Red Rock Crab Fishing on Vancouver Island

The term "red rock crab" comes from the colour of the crab's body and its favoured habitat. Semi-protected bays and estuaries are popular habitats for them. They can also be found in rocky locations along outcroppings and rocky headlands (a point of high land jutting out into the sea). Because they lack the gill straining apparatus needed to live in muddy or sandy bottoms, red rock crabs prefer to live in areas with rocky or gravel bottoms and kelp beds. They can be found from the pre-tidal zone to a depth of 79 meters. Red rock crabs are Pacific Ocean natives. They can be found from Alaska to California. They reside in bays, estuaries, and rocky parts of the ocean from the low intertidal to at least 90 meters deep, although they have been found in traps as deep as 230 meters. To evade predators such as river otters, sea otters, huge fish, and other crabs, red rock crabs often hide among rocks or bury themselves in the sand.

Red rock crabs have a dark, brick red colour with a white underbelly in adulthood. They have a smooth, broad carapace with two big claws with black ends. Red rock crabs have larger shells than Dungeness crabs, with shell widths up to 160 centimeters across. 115 mm across the broadest section of the shell is the legal harvest width in British Columbia. Females have a smaller carapace than males, with carapace widths rarely exceeding 100 millimeters. Juveniles are cryptically camouflaged and may be white or red with white stripes, making them look very different from adults. The back of a red rock crab is generally less than six inches broad, and the claws are huge. It is differentiated from the Dungeness by its crimson tint and black-tipped claws. Red rock crab flesh is excellent, albeit it is not as substantial as Dungeness crab meat. As its name indicates, the red rock crab favours rocky places.

Crabbing season is when the red rock crabs are most plentiful and meatiest, so you may do it any time of year; however, this is when you should capture them to optimize your catch. However, the best time for red rock crabbing on Vancouver Island is October to January, when they are frequently at their biggest and numbers are at their peak following spawning. The commercial crabbing season begins on July 1st; therefore, crab fishing during this period is not recommended because most crabs will be small. not to mention that red rock crabs are considered too tiny for commercial fishing, you'll have a hard time finding them in supermarkets or restaurants. What time of day Is best for crabbing on Vancouver Island? The optimum time to go crab harvesting is when there is slack water (also known as slack tide), which is the interval between high and low tide. Crabs won't be driven around by strong currents or waves during this period, so they'll be out foraging on the beach.

Red Rock Crabs can be found in rocky locations with rocky headlands or outcrops that give some wave shelter, as well as in rock, gravel, or kelp beds. These crabs are fascinating to see as they go about their regular lives as crabs. Crabbing is a year-round activity on Vancouver island, meaning whenever you come to the island, you can catch some fresh red rock crabs. In general, some of the best red rock crabbing locations on Vancouver Island are Fanny Bay Pier, Port McNeil and Clam Cove Beach Trail, James Island Pier Near Sidney, and Port Renfrew Docks, which also is known for its awesome whale watching. You may also wonder "where can I catch crabs from the shore?" You may first make shore that the area is an open zone to catch red rock crab. Our recommendations for shore crabbing are Swy-a-lagoon pier in Nanaimo, Victoria Sidney Pier, and Sooke.

Catching red rock crabs on Vancouver Island is definitely something you would have to prepare in advance. Crabbing will let you catch these crustaceans freshly from the water. The good news is that gear for ocean crabbing, sea crabbing, or even river crabbing is different. The basics for joyful red rock crab fishing on Vancouver Island are:
Crab Trap: You may throw the net or the cage into the water.
Spool: A wire that connects your crab trap to a boat or dock (Some just use a stick or piece of wood, or you can wrap the line around your folding crab trap instead)
Bait Bag: This bait bag is a favourite among crabbing professionals. On the other hand, others swear by dollarama's bird suit cages. The bait bag that comes with the traps is OK, but it tears open with time, and you can't fit as much bait in it.
Zap Straps, Scissors, and Pliers: If needed, bring them for mending your catch.
Crab Bucket: To keep your catch safe! The best option is to use a bucket from a hardware shop. Just enough water to cover the red rock crab in the bucket. This enables them to lift their faces to obtain more air.
Crab Measuring Tool: To know how big your catch is.
Wagon or Cart: to transport your catch and equipment (it becomes heavy if you catch your limit!)
Gloves: When it comes to crabbing, you'll need gloves that adequately protect your hands, fingers, and wrists. The red rock crab's pinchers may easily break your hands' skin. This is not only unpleasant, but it also has the potential to get infected if not treated promptly.
Note that the last two gears mentioned above are entirely optional for your red rock crab harvesting on Vancouver Island.

In British Columbia, all fishermen must obtain a licence to fish in tidal (salt) waterways. Because many fishing spots lack an Independent Access Provider that offers fishing licences, it is preferable to acquire your licence online before heading out for a red rock crab harvest.
Annual licences are available and are valid from April 1 to March 31. To know more about fishing and crabbing licences on Vancouver Island, read our complete guide in this regard.