Washington Crab Snaring and Crabbing Piers: Puget Sound and Coast Map, 2026 Guide
Washington has some of the best public crabbing piers on the West Coast. This guide covers 8 spots: 5 Puget Sound piers from Kayak Point to Tacoma and 3 on the Outer Coast at Westport, Tokeland and Cape Disappointment. It also covers the 2026 seasons by marine area, limits, licenses, what to bring, how to rig a snare and what to do after the catch.
Map of Washington crabbing spots
Tap a spot for species, gear, open days and directions. All spots need a fishing license, including piers. The map opens on Puget Sound. Drag it southwest for Westport, Tokeland and the Columbia River.
Puget Sound: Edmonds Fishing Pier and Kayak Point Pier are open the most days (Thursday to Monday in summer). Seattle and Tacoma areas open only on Sundays and Mondays. Coast: Westport Marina is open year-round and is one of the best public crabbing docks in the state. Snares are legal in Washington. Keep male Dungeness only.
Puget Sound piers
Puget Sound crabbing is set by marine area, and each area opens on different days. Check the area before you drive.
- Kayak Point Pier (Area 8-2, Stanwood): county park pier on Port Susan. Open Thursday to Monday in summer. Parking fee.
- Edmonds Fishing Pier (Area 9): the most popular crabbing pier near Seattle. Open Thursday to Monday in summer. Crabs hold on the sand around the pilings; evenings are good.
- Seacrest Fishing Pier (Area 10, West Seattle): open Sundays and Mondays only. Stay clear of the water taxi dock next door.
- Des Moines Marina Pier (Area 11): open Sundays and Mondays only, and Area 11 closes earlier (Aug 17 in 2026).
- Point Defiance Marina (Area 11, Tacoma): same days as Des Moines. Strong current around the point on big tides.
Outer Coast: Westport to Cape Disappointment
The coast is open year-round with a bigger daily limit, and no catch record card is needed.
- Westport Marina (Grays Harbor): public docks with bait and tackle on the waterfront. One of the best public crabbing docks in Washington.
- Tokeland Fishing Pier (Willapa Bay): quiet and uncrowded. The bay is shallow, so fish around high tide.
- Cape Disappointment North Jetty (Ilwaco): calm swell days only. Check jetty access before you go. The state park needs a Discover Pass.
Fall pot closure: crab pots are closed on the coast from Sep 16 to Nov 30 (Willapa Bay to Nov 14). Ring nets and traps that let crab walk in and out freely are still allowed. The Columbia River portion of Area 1 allows pots year-round.
2026 seasons, limits and licenses
| Puget Sound | Outer Coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Dungeness season | Summer: Jul 2 to Sep 7 (Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, Thursday to Monday). Area 10: Jul 5 to Sep 7, Sun and Mon. Area 11: Jul 5 to Aug 17, Sun and Mon. Any fall or winter openings are announced by WDFW. | Year-round |
| Dungeness limit | 5 males, 6¼ in minimum, hard shell | 6 males, 6 in minimum |
| Red rock crab | 6 a day, either sex, 5 in minimum | 6 a day, either sex, 5 in minimum |
| Paperwork | Fishing license, Puget Sound crab endorsement and catch record card | Fishing license, no catch record card |
- Legal gear: pots, traps including ring nets and snares, dip nets and by hand. In Puget Sound, up to two units of gear per person.
- Females and soft shells: release every female Dungeness and every soft-shelled crab.
- Catch record card: Puget Sound summer cards are due October 1, 2026, even if you did not go crabbing.
- Unattended gear needs a half-red, half-white buoy with your name and address. Snares you hold on a rod do not.
Measure every crab. Our Dungeness crab gauge is made for West Coast sizes, and the crab gauge guide shows exactly where to measure.
Best time to go
| Month | Puget Sound | Outer Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Jul to Aug | Best Summer season, check your area's days | Good |
| Sep | Good Open to Sep 7 in most areas | Good Pots close Sep 16; snares and rings still work |
| Oct to Nov | Depends Only if WDFW opens a fall season | Good Rings and snares only |
| Dec to Jun | Mostly closed | Best Dec to Feb after pots reopen |
- Tide: Puget Sound tides swing 10 ft or more. Fish the slack tide, when your gear stays put.
- Time of day: evening and night are often best on busy piers.
