re making our way up The Bay! Welcome to the Gunpowder & Bush River. These two are very similar so I figured I would make them have the same section.
We’re getting a little far north, so you’re going to have to go crabbing later in the season. August through October is usually the best time to go crabbing in The Gunpowder or Bush River.
To up your chances, go crabbing when the water is flowing into the rivers. This is during incoming low tide. I would set my traps as close to the mouth of the river as I could get.
To launch your boat, either use Mariner Point Park Boat Launch if you’re crabbing in the Gunpowder or Willoughby Beach if you’re crabbing in the Bush.
The Magothy, Chester, and Severn Rivers
As we move our way down The Bay, we run into these three rivers. Throughout the season, they’re full of blue crabs. All you need to do is get in the river!
I cover each of these waterways in my post: 10 Amazing Spots To Go Crabbing In Annapolis Maryland. Be sure to check it out!
Eastern Bay
The Eastern Bay is a hotspot for crabbers from all over the Delmarva area. People drive down all the way from states away with their crabbing boats and bushel baskets. So, why wouldn’t this be on the list?
The Eastern Bay is a body of water south of Kent Island and the Bay Bridge. It’s a nice hour and a half drive from Baltimore.
Everyone has their personal favorite spot to go crabbing here. A popular area is in the Wye River, further inland of the Eastern Bay. You’ll read an overwhelming amount of success stories in crabbing reports for the Wye. People pull up bushels within hours, which is a nice change of pace from the slow crabbing here (north of The Bay Bridge).
If you are up for the drive, I highly recommend that you head down to Wye Landing and go crabbing.
Places I Would Avoid
If you’re going crabbing, I would stay out of the busy waters of Baltimore. The Patapsco, Back, and Middle Rivers are unclean and constantly crowded with fishermen and crabbers. You will have a much better crabbing experience south of The Bay Bridge, in places like The Eastern Bay.
I would not go to crabbing in the Patapsco River any further north of Sparrows North. It’s just too polluted. If you do, please do yourself a favor and don’t eat the mustard.
Back River is cleaner than its neighbor the Patapsco River, but yearly crabbing reports say the river is congested with fishermen and commercial crabbers. You can try to squeeze your way in when it’s less crowded, but you’re still competing with too many crabbers. In my opinion, it’s better to drive farther for a less-crowded river than deal with crazy fishermen all day.
I hope I helped you find a spot to go crabbing. For more Maryland crabbing spots, check out my articles on the subject. Happy crabbing!
