If you ever find yourself down Westport way, you might notice somethin’ real interestin’. There’s crab pots everywhere, stackin’ up high like a bunch o’ tin cans. Now, let me tell ya, crabbing at Westport ain’t no small thing. It’s somethin’ the folks around here take real serious, especially when the season’s right.
The best time to go crabbing, well, that’d be from late spring to early summer. But, don’t you worry none, the season stretches well into late summer and even through the fall. So, if you missed the best part, there’s still time to get your hands dirty in the crabbing business. From May to November, you’re free to go out and drop your pots. Just make sure you ain’t selling what you catch, ’cause for personal use, you don’t need no license, no sir.
Now, you might be wonderin’ how to go about it. Well, there’s plenty of ways. You can be on a boat or just standin’ on the shore. Either way, you’ll be able to catch yourself a good mess o’ crabs. The Westport Marina, that’s the place to be. They got a pier called Float 20, and folks love it. You just throw your pots in the water, and wait. Or, if you ain’t got no boat, don’t worry none—just head on down to the docks. Lots o’ families go crabbing right there. It’s real simple, just put your pot down, wait a bit, and pull it up full of crabs.
Now, I’ll tell ya somethin’ else: when it comes to crabs, Dungeness is the king. I don’t care what anyone says, there ain’t no better taste than Dungeness crab. That’s the one the commercial boats are after, too. They come from all over the coast to Westport, tryin’ to fill their boats with ‘em. And let me tell ya, they ain’t just for the restaurants. Folks around here, they catch ‘em for themselves, take ‘em home, and cook ‘em up right there in their kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, you can catch other kinds o’ crabs too, like the Rock Crab, but Dungeness… well, it’s just somethin’ special.
If you’re lookin’ for a little guidance, there’s plenty of folks around who’ll be happy to show ya the ropes. Local businesses in Westport will tell ya where to go and what to do. They might even rent you some gear if you ain’t got your own. It ain’t hard, but it sure is fun. And there’s plenty o’ room on the docks. Just make sure your crab pots are always attended to, that’s the rule. Can’t leave ‘em out there unattended, or you’ll be breakin’ the law.
One thing to keep in mind though, the size o’ the crabs. They got rules here too, and you gotta follow ‘em. For Dungeness crabs, they gotta be at least six inches across. If it’s smaller than that, back it goes into the water. And don’t forget, only male crabs are legal to catch. Them ladies, they gotta stay in the water to keep the population strong. So, make sure you know the rules before you start pullin’ up your pots.
Now, don’t go thinkin’ it’s all smooth sailin’. Crabbing can be a bit of work. You might have to wait a spell before your pots fill up, and sometimes the crabs just ain’t bite. But, that’s the fun of it, ain’t it? You never know what you’ll get. Some days you pull up your pots and it’s like Christmas morning—full o’ crabs. Other days, well, you might just be sittin’ there, lookin’ at an empty pot, and wonderin’ if the crabs took a vacation.
But, when you do catch ’em, it’s all worth it. There’s nothin’ quite like crackin’ open a fresh Dungeness crab and diggin’ into that sweet, tender meat. Makes ya forget all the waiting, and all the work, when you get that first bite. And if you’ve never had one, well, you’re missin’ out. Head on down to Westport and see for yourself. It’s an experience you won’t forget.
So, what are you waitin’ for? Pack up your gear, grab the kids or your buddies, and make your way to Westport. The crabs are waitin’ for ya. Just remember to follow the rules, respect the water, and have yourself a good ol’ time. There’s no better way to spend a day out here on the coast than with a line in the water and a pot full of crabs.
Tags：[Westport crabbing, Dungeness crab, fishing Westport, crabbing season, Westport marina, crab fishing, Westport WA, fishing pier]
