Bay Area & Northern California Crab Snaring: 26 Spots, Map and 2026 Guide
You can snare Dungeness crab from the ocean beaches of San Francisco and Pacifica, and rock crab from the piers inside the Bay, all with the fishing rod you already own. This guide covers 26 spots across Northern California: 10 around San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, 9 on the North Coast from Bodega Bay to Crescent City, and 7 around Monterey Bay. It also covers the 2026 season dates, what to bring, how to rig a snare and what to do once you have a crab on the sand.
Map of Bay Area and Northern California crab spots
Tap a spot for species, gear, license rules and directions. Green squares are public piers where you can crab without a license; yellow circles are beaches where you need a California fishing license if you are 16 or older; red diamonds are marine reserves with no take. The map opens on San Francisco. Drag it north for Bodega Bay and the North Coast, or south for Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Best spots: Pillar Point Harbor Pier (no license needed, protected water), Sharp Park Beach and Ocean Beach (Dungeness from the surf, license required). Inside SF Bay (Fort Baker, Fort Point, Pier 7) you can keep rock crab only. North of the Bay: Doran jetty in Bodega Bay and B Street Pier in Crescent City. South: Moss Landing and the Santa Cruz and Monterey wharfs, mostly for rock crab. Dungeness season opens Saturday, November 7, 2026.
North Coast: Bodega Bay to Crescent City
The North Coast has fewer people, bigger crabs and rougher water. Most spots here are jetties and harbor piers, which are safer than open beaches when the swell is up.
- Bodega Bay: the Doran (South) Jetty is the best-known snaring spot on the Sonoma coast. Cast off the channel side onto sand. Doran Beach next to it is gentle and good for first-timers. Doran Regional Park charges a day-use fee. The North Jetty on the Bodega Head side fishes the harbor entrance; wait for slack tide because the current is strong.
- Fort Bragg: the Noyo River Jetty at Noyo Harbor, with bait and food at the harbor.
- Humboldt Bay: the Del Norte Street Pier in Eureka is protected from ocean swell. The South Jetty is only for calm days; waves wash over it.
- Trinidad Pier: privately owned, so you need a fishing license.
- Crescent City: B Street Pier is one of the best Dungeness piers in the state when the season is open.
North Coast rules to know: some jetties count as public piers where no license is needed, but the land-connected rock walls next to them do not. When in doubt, carry your license. In Mendocino County and north the Dungeness season runs to July 30 instead of June 30. The northern opener is also the one most often delayed for domoic acid, so check CDFW before a long drive. Point Cabrillo near Mendocino is a marine reserve with no take.
Monterey Bay: Santa Cruz to Monterey
Monterey Bay is mostly rock crab country. Dungeness show up in some winters, mainly off the sandy middle of the bay near Moss Landing, but plan on red and yellow rock crab. That also means good crabbing year-round, not just in Dungeness season.
- Santa Cruz Wharf: drop along the pilings or short-cast to sand. Paid parking on the wharf.
- Capitola Wharf: short casts off the end. Village parking is tight in summer.
- Moss Landing: the outer breakwaters need no license; the inner jetty and shore do. Fish the harbor channel at slack tide.
- Monterey Municipal Wharf 2: a working wharf, so stay clear of boats and unloading areas. Evenings and night are best.
Monterey Bay rules to know: Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz and the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens are protected areas with no crabbing. Sea lions under the wharfs steal bait, so move if they show up.
2026 season, limits and licenses
| Dungeness | Rock crab (red, yellow, brown) | |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Opens Sat, Nov 7, 2026 (first Saturday in November) to Jun 30, 2027. Mendocino County and north: to Jul 30, 2027. Ocean side only. | Year-round |
| Minimum size | 5¾ in across the back | 4 in across the back |
| Daily limit | 10 crabs | 35 crabs |
| Where | Ocean beaches, Pillar Point, the North Coast and Monterey Bay. Never inside SF Bay. | Everywhere on this map except marine reserves |
- License: required at 16 and older on beaches and jetties. Not required on public fishing piers such as Pillar Point, Fort Baker, Fort Point, Pier 7, B Street Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf and Monterey Wharf 2.