- Soft shells: early summer crabs can be soft after molting. Release them.
What to bring
- Rod and reel: 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy rod, reel holding 150+ yards.
- Line: 30 to 50 lb braid, like our 50 lb Super Cast braided line.
- Crab snares: the AirFly 6-Loop Crab Snare for piers. In the strong Puget Sound current, the Pro Crab Snare with pyramid sinker holds bottom.
- Castable trap: the foldable castable crab trap casts from the same rod and counts as one unit of gear.
- Bait: chicken, fish carcasses or squid. AirFly dried mackerel bait needs no cooler.
- Crab gauge: the AirFly Dungeness gauge.
- Casting glove: a casting glove protects your finger from braid.
- Spare loops: replacement loops.
- Claw bands: AirFly claw bands keep crabs from pinching in the cooler.
- License, crab endorsement and catch record card (Puget Sound), plus a pen to record your catch.
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. Palomar knot straight to your braid, or a heavy snap swivel.
- Stand the loops up. Flat or kinked loops do not catch legs.
- Pack the bait cage tight. See our best crab bait guide.
- Set your drag loose enough that a big crab cannot pull the rod off the rail.
- Cast with a smooth lob, not a snap.
New to snares? Our pier how-to post and the full Crab Snare Guide walk through each step.
Technique: piers and docks
Snare from a pier
Cast 20 to 40 yards onto sand or eelgrass edges, away from the pilings where loops snag. Soak 10 to 20 minutes. Reel in at a steady speed with the rod tip up and lift over the rail in one motion.
Ring net or trap
Drop straight down next to the pier. Pull every 20 to 30 minutes, and pull a ring net fast so crabs do not walk off. Use a snare and a ring net together to cover both close and far water.
What to do after the catch
- Measure and check the sex right away. Keep only hard-shell males at legal size.
- Record it. In Puget Sound, write each kept Dungeness on your catch record card before you put out gear again.
- Band the claws with claw bands.
- Keep them cool, damp and alive under a wet towel. Not in fresh water or melted ice.
- Check the biotoxin map. The Washington Department of Health posts shellfish safety closures. Throwing away the guts and eating only the meat is the safe habit.
- Cook the same day. Boil or steam live crab about 15 to 20 minutes.
Safety and challenges
- Strong tidal current in Puget Sound. Fish slack tide and use enough weight.
- Busy piers: Edmonds and Seacrest are crowded on open days. Keep your line tight to avoid tangles.
- Ferry lanes and boat traffic: never set gear in ferry lanes or marina channels.
- Coastal jetties: waves wash over the Cape Disappointment jetty in any swell.
- Bait and tackle: use the "Bait shops nearby" button on any spot in the map above.
Frequently asked questions
Are crab snares legal in Washington?
Yes. WDFW allows crab to be taken with pots, traps including ring nets and snares, dip nets and by hand. In Puget Sound you can use up to two units of gear per person.
Do I need a license to crab from a pier in Washington?
Yes. Unlike California, Washington requires a fishing license on piers too. Puget Sound also requires a crab endorsement and a catch record card.
When is crab season in Puget Sound in 2026?
The summer season runs July 2 to September 7 in Areas 8-1, 8-2 and 9, Thursday to Monday. Area 10 is open Sundays and Mondays from July 5 to September 7, and Area 11 Sundays and Mondays from July 5 to August 17.
What is the crab limit in Washington?
In Puget Sound, 5 male Dungeness a day at 6¼ inches or more. On the coast, 6 males at 6 inches or more. Red rock crab is 6 a day, either sex, 5 inches or more.
Where is the best place to crab near Seattle?
Edmonds Fishing Pier is the most popular and is open more days than the Seattle piers. Seacrest Pier in West Seattle opens only on Sundays and Mondays.
Can I keep female Dungeness crab in Washington?
No. Release all female Dungeness and all soft-shelled crabs. Red rock crab of either sex may be kept.
More crab spots
- Bay Area and Northern California crab snaring map
- Oregon crabbing docks and snaring map: Tillamook Bay to Brookings
Questions about a spot? Email contact@airflyfishing.com.
Printable crab maps
Puget Sound
Outer Coast
Rules checked against WDFW in September 2026. Always confirm current seasons and rules on the WDFW crab page before you go. Spot ratings are the AirFly crew's opinion. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.