The 3 Cs of Crabbing: How to Catch, Care For, & Cook Crab
Camano Island State Park​
hosted by Parks

Summer 2025

For specific dates see the State Parks Event Calendar,
​then search on "Camano Island State Park".

​Become a crabbing expert!
Prepare yourself for the best crabbing season yet! 
Learn how to catch, care for, and cook crabs.​
To crab in Washington State:​
All recreational crabbers 15 years or older must carry a current Washington fishing license.

In addition, all recreational crabbers regardless of age, who fish for crab in the Puget Sound crab management area must purchase a Puget Sound crab endorsement on their license and obtain a Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record card to account for all Dungeness crab they catch.​

More information related to crabbing:
General Licensing Information: Statewide Gear Rules: Don't Lose Your Pots ... so you can #CatchMoreCrab!
  1. Know if the tide is rising or falling (so you have enough line)
  2. Know the direction of the current (if your pot is swept away – you’ll know which direction to search)
  3. Add weight to your pot (so it is less likely to be swept away by strong currents)
  4. Use longer line (in case your pot is swept to a much deeper location by the current)
  5. Use an additional high visibility buoy (in case your pot moves or if the water gets rough)
  6. Avoid high traffic areas (so your pot isn’t snagged and towed off)
  7. Use weighted line (so it won’t float on the surface and be cut by a propeller) 
  8. Watch you pots (watched pots may never boil, but a watched crab pot never goes missing)
Updated May 21, 2025