- Snares: crab snares may have up to 6 loops, which is exactly what AirFly snares use.
- Gear count: on public piers, up to two appliances per person (snares, hoop nets, traps or lines combined).
- Delays: CDFW can delay the opener or restrict traps for whale safety or domoic acid. When traps are restricted, crab snares and hoop nets are still allowed. Check the CDFW crab page the week you go.
Measure every crab. Our Dungeness crab gauge has the 5¾ in California size cut in, and the crab gauge guide shows exactly where to measure.
Best time to go
| Month | Dungeness (ocean, North Coast) | Rock crab (SF Bay, Monterey Bay) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov | Best Opening weeks, crabs are hungry | Good |
| Dec to Jan | Best Calm days between storms | Good |
| Feb to Mar | Good Fewer keepers, fewer people | Good |
| Apr to Jun | Slow Many crabs are soft-shelled | Best Warmer water |
| Jul | Slow Open to Jul 30 from Mendocino north only | Best |
| Aug to Oct | Closed | Best |
- Tide: the hour before and after high tide is the most reliable. Slack tide matters most at Fort Baker and Fort Point, where the current is strong.
- Time of day: first light and dusk. Afternoon wind on the Golden Gate side makes casting hard most of the year.
- Swell: on the ocean beaches, go when the forecast is under about 6 ft. Bigger surf rolls the snare and tangles the loops.
What to bring
- Rod and reel: 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy rod, reel holding 150+ yards.
- Line: 30 to 50 lb braid. Our 50 lb Super Cast braided line is made for the long casts at Ocean Beach.
- Crab snares: the AirFly 6-Loop Crab Snare for piers and calm beaches. For Ocean Beach surf, the Heavy Surf Crab Snare holds bottom better. In strong current, the Pro Crab Snare with pyramid sinker grips the sand.
- Bait: fresh mackerel, sardine or squid. AirFly dried mackerel bait needs no cooler and fits in the snare cage.
- Crab gauge: the AirFly Dungeness gauge. Wardens check.
- Casting glove: a casting glove saves your finger from braid cuts on long casts.
- Spare loops: replacement loops for when rocks kink a few.
- Claw bands: AirFly claw bands keep crabs from pinching you and each other in the cooler.
- Cooler or bucket, pliers, headlamp, warm layers, and your fishing license if you are on a beach.
Starting from zero? The Crab Snare 2-Pack Kit comes with two snares, a gauge, a casting glove and spare loops.
How to set up a crab snare
- Tie on. Tie the snare straight to your braid with a Palomar knot, or use a heavy snap swivel so you can swap snares fast.
- Stand the loops up. Fluff each loop open so it stands above the cage. Flat or kinked loops do not catch legs.
- Pack the bait cage. Fill it tight and close it. Oily bait (mackerel, sardine) draws crabs from further away. See our best crab bait guide.
- Set your drag. Loose enough that a big crab or a wave cannot pull the rod in, tight enough to feel weight.
- Cast with a smooth lob. A snare is heavier than a lure, so a hard snap cast can break line.
New to snares? Our pier how-to post and the full Crab Snare Guide walk through each step with photos.
Technique: beaches vs piers
Ocean beaches
Baker, Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Sharp Park, Linda Mar. Cast 40 to 60+ yards past the shore break into the trough. Soak 15 to 20 minutes. Retrieve at a steady speed with the rod tip high so the loops stay tight around the crab's legs. Never stop reeling while the snare is in the surf.
Piers
Pillar Point, Fort Baker, Fort Point, Pier 7. Short casts to sand next to the pilings. Soak 10 to 15 minutes. Lift the crab over the rail in one smooth motion; do not let the snare swing into the pilings. A foldable castable trap works well next to your snare on a pier.
