Washington · Strait & Sound
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN BELLINGHAM
Bellingham is an excellent destination for dungeness crab fishing, with peak season in July, August and good catches in May, June, September. Book a charter and target dungeness crab with local experts.
About Dungeness Crab Fishing in Bellingham
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 — Bellingham
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in Bellingham, WA.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in Bellingham
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 Bellingham
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Bellingham Bay
Bellingham Bay is a large protected bay where Chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, and bottomfish hold in the bay's deeper channels and around its extensive waterfront structure. The bay's Nooksack River influence brings nutrients that support productive fisheries throughout the season.
Squalicum Harbor
Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham provides dock-fishing access where perch, flatfish, and occasional salmon hold around the marina's extensive dock and breakwater structure. The harbor serves as the main launch point for fishing Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.
Chuckanut Bay
Chuckanut Bay south of Bellingham features rocky shoreline and eelgrass beds where Chinook salmon, perch, and flatfish hold in sheltered waters beneath the dramatic Chuckanut Mountain cliffs. The bay's diverse habitat supports multi-species fishing year-round.
Lummi Island Shore
Lummi Island's eastern shore facing Bellingham Bay provides shore-fishing access where Chinook salmon follow the shoreline during their migration and rockfish hold along the rocky beach structure. The Lummi Island ferry dock area is a popular shore-fishing spot.
Other Species in Bellingham
More fish you can target while visiting Bellingham.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in Bellingham — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in Bellingham are July, August. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the Bellingham area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in Bellingham 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 Bellingham, your captain provides all required Washington fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Dungeness Crab regulations in Washington 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 Bellingham, you may also catch Rockfish, Pacific Halibut, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lingcod. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
Ready to Catch Dungeness Crab in Bellingham?
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