Oregon · Northern Oregon Coast
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN ASTORIA
Astoria is an excellent destination for dungeness crab fishing, with peak season in January, December and good catches in February, March, April. Book a charter and target dungeness crab with local experts.
About Dungeness Crab Fishing in Astoria
The Dungeness crab is the signature crustacean of the Pacific Northwest, found in bays and estuaries from Central California to Alaska. Named after Dungeness, Washington, these sweet-flavored crabs are the backbone of the West Coast crab fishery and are caught recreationally using ring nets and crab pots from shore and boat.
Dungeness Crab are the signature crustacean of the Pacific Northwest, named after the small fishing village of Dungeness on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. These sweet-flavored crabs are found in sandy bays, estuaries, and nearshore waters from Central California to Alaska, where they are caught commercially and recreationally in enormous numbers. Dungeness have a wide, fan-shaped carapace that is purplish-brown on top and cream-yellow underneath. They are considered the finest-eating crab species in North America, with sweet, tender white meat that requires minimal seasoning.
Scientific name: Metacarcinus magister
Dungeness Crab Seasonal Calendar — Astoria
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in Astoria, OR.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in Astoria
Techniques & Bait
Recreational crabbing with ring nets or collapsible crab pots baited with chicken, fish carcasses, or turkey legs is the most popular method. Deploy pots in sandy bays, eelgrass beds, and channels in 10-60 feet of water. Check pots every 20-30 minutes for ring nets or every few hours for enclosed pots. Pier and dock crabbing with hoop nets is accessible from shore in many bays. Some anglers catch Dungeness by hand while snorkeling or wading at low tide. Kayak crabbing is growing in popularity.
Recommended Tackle
Crab ring nets, hoop nets, or collapsible crab pots with proper state tags. Heavy line (80-200 lb) for retrieving pots from depth. Crab gauge for measuring legal-size crabs (minimum 5.75-6.25 inches across the carapace depending on state). Bait: chicken legs, fish carcasses, clams. Rubber bands for handling — Dungeness have powerful pinching claws.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Astoria
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Youngs Bay
Youngs Bay is a major tributary estuary of the Columbia River at Astoria where Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and sturgeon stage before pushing upstream during spring and fall runs. The bay's shallow flats and channel edges hold searun cutthroat trout and flounder year-round, and crabbing for Dungeness is productive in the deeper channels.
Buoy 10 Fishery
The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth is one of the most famous salmon fisheries on the West Coast, where thousands of boats converge in late summer to intercept Chinook and coho salmon entering the river. The powerful tidal currents and mixing of ocean and river water create a feeding frenzy as salmon stage near the bar.
Astoria-Megler Bridge Area
The waters around the Astoria-Megler Bridge spanning the Columbia River hold Chinook salmon, sturgeon, and walleye in the deep channel and along the bridge pilings. Tidal currents concentrate baitfish around the bridge structure, creating productive fishing for multiple species throughout the season.
Tongue Point
Tongue Point is a prominent headland on the Columbia River near Astoria where deep water and strong currents create holding structure for Chinook salmon, sturgeon, and sea-run cutthroat trout. The point's rocky shoreline and adjacent deep channel funnel migrating fish past the structure.
Other Species in Astoria
More fish you can target while visiting Astoria.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in Astoria — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in Astoria are January, December. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the Astoria area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in Astoria are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Recreational crabbing with ring nets or collapsible crab pots baited with chicken, fish carcasses, or turkey legs is the most popular method. Deploy pots in sandy bays, eelgrass beds, and channels in 10-60 feet of water. Check pots every 20-30 minutes for ring nets or every few hours for enclosed pots. Pier and dock crabbing with hoop nets is accessible from shore in many bays. Some anglers catch Dungeness by hand while snorkeling or wading at low tide. Kayak crabbing is growing in popularity.
No — when you book a charter in Astoria, your captain provides all required Oregon fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Dungeness Crab regulations in Oregon include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Dungeness Crab in Astoria, you may also catch Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Lingcod, Pacific Halibut, Coho Salmon. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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