Crabbing in Dorset: Best Places to Go Crabbing with Kids

Crabbing is one of Dorset’s most popular family activities and a great way to introduce children to the county’s marine wildlife. All you need is a simple crabbing line, some bait and a bucket filled with fresh seawater. During the warmer months, Dorset’s harbours and quays are full of families trying to catch the common shore crab before carefully returning them to the water.

Whether you’re spending the day in Poole, Swanage, Weymouth, West Bay or Mudeford, crabbing is an inexpensive activity that can keep children entertained for hours.

Best Places to Go Crabbing in Dorset

Poole Quay

Poole Quay is probably Dorset’s best-known crabbing location. The quieter end of the quayside near the Lifeboat Museum is particularly popular as there are fewer boats and a slipway provides easier access to the water. There are no safety railings along much of the quay, so children should always be closely supervised.

Swanage

Swanage is one of Dorset’s premier crabbing destinations, with the best spots found around Stone Quay near the pier and along the wooden decking of Swanage Pier itself. During the summer holidays it’s common to see families lining the harbour with crabbing lines and buckets, hoping to catch the common shore crab. Crabbing equipment, including drop nets, bait and buckets, is available from local shops such as Swanage Sea Fishing and the Dive Shop on Swanage Pier.

Mudeford Quay

Mudeford Quay is one of Dorset’s most popular places to go crabbing with children. Nets, buckets and bait can all be purchased from the shop at the end of the quay, making it easy to take part even if you haven’t brought your own equipment. The quayside has safety railings along much of its length, although it can become very busy during the school holidays and on warm summer weekends.

The entrance to Christchurch Harbour, known locally as The Run, has extremely strong tidal currents, so children should always be closely supervised and should never enter the water. Families with very young children may find the quieter harbour side near the café and fish stall a calmer place to enjoy crabbing.

Crabbing is often most productive during the two hours either side of high tide, when the rising or falling water encourages crabs to leave their hiding places in search of food.

Weymouth Harbour

Weymouth Harbour offers several excellent crabbing spots along the harbour walls and is particularly popular with families during the summer holidays. Its central location makes it easy to combine with a visit to Weymouth Beach, the town centre or one of the many cafés overlooking the harbour.

West Bay Harbour

West Bay Harbour is a popular place to try crabbing while enjoying one of Dorset’s prettiest fishing harbours. The sheltered harbour walls make it a good location for families, while the nearby beach, cafés and kiosks make it easy to spend a relaxing afternoon by the sea.

What You’ll Need

A crabbing line with a small net bag
Bacon or fish offcuts for bait
A bucket filled with fresh seawater
A small hand net (optional but useful)

Avoid using hooks, as they can injure the crabs.

How to Catch a Crab

Tie your bait securely into the net bag.
Lower the line gently into the water beside the harbour wall.
Wait a few minutes while the crab begins feeding.
Slowly lift the line back towards the surface.
Use a small landing net if needed to scoop the crab into your bucket.

The species most commonly caught around Dorset is the shore crab.

Looking After Your Crabs

If you keep your crabs in a bucket for a short time before releasing them:

Only keep a few at a time. Dorset Wildlife Trust recommends no more than three crabs in one bucket.
Keep the bucket in the shade.
Change the seawater regularly.
Add a little seaweed or a few stones to provide shelter.
If the crabs begin fighting, release some immediately.

Always return your crabs to the same stretch of water where you caught them once you’ve finished observing them.

Stay Safe

Children should always be supervised around harbour walls and quaysides. Surfaces can be slippery, and many locations have deep water with no safety barriers.

Please take all litter home with you, including old line, bait packaging and plastic bags, to help protect Dorset’s coastline and wildlife.