Washington · Washington Outer Coast
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN WESTPORT
Westport 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 Westport
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 — Westport
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in Westport, WA.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in Westport
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 Westport
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Grays Harbor Estuary
Grays Harbor is one of the largest estuaries on the Washington coast, and its tidal channels, flats, and sloughs hold Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and Dungeness crab. The harbor's massive tidal exchange creates productive current seams where fish stage before entering the Chehalis River system.
Westport Marina
Westport Marina is the primary sportfishing hub on the Washington coast, and its docks and floats hold perch, flounder, and crab around the extensive harbor structure. The marina's position near the harbor mouth provides dock-fishing access and serves as home port for the large charter fleet.
Westport Jetty
The Westport jetty at Grays Harbor's south entrance extends into the Pacific, creating rock structure where lingcod, rockfish, surfperch, and greenling hold along the submerged boulders. Shore anglers walk the jetty for accessible ocean-fishing with salmon passing through the channel during seasonal runs.
Westhaven State Park Beach
Westhaven State Park beach south of the jetty offers surf-fishing for redtail surfperch, striped perch, and flatfish from a sandy beach adjacent to the harbor entrance. The beach's position near the jetty creates productive habitat where ocean and harbor waters mix.
Other Species in Westport
More fish you can target while visiting Westport.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in Westport — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in Westport are August. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the Westport area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in Westport 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 Westport, 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 Westport, you may also catch Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Pacific Halibut, Coho Salmon, Lingcod. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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