Planning a trip?

Oregon's South Coast is your destination. Check out these wonderful Bay Area activities.

58 Experience roller derby Experience roller derby

Watch a roller derby bout. The Bay Area is home to the Coos Count ...

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59 Hunt for rocks Hunt for rocks

For those who can't get enough of the rocks at the beach, Bandon ...

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57 Watch out for the pincers

Watch out for the pincers Don't let those big pincers scare you.
Dungeness crab is a delicacy and the local favorite for visitors and residents on the South Coast.

Catching and cooking your own crab is easy: Bait a trap, catch a crab, cook it and eat.
First, you need a recreational shellfish license and a crab ring or crab trap. Several local businesses rent or sell them and also have the licenses, tide books and regulations.

Crabbing is legal year-round, but at Winchester Bay, the crab are most abundant in August and September. October and November can be even better if the rains hold off. The best time to try your luck is an hour or two before or after high tide. Some ports and marinas, such as Bandon and Charleston also have dedicated fishing and crabbing piers from which to try your luck.

You also need bait: Frozen fish carcasses are usually cheap and sold at several outlets. Frozen turkey thighs also work.

Once you've found a spot, be sure to tie off the free end of the line. A few crab traps have been lost because the loose end of the rope escaped the owner's fingers.

You won't have to wait long before some of the Dungeness or red rock crab find your bait. When hauling back the trap, pull quickly. The critters in the ring will try to escape.
Only male crab are legal to keep and they must be at least 53„4 inches across the back ” and watch out for the claws.

To cook the crab at home, boil a deep pot of water. Add three or four tablespoons of salt. Many people also add a splash of vinegar and/or a handful of pickling spices to the bath. Toss the crab in live and cook them for 20 minutes. Take the big shell, the back, off the crab and clean out the gills and guts, then use a nutcracker to crack the shells of the body meat and legs. Enjoy!
56 Play some bridge 58 Experience roller derby
 

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