Well, if you’re lookin’ to go crabbing down at the seaside in Oregon, let me tell ya, it’s a mighty fine way to spend a day, if ya ask me. I ain’t no expert, but I done it a few times, and I can tell ya, there’s a few things you’ll want to know before ya head out there to catch them crabs. I ain’t gonna beat around the bush, so here’s what I know!
First off, Seaside, Oregon is a real nice place for crabbing. It’s a small town, not too fancy, but got all the right spots for folks to dip their toes in the water and try their luck. Now, if you’re headin’ to the Necanicum River Estuary up north of Seaside, that’s a real good spot. The water’s calm and the crabs like to hang around there. You can get to it real easy too, just head up to the north end of town. Some folks like to go behind the Seaside High School on Holladay Drive. Easy peasy.
Now, crabbing ain’t always about catchin’ the biggest ones. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit by the water, look out at the ocean, and have a bit of peace and quiet. If you ain’t feelin’ like crabbing, you can walk along the beach, or even head down to the little town of Manzanita. There’s a nice long walk on a 3-mile peninsula, and you can get yourself an ice cream cone while you’re there. Ain’t no rush, just enjoy the day!
Where’s the best crabbing spot in Seaside? Well, from what I hear, the 12th Avenue bridge is real popular. Folks like to crab right off the bridge into the estuary. Some folks have more luck than others, but that’s the fun of it, right? Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t. I’ve been there a couple of times myself, but I ain’t got much to brag about. I hear there’s better spots a little further south, like around Jetty Fishery, but that’s a bit of a drive from Seaside.
Now, I’m gonna tell ya something real important. If you’re planning to do some crabbing, you gotta get yourself a shellfish license. Ain’t no way around it. If you’re 12 years old or older, you need one. You can get these licenses over at places like Bud’s Campground & Grocery or Rite Aid. Don’t go thinkin’ you can skip that step! They’re real strict about it. And while you’re at it, make sure you check the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations so you don’t get yourself in trouble. Ain’t nobody wanna be fined for forgettin’ the rules!
When’s the best time to go crabbing in Seaside? Well, I’d say September’s your best bet. See, that’s when the crabs have finished molting and their shells have hardened. What that means for ya is, there’s more meat inside! A good, meaty crab is what you’re after, and September’s the time to find ’em. The crabbing season lasts ’til the weather turns real rainy, usually near the end of October. After that, things slow down, and you might not have much luck.
So now you know, if you wanna go crabbing in Seaside, Oregon, you gotta plan ahead a little. Get yourself that license, make sure you’re there at the right time, and find a good spot like the 12th Ave. bridge or maybe the southern areas near Jetty Fishery. And most important of all, have fun! Even if you don’t catch a whole lot, it’s still a fine way to spend a day down by the sea.
One last thing I’ll tell ya – don’t forget to bring yourself a bucket or something to keep your crabs in! Ain’t no good catchin’ ‘em and then havin’ to run back to the car to get a bucket. Keep it simple, keep it fun, and enjoy your day out there in the salty air!
Tags:[Crabbing, Seaside Oregon, 12th Avenue Bridge, Oregon Shellfish License, Necanicum River Estuary, Jetty Fishery, Crabbing Season, Oregon Crabbing Tips]