Washington · Washington Outer Coast
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN LA PUSH
La Push is a solid destination for dungeness crab fishing, with peak season in August and good catches in July, September. Book a charter and target dungeness crab with local experts.
About Dungeness Crab Fishing in La Push
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 — La Push
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in La Push, WA.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in La Push
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 La Push
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Quillayute River Mouth
The Quillayute River flows into the Pacific at La Push, and its tidal mouth holds Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead staging before their upstream migration. The river's confluence with the ocean creates a productive mixing zone for multiple salmonid species.
La Push Harbor
La Push Harbor on the Quileute Reservation provides protected access to the Quillayute River system where salmon, steelhead, and perch hold in the tidal lower reaches. The harbor serves as the launch point for the area's ocean charter fleet.
First Beach
First Beach at La Push offers surf-fishing from a sandy beach framed by dramatic sea stacks where surfperch, greenling, and flatfish hold in the surf zone. The beach's scenic setting on the Olympic coast provides a unique fishing experience.
James Island Shoreline
The waters around James Island just offshore of La Push hold rockfish, greenling, and lingcod in the rocky shoreline habitat surrounding the island. Small boats and kayaks from the harbor access the island's productive nearshore structure.
Other Species in La Push
More fish you can target while visiting La Push.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in La Push — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in La Push are August. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the La Push area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in La Push 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 La Push, 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 La Push, you may also catch Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pacific Halibut, Lingcod. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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