October through April. Join us as we walk for crab by lantern-light. We can teach you how to catch, clean and cook them. The Dungeness Crab and Groveland Cottage where featured in the March 1998 issue of Saveur Magazine on page 96.
Experience the thrill of hiking out nearly a mile into the tide flats of the Dungeness Bay in search of the world-famous Dungeness crab. Yes, the Dungeness crab was named after our Dungeness Bay in the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. You'll catch crab the way the locals do. We wait for low tides, minus tides in particular. We head out as the tide is retreating, usually two hours before the lowest point. We walk and walk; when we get to the water we wade in (chest waders are best but hip waders will do). You walk slowly, looking for movement in the eel grass; when you spot the crab they sort of shuffle sideways. Scoop under their bodies with a special pitch fork (the tines are protected from puncturing the crab). You carefully hold onto the bottom of the crab so the pincers can't get you and check to be sure it is legal. It must be a male and it must be 6 1/4" across the widest point of it's shell. If it is legal then you put it in your bucket that you have tied to your waist which is floating along with you. Then you hunt for another. Each licensed crabber is allowed to catch 6 crabs. Be sure to check latest state regulations for changes to season and catch limits.
Groveland cottage thinks this process is so much fun we are offering you the opportunity to experience it with us. The crabbing adventure includes two nights lodging, two breakfasts, and the crabbing adventure. It also includes the gear (hip or chest waders, pitch forks, buckets, lanterns, etc. It doesn't include the crabbing license. An out-of-state shellfish license for 3 days is less than $10.00, and they are available for purchase at local hardware and discount stores.
Traditionally we normally crab during the fall and winter when the low tides happen in the evening. We often crab to a full moon. You will need to bring warm clothing, layering is best, and a day pack in case you need to shed clothing.
