Crabbing in Winchester Bay | Shared 2 Hour Charter
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
Two-hour shared crabbing charter in Winchester Bay watersCatch up to 12 Dungeness crabs per person aboardRuns December through October for $100 per guest
Winchester Bay sits right where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific, making it one of Oregon's top spots for pulling Dungeness crab. This two-hour shared charter gets you out on the water with SOA Charters from December through mid-October, when the crab are thick and the catching is prime. You'll be working real crab pots in Pacific waters, and each angler can keep up to 12 keeper-size Dungeness per trip. At $100 per person, it's a solid deal for anyone wanting to fill the cooler with some of the West Coast's sweetest crab meat. Perfect for families, couples, or solo fishers looking to try something different from the usual rod-and-reel action.
Your crabbing adventure starts right from Winchester Bay's protected harbor, where you'll meet the crew and get the rundown on how we pull pots and measure keepers. The boat heads out into the Pacific where our pots have been soaking, usually in 20 to 60 feet of water depending on conditions and where the crab are moving. You'll get hands-on experience hauling up the pots using hydraulic pullers – no back-breaking manual hauling here. The crew will show you how to tell a keeper male from the females and shorts that go back, plus share tips on why certain spots produce better than others. The whole experience is designed for beginners, but even seasoned crabbers enjoy the social aspect and learning new productive areas. Winchester Bay's relatively protected waters mean comfortable conditions most days, though you'll still want to dress for the marine layer and Pacific breeze.
Crabbing is all about the setup and timing, and SOA Charters handles the technical side so you can focus on the fun part. The boat runs commercial-style crab pots baited with fresh fish heads and chicken – stuff that really gets the Dungeness moving. Pots soak for the right amount of time before your trip, usually 4 to 8 hours depending on conditions and crab activity. You'll use the boat's hydraulic puller system to bring up each pot, which beats the old-school hand-over-hand method by a mile. The crew provides measuring gauges, and you'll learn to quickly sex the crabs and check sizes – only male Dungeness measuring 5.75 inches across the shell or bigger make it into your bag. Everything else goes back to grow up and reproduce. The boat carries plenty of ice and storage space for your catch, plus all the safety gear required for these Pacific waters. Most trips check 8 to 12 pots depending on how they're producing and where the crab are concentrated.
"Very kind. Great time with kids!" - Brian
Dungeness crab are the main attraction in Winchester Bay waters, and for good reason – they're some of the sweetest, most prized crab on the entire West Coast. These brownish-purple beauties can grow up to 10 inches across, but most keepers you'll catch run 6 to 8 inches. Dungeness are active year-round but peak during winter and spring months when they move into shallower waters to molt and mate. They're opportunistic feeders, going after everything from small fish and clams to other crabs, which is why our mixed bait works so well. What makes Dungeness special is their clean, sweet meat – way less salty than East Coast blue crabs and with more meat per shell. The males you'll keep have meaty claws and body sections perfect for everything from crab cakes to simple steaming. Winchester Bay's cold, clean Pacific waters produce particularly flavorful crab since they're feeding on a rich mix of marine life from both the ocean and the nutrient-rich Umpqua River outflow. During peak season, it's not uncommon to see pots come up with 4 to 8 keepers, making your limit a real possibility on productive days.
Winchester Bay crabbing with SOA Charters delivers exactly what serious seafood lovers want – a genuine Pacific Northwest experience that puts premium Dungeness crab in your cooler. The two-hour format works perfectly for families with kids or anyone wanting to try crabbing without committing to a full day. You're getting access to proven crab grounds, professional equipment, and local knowledge that takes years to develop on your own. December through October gives you a long season to work with, and the shared charter format keeps costs reasonable while adding to the social experience. At $100 per person with up to 12 keeper crab possible, you're looking at some of the freshest, most affordable premium crab you'll find anywhere. Book your spot now and get ready to experience why Winchester Bay has built its reputation as one of Oregon's premier crabbing destinations.
Hit the waters off Winchester Bay aboard this solid 2020 Hewescraft, built for serious crabbing action. At 28 feet with twin 150hp Yamahas pushing her to 37 knots, she'll get you out to the crab grounds fast and back with your haul even faster. The boat comes loaded with everything you need - GPS and radar to navigate the Oregon coast, fish finder to locate the best spots, and VHF radio to stay connected. There's an icebox to keep your catch fresh, plus a toilet for longer trips. With outriggers and a bait tank, this rig is dialed in for pulling pots and landing those prized Dungeness crabs. Whether you're new to crabbing or a seasoned pro, this boat handles the Pacific swells like a champ and gives you the perfect platform to work those crab pots. Ready to fill the coolers with fresh Oregon crab.
Very kind. Great time with kids!
Oregon