
Therefore, one high-tide may be at 12′ and the second high tide may be at 9′, the low-tides would be similarly different. What does this mean? Essentially, it means that there are two low-tides and two high-tides in every 24 hour period, and the tide heights are not the same. Puget Sound’s tidal movements are classified as mixed semi-diurnal tides. As with many things in life, pick and choose your battles when it comes to the tides and crabbing. Strong tides rarely gifts us with better crabbing compared to a soft tide. Use good bait, don’t get set your expectations too high but don’t be surprised if you catch your limit and need to throw the extras back!Ĭheck out the 2022 Puget Sound Crabbing Seasons Post Cooked Dungeness Crab, still warm from the boil, caps off summer days like nothing else! How do tides affect crabbing in Puget Sound?Ĭrabbing is best when the tidal currents are mild. Being super-prepared is always the best strategy. Other years can be challenging to catch a couple keepers for the day.

This means that some years in some areas your pots will be loaded. Although, the meal that follows is even better.ĭungeness Crab populations in Puget Sound are cyclical. The anticipation of pulling up a crab pot and seeing it loaded with Dungeness Crab is quite a rewarding experience. It is as simple as picking a spot, dropping a crab pot or two, letting it soak for a few hours or overnight if you wish. You can head out in a protected area in a kayak or stand up paddle board if you want! Use whatever vessel you have. Crabbing doesn’t require expensive equipment or a large boat. Puget Sound CrabbingĬatching Dungeness Crab is a fairly straight-forward endeavor. We went out one winter day and hauled in quite the bounty! 13 Dungeness Crab kept for a 3 hour soak.
#Port townsend monthly tide graph 2019 how to#
One of my earliest memories was pulling up crab pots with my dad and brother, and have been creating great memories on Puget Sound ever since! If you already have a pile of crab and need help preparing them, please check out my other post How to Cook Dungeness Crab like a professional chef. I wrote this post for everyone that is eager to join in the fun of Puget Sound crabbing. They prefer a habitat of eelgrass beds, sandy or gravel sea floor, and typically live in waters less than 150 feet in depth. They can reach 8 inches and weigh a hefty two pounds. They are so delicious that about a quarter million crabbing licenses are sold in Puget Sound every year.ĭungeness Crab have deliciously sweet meat and are found throughout Puget Sound. Dungeness Crab are one of the tastiest shellfish that we find in Puget Sound.

Small boats work the nearshore waters, the baiting and setting and pulling of pots all for a payout of big hard shell crab. Puget Sound is a summer paradise and Dungeness Crab are arguably the most sought after bounty. Summer wouldn’t be the same in Puget Sound without going crabbing for Dungeness!
