When is Crab Season in Texas? A Guide to Blue Crab Harvesting Times

Texas is famous for its Gulf coastline, providing residents and visitors ample opportunities to enjoy crabbing. Blue crab is one of the most popular catches, but if you’re new to crabbing in Texas, you may wonder – when is crab season here?

In this article we’ll provide a complete guide to Texas blue crab seasons regulations, tips for harvesting, and more. Read on to learn the ins and outs of crabbing in the Lone Star State.

Overview of Blue Crab Seasons in Texas

The good news for Texas crab lovers is that there is no closed season for harvesting blue crabs in state waters, You can legally catch blue crabs all 12 months of the year along the Texas coast

However. while crabbing is allowed year-round. there are certain times of year that are better than others in terms of crab availability size. and quality

• Spring (March-May) – Crab season picks up as the water warms. Best time for catching large “jimmy” male crabs.

• Summer (June-August) – Peak crab season. High catch rates, but smaller crabs on average. More females and juveniles appear.

• Fall (September-November) – Good season for large crabs again before they burrow for winter. Watch weather as fall storms can impact catch.

• Winter (December-February) – Crab activity slows as they burrow into mud. Still open season but lower yields expected.

While you can catch blue crabs in Texas any month, spring through fall offers prime harvesting, with summer being the most active season overall.

Texas Blue Crab Regulations and Minimum Size Limits

When crabbing in Texas, be sure to know and follow all regulations for harvest methods, sizes, and possession limits:

• A fishing license with a saltwater endorsement is required for crabbing.

• There is no daily bag or possession limit for blue crab. You can keep all the legal sized crabs you harvest.

• The minimum size is 5 inches measured across the widest point of the shell.

• It’s allowed to keep 5% of undersized crabs per day for bait only. These must be kept in a separate container.

• Female crabs with eggs (sponge crabs) may not be kept.

• Crabs may be taken using crab traps, crab nets, fishing poles, or lines only.

• Specific rules apply for crab trap and line markings and placement. Check regulations before setting gear.

Following the size, season, and harvest method rules is important to ensure healthy crab populations for seasons to come.

Best Baits for Crabbing in Texas

The key to crab pot success is using fresh, smelly bait. Top choices include:

• Fresh dead fish – Croaker, mullet, porgy, or other oily fish work great. Cut into strips for smaller crab traps.

• Chicken necks/wings – Inexpensive and very effective. Can add old bay or fish oil for more scent.

• Razor clams – A prized bait where available. The smell really attracts crabs.

• Eel or squid – Excellent but pricier options. Cut into chunks.

Make sure to check and re-bait pots regularly, replacing bait every 24 hours if needed. Bait cages can help the scent disperse.

Best Places to Crab in Texas

The miles of shoreline and bays along the Gulf of Mexico provide countless options for crabbing spots. Some top places to try include:

• Galveston Bay – The most popular spot for crabbing in Texas. Jetty fishing piers and shore access abound.

• Matagorda Bay – Less crowded. Excellent crabbing from shore near Pass Cavallo and Sargent.

• Sabine Lake – Border water near Louisiana. Big crabs taken near jetties and bridges.

• Corpus Christi – Fish from piers or wade off Padre and Mustang Islands. Nearby bays also productive.

• Trinity Bay – Part of Galveston Bay system but sees less pressure. Good wade crabbing.

Ask locals for their favorite access points and spots when visiting a new area. And be sure to get proper permission for shoreline access or for setting pots from piers.

Best Time of Day and Tide for Crabbing

Crabs tend to be most active and feeding around sunrise and sunset. Set your pots before dawn or in the evening, then check them early the next morning. The middle of the day sees less crab movement.

In terms of tides, a rising high tide generally produces the best crabbing. Crab pots near jetties, inlets, or passes are very productive on an incoming evening tide.

Low slack tide is the most difficult time for crabs to enter and exit pots. Consider pulling pots temporarily during extreme low tides.

Storing and Cooking Your Texas Blue Crabs

Once you’ve hauled in a bounty of beautiful blue crabs, you’ll want to prepare them properly:

• Keep crabs cool and moist – place in a bucket or cooler with damp newspaper or a wet towel. Don’t submerge in water or they’ll drown.

• Cook, pick, or freeze the meat as soon as possible for best flavor. Live crabs can be kept 1-2 days max if kept cold.

• Boil, steam, or sauté crabs for 7-12 minutes until the shell turns red. Take care not to overcook.

• Pick the sweet lump and jumbo lump meat from legs and body. Use the rest for delicious crab cakes and soups.

• Freeze excess picked meat in airtight bags or containers up to 4 months.

Now get out on the water and put some Texas blue crabs on the table! Carefully follow the seasons, rules, and tips above for an awesome crab harvest. Let us know your best crab catches this season!

Blue Crab Species in Texas

While the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is the most popular, Texas waters host a diversity of crab species that can be caught recreationally:

• Red-jointed fiddler crab – Lives in burrows in salt marshes. The male has one large claw.

• Mudflat fiddler crab – Found on mudflats, often in thick clusters. Both claws equal sized.

• Gulf stone crab – Resembles Florida stone crab. Right claw only harvested.

• Green porcelain crab – Colorful small crab found under rocks and on oysters.

• Gulf spider crab – Unusual long-legged crab living offshore on the seafloor.

• Gulf marsh crab – Tiny crab less than an inch wide, common in grassy wetlands.

Along with following regulations, it’s important to properly identify your catch. Consult a field guide if uncertain on species.

The Life Cycle and Habitat of Blue Crabs

Understanding the life cycle and habitat needs of blue crabs helps sustain their populations:

• Blue crab larvae hatch near the ocean and drift into estuaries and bays.

• As they grow through juvenile stages, they live among submerged grasses.

• Once sexually mature after 12-18 months, they migrate offshore to breed.

• Females carry fertilized eggs and migrate back inland to release larvae.

• Blue crabs thrive in coastal waters with eelgrass beds, marsh edges, oyster reefs and muddy bottoms.

• They grow by molting their shell periodically before reaching maximum size.

• Blue crabs serve as both predator and prey in the food web, eating and being eaten.

• Threats include habitat loss, pollution, overfishing and predators like drum fish.

Following seasonal closures, size limits and careful release of undersized crabs or females with eggs helps ensure future generations of this iconic species.

Cooking and Eating Blue Crab

Blue crab has sweet, succulent meat when expertly prepared:

• Boil or steam whole live crabs for 7-12 minutes until shells turn red. Do not overcook.

• Use sharp crab mallet or knife to crack shells. Remove top shell and “apron.”

• Carefully pick out lump crabmeat sections. Crack legs by hand for more meat.

• Claws contain delicious meat. Crack with mallet and pick out with skewer.

• Use picked crabmeat for crab cakes, dips, sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta dishes and more.

• Refrigerate fresh crabmeat up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze in airtight container for 4 months.

• When buying crabmeat, look for containers with no milky liquid which indicates spoilage.

Enjoy the fruits of your crab harvesting labor by preparing a fresh seafood feast. Observe seasons, limits and rules so future generations can savor delicious Texas blue crab!

The best season for crab varies depending on the type of crab and the region. Generally, the primary season for most crab species is October to January, when they are often at their largest and populations are highest after spawning.

Yes, in Texas, anyone 17 years or older needs a valid Texas fishing license with a saltwater fishing endorsement to catch crabs in public saltwater areas for personal use.