A Complete Guide to Crabbing in New Jersey
About Crabbing in New Jersey and What Makes it Special!
Crabbing in New Jersey is more than just a pastime—it’s a beloved summer tradition that brings together families, nature lovers, and seafood enthusiasts alike. With its extensive shoreline, bays, rivers, and salt marshes, New Jersey offers some of the best blue crab harvesting spots on the East Coast.
The Star of the Catch: The Blue Crab
The most commonly caught crab in New Jersey is the Atlantic blue crab, known for its sweet, tender meat. These crabs are easily recognized by their blue-tinted claws and olive-colored shell. Blue crabs thrive in the brackish waters of New Jersey’s back bays and estuaries, making them abundant from the Delaware Bay to Barnegat Bay and beyond.
Crabbing Season in New Jersey
Crabbing season typically runs from March 15 through November 30, with peak crabbing happening in the warmer months of July and August when crabs are most active and plentiful.
During the season, both recreational and commercial crabbers head to docks, piers, and shallow waters with traps, nets, or lines baited with chicken or bunker. Crabs can be caught from a rental row boat using a drop line or a scoop net along the bay dock pilings, or with a net and bait along the side of a creek,
A Family-Friendly Outdoor Activity
Crabbing is especially appealing to families because it’s affordable, easy to learn, and fun for all ages. Children love checking the traps and pulling in their catch, while adults enjoy the peaceful connection to nature.
Why It's Special
Crabbing in New Jersey is more than just catching your own seafood—it’s about connecting with coastal traditions, teaching kids patience and responsibility, and savoring the taste of fresh, local crab you caught yourself. Whether you’re on a rented skiff in the bay or simply tossing a line off a public pier, it’s a timeless way to experience the Garden State’s rich maritime heritage.
New Jersey Recreational Crabbing Regulations
To protect the blue crab population, New Jersey has regulations in place, including size limits, daily catch limits, and rules about releasing egg-bearing females. These measures help ensure crabbing remains a sustainable activity for future generations.
Crabs may be taken with single hand lines, manually operated collapsible traps, or scoop nets, without a license.
A license is required for recreational crabbing using crab pots or trot lines.
- A crab trap (as opposed to a crab pot) is a wire frame covered with a webbing of wire or netting that is activated to enclose crabs when they are attracted to bait placed in the trap. It requires attendance to catch crabs.
- A crab pot is a wire frame covered by a webbing of wire or netting through which a conical shaped funnel allows crabs to enter as they are attracted to bait. It does not require attendance to catch crabs.
- A trot line is a long line, resting on the bottom and anchored at both ends, to which a series of baits are attached at intervals of two to six feet. The baits are attached to the main line by simple slipknots or by shorter lines called dropper lines (known as trots or snoods.) Non-commercial trot lines shall not exceed 150 feet in length with a maximum of 25 baits attached.
- In New Jersey, recreational crabbers can catch up to one bushel per day, which is roughly 40 to 60 crabs, depending on their size. There are also minimum size requirements: - Hard-shell blue crabs must be at least 4.5 inches across the carapace. - Soft-shell crabs must be at least 3.5 inches. - Peeler crabs must be at least 3 inches. Additionally, egg-bearing female crabs (those carrying orange or brown egg masses) must be released immediately to protect breeding populations.
- If you plan to use trotlines, crab pots, or dredges, you must obtain a license from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Purchase a Non-commercial Crab Pot License
Popular Crabbing Places in Monmouth County
Keansburg Fishing Pier, Raritan Bay
Crab on the pier with good results if you can get close the the pilings with a scoop net
Navesink River, Rumson
Boat rentals can be available right near the Oceanic Bridge
The Red Bank Marina is a place where you can rent a boat for crabbing
Popular Crabbing Places in Ocean County
Berkeley Island County ParkA good park for fishing and crabbing with a fishing/crabbing pier, playground for the kids, and a life guard patrolled bathing beach located on the other side of the park.
Windward Beach
Princeton Avenue
Brick Township
Has a pier with, a popular spot for crabbing with a depth of 6-8 ft of water.
Seaside Heights, Barnegat Bay
The Seaside Heights docks on the Cranberry Inlet between Lavallette and Seaside. The bayside has two docks that are perfect for crabbing with a food concession stand, public restrooms, a boat ramp and crab boat rentals.
The Dock Outfitters
5 Rt 35 South
Seaside Heights, NJ
Offers crab boat rentals, a bait shop,
and a free fishing/crabbing pier.
Island Heights on the Toms River
West End Avenue Crabbing Pier
Island Heights Boardwalk
Island Heights, NJ
This public dock is a great spot for crabbing
Note: you must have a badge issued by Island Heights in order to crab here.
Mantoloking Bridge Fishing Pier County Park
30 Mantoloking Road
South of Point Pleasant) on Rt. 528
Brick, NJ
A great location for crabbing and family activities. The fishing and crabbing pier is a new 70-foot long structure and includes a boardwalk, picnic area, sun shade gazebo, rest rooms, and lighted paths. Parking is free. They also have a ramp for launching boats, canoes, and kayaks. For your crabbing bait and equipment needs, Pell's Fish and Sport shop is located just north of the bridge on Mantoloking Road.