What to do after the catch
- Measure right away with your gauge, straight across the back in front of the points.
- Release shorts and anything not allowed quickly and gently. In the Bay that means every Dungeness.
- Band the claws with claw bands so crabs cannot hurt you or each other.
- Keep them cool, damp and alive. A cooler with a wet towel or seaweed over the crabs works. Do not let them sit in fresh water or melted ice water.
- Check the health advisory. CDPH posts domoic acid advisories for crab. Follow the advisory for your area; it often says to throw away the guts (the "crab butter") and eat only the meat.
- Cook the same day. Boil or steam live crab about 15 to 20 minutes, or clean first and cook the halves.
Safety and challenges
- Sneaker waves and rip currents on every ocean beach here. Never turn your back on the water, and never wade out to cast.
- Wind: afternoon wind is the norm from the Golden Gate to Fort Funston. Go early.
- Cold: winter dawn on the beach is often in the 40s °F with wind chill. Bring gloves and layers.
- Sea lions at some piers steal bait. Move a few spots down the rail.
- Car break-ins are common at SF beach lots. Leave nothing visible in the car.
- North Coast jetties: waves wash over the Humboldt South Jetty and the Bodega jetties in any swell. Wear boots with grip on wet rock.
- Closures: Pacifica Pier is closed as of June 2026. Fish Sharp Park Beach next to it instead.
- Bait and tackle: use the "Bait shops nearby" button on any spot in the map above for current shops and hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can you catch Dungeness crab inside San Francisco Bay?
No. Dungeness may not be taken in San Francisco Bay or San Pablo Bay. You can keep rock crab there. For Dungeness, fish the ocean side: Baker Beach, Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Pacifica or Pillar Point.
Do I need a fishing license to crab in the Bay Area?
Not on public fishing piers such as Pillar Point, Fort Baker, Fort Point and Pier 7. On beaches and jetties you need a California fishing license if you are 16 or older.
When does Dungeness season open in 2026?
The recreational season opens on the first Saturday in November, which is November 7, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2027 south of Mendocino County. CDFW can delay it for domoic acid, so check before you go.
What is the best crab snaring spot near San Francisco?
For beginners, Pillar Point Harbor Pier: no license needed, calm water and Dungeness in season. For bigger crabs, Ocean Beach and Sharp Park Beach in the first weeks of the season.
What bait works best in a crab snare?
Oily fish such as mackerel or sardine, then squid. Dried mackerel bait works well if you do not want to carry raw bait.
How long should I leave a crab snare in the water?
10 to 20 minutes. Pulling too early is the most common beginner mistake.
Where can I go crab snaring in Bodega Bay?
The Doran (South) Jetty and Doran Beach are the most popular spots, with the Bodega Bay North Jetty on the Bodega Head side. Doran Regional Park charges a day-use fee.
Do I need a fishing license on the Bodega Bay jetties?
Some jetties count as public piers where no license is needed, but the land-connected rock walls next to them do not. Doran Beach needs a license. If you are not sure where the line is, carry your license.
Can you catch Dungeness crab in Monterey Bay?
Sometimes, mostly in winter off the sandy middle of the bay near Moss Landing. Monterey Bay is mainly rock crab, which is open year-round.
More crab spots
- Oregon crabbing docks and snaring map: Tillamook Bay to Brookings
- Washington crabbing piers and snaring map: Puget Sound and Outer Coast
Questions about a spot? Email contact@airflyfishing.com. We crab these beaches ourselves and are happy to help.
Printable crab maps
North Coast: Bodega Bay to Crescent City
Bay Area: San Francisco to Half Moon Bay
Monterey Bay: Santa Cruz to Monterey
Rules checked against CDFW in September 2026. Always confirm current rules on the CDFW crab page before you go. Spot ratings are the AirFly crew's opinion. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.