Art of Crabbing Review

Crabbing is something that people do, but to be honest, I never thought I would be one of them. That all changed when Sharon asked me if I wanted to go crabbing because it was something she wanted to cross off her bucket list (and it was on mine too!). I’m down to try anything once and so with a quick Google search, we found the Art of Crabbing on Airbnb hosted by Alex.

It was the first time either of us tried an Experience on Airbnb and so we didn’t really know what to expect…but it was so much fun! We drove down to Pacifica and met on the pier at the Chit Chat Cafe. On the pier, we learned the basics of crabbing, met other fishers, and got to eat our catch at the end of the day (it may or may not have had to be supplemented by more crab from Ranch 99 because we are noobs).

The first lesson of the day revolved around how to assemble the fishing rod. Then, you thread your fishing line through the rod. Sounds simple enough right? And then we learned how to tie the fishing line to the crab snare (pictured below).

 

For bait, we used calamari in our crab snare (aka the crabmeister). Other folks were using clams and sardines as well and they were nice enough to give us their leftovers. There is a real communal feel on the pier – a feeling of we’re all in this together and we’re all just trying to catch some fresh dinner. Just please don’t hit me with your snare when you’re doing an overhead cast.

From there, the next step is learning how to cast your line and it becomes an art in knowing when to reel your line back in. How can you tell? Especially when the sea current is so strong? And that folks, is the art. This is where you spend the most of your time, where you kick back, chat, maybe drink a beer (or two), and wait for dinner.

 

Overall, learning the art of crabbing was great. Alex walked us through each different step, from piecing our fishing rod together to educating us on how best to cook the crab. For example, it’s best if the crab is out of water no longer than an hour during transport, as it can die if it’s out for longer, causing an enzyme to be released that will tarnish the taste of the crabmeat. With all my questions, I can personally attest to the fact that he is a very patient man. If you are looking to learn how to crab or just want to kick it with some new people doing something you love, I would highly recommend doing this!

Equipment:

1. Fishing rod + reel – this one has the rod, reel, hooks, and line so it’s great for a first-timer (like me!)
2. Crab snare – This one is similar to what we used
3. Fishing line – the neon color of this one will make it easier to see your line after you cast it into the water
4. Ice box – to carry your hard earned catch home and keep it cool on the drive back. This one is kinda small but it’s easy to handle and carry, which will be nice because your hands will be full with your other equipment.

I would also recommend bringing layers, a hat, and for the ladies or long-haired men, a hair tie because it can be windy AF and cold out on the water.

For more info on crabbing, you can check out Alex’s website here.

What did you like about crabbing? Any advice on other equipment to bring? Leave your comments down below!