Dock Road & Westecunk Creek, Eagleswood
At the end of Dock road as the creek flows into Little Egg Harbor.
Good Luck Point, Bayville
In Ocean Gate, just a little south of the Seaside Bridge.
Rt. 539 & Green Street, Tuckerton
At the end of the road, there is a small park area with railings around it, parking, a pavilion, and a bathroom. Good area for crabbing, especially with small children.
Bass River Bridge area, New Gretna
Under the parkway and Rt 9 bridge. Going south on Rt 9 go over the bridge make your first left or right and go back along the bridge. Especially enjoyable for kids.
Great Bay Blvd at Seven Bridges Road, Little Egg Harbor
You can go crabing from the the first bridge as it has pedestrian walkway along one side, and crabbing along the banks of the creeks near the second and third bridges.
Route 72 Causeway - Manahawkin, LBI
Crabbing is best just north of the bridge.
Rent a boat
for crabbing.
Boatyard and Marina,
on the Long Beach Island Causeway (Route 72), east of the bridge to Ship Bottom.
Suggest calling ahead and reserving. They have Crabbing & fishing skiffs for six & eight people.
Ship Bottom (LBI)
Fishing and Crabbing Pier
25th Street and the Bay
West Point Island Bridge, Lavalette
Under the bridge connecting Lavallette to West Point Island.
Playhouse Road E., Mystic Island , Tuckerton
Before Big Creek Bridge. Crabbing along the edge of the lagoon, and the remains of an old dock area with pilings.
South Green Street Park
1199 S Green Street
Tuckerton, NJ
They have 60 ft fishing pier, a popular spot for crabbing. conveniently located near the Dockside Cafe, parking, and restrooms.
Popular Crabbing Places in Atlantic County
The waters surrounding Somers Point, NJ
Known to be some of the best on the Jersey Shore when it comes to crabbing. The locations include Patcong Creek, Great Egg Harbor Bay, Great Egg Harbor River, Middle River, Tuckahoe River, Tuckahoe-Corbin City Fish and Wildlife Management Areas, Peck Bay, Steelman Bay and Scull Bay.
The Route 52 Causeway fishing pier (located between Mays Landing Road in Somers Point and Ninth Street in Ocean City)
A popular hot spot for crabbing and fishing with anglers of all ages. There are four fishing piers within the 2.2 mile stretch of the bridge.
Petcong Creek Charted Boat Crabiing --- A unique and fun family experience for all ages and abilities
Fun Time crabbing in Sormers Point
offers a three-hour trip on a chartered boatr. They are located just minutes from Ocean City over the bridge to Somers Point. They are a charter service that supplies you with a Captain, crew, a state-of-the-art boat, and all the gear you will need to catch your crabs, at a very reasonable cost.
This is a great experience for people who have never gone crabbing, especially for families who have younger kids who have never tried crabbing.
They use Maryland style skiffs that are 24 ft. long and 8 ft. wide. عآآ They supply and use 20-30 topless crab traps where . connected to a buoy every 100 feet or so. You are not siiting and waiting to pull up one or two crab traps. The boat is in continual motion moving back and forth collecting the traps, re-baiting them and drop them back in.
Fun Time Crabbing
1810 Somers Point-Mays Landing Road
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Mays Landing-Somers Point Road, Egg Harbor Township
On the way to Somers Point, on the left. Park park your car and wade through the tall grassy meadows to find a path to the water.
Poplar Ave, Linwood
Behind the Linwood Country Club, at the end of Poplar Ave.
Route 9, Absecon
Near the Holy Spirit high School, use traps or nets.
Margate City
Scott's Dock
9211 Amherst Avenue
Margate City, NJ
For beginners or familes with young kids,
or it's your first time out and do not have equipment, Scott' Dock offers guided trips for small groups to the whole family.They also provide all the equipment whether hand lining and using a net or dropping pots. You can reserve a boat or if you prefer to have one their staff take you out for a guided adventure.
Popular Crabbing Places in Cape May County
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge.
Along the creeks in the marshlands on Ocean Drive between Cape May and Wildwood Crest.
Lakeview Docks, Wildwood Crest
Pier for fishing and crabbing off Park Blv'd. open 7 am - 7 pm.
Charges a small fee for crabbing off the pier. Boat rentals also available.
Grassy Sound Fishing Pier
13 Old N. Wildwood Blvd. East (adjacent to Grassy Sound Marina)
.Middle Township
Closed for 3 years due to reconstruction. now scheduled
to reopen Friday, June 13, 2025
The Grassy Sound Marina Bait & Tackle Shop, located directly adjacent to the pier, will have everything you and your family need for a day of fun on the bay. They provide landing nets,, picnic area, and toilet facilities. It is well-lit at night, family-friendly, and catches of Blue Claw Crabs are typical.
Popular Crabbing Places in Cumberland County
Dividing Creek, Route 553 at the BridgeA good spot to crab in a boat. Boats can be rented at several of the boat rentals in the area.
Rent a boat at:
Dividing Creek Boat Rentals
Route
553 Dividing Creek, NJ
Family oriented recreation complete with picnic area, bathrooms and cleanup. They offer motor boat rentals.
