“the activity or occupation of fishing for crabs”
Collins dictionary
Have you ever been crabbing? It’s such a fun way to spend an afternoon down at Padstow Harbour. And if you are looking for the perfect crabbing Cornwall spot then read on!
I’ve spent many a day supervising little ones with buckets of water and pieces of bait, trying to lure an unsuspecting crab into our bucket to show off on the quay. There is nothing quite like the shouts of “i’ve got one, i’ve got one!” and proud little faces beaming up at you.
Crabbing is definitely a socialable affair. Friends are firmly made and best bait tips swapped – raw bacon or bits of fish? Nets or lines? It’s a slightly competitive sport. Everyone wants to be the one to have the biggest crab in their bucket!
The age old question – Which bait is best?
I’m going to come out and just say it. Bacon. Preferably smelly smoked bacon with a gnarly bit of rind. Some people will tell you that bait in the form of little fish are best, and you’ll find lots of shops selling these pre-packed fish around the harbour. BUT i still stand by bacon!
What happens to the crabs which are caught?
And at the end of the session (most people do crabbing for a couple of hours, but it’s up to you really), the crabs are released back into the harbour. I rather enjoy watching the crabs scuttle down the ramp back into the water. The crabs aren’t stupid, they head straight back to where the bait is to fatten themselves up before being caught again. Ah, the life of a Padstow Crab.
To catch the perfect crab – you will need:
- A nice big bucket, ideally a clear one.
- A crabbing line or crabbing net. I prefer the net as its easier but some people swear by the line.
- Bait. If you are organised then I suggest chopping this up in the kitchen at Rock Cottage and putting in a Tupperware tub, otherwise wrestling with raw bacon down by the water can be a bit tricky.
- Patience and a good spot. If you have small children with you then I strongly suggest heading down the boat launch ramp in the middle of the harbour (near the pasty shops and fish & chips – lunch? crabbing is hungry work!) because the edges of the harbour aren’t fenced and the drop is quite high to be sending crabbing nets over. Please supervise your little ones at all times because the Harbour is deep!
You’ll find all the supplies you need for sale around Padstow Harbour – it doesn’t cost much, a few pounds for the bucket and same again for net & bait.
I’d love to hear how you get on, did you manage to catch many crabs? If you’re happy to have your photos shared on our social media pages then i’d love to share your success! https://www.facebook.com/rockcottagepadstow
Why not book your holiday cottage near Padstow today to secure your summer dates? Rock Cottage is in the quaint village of Saint Issey just a couple of miles from Padstow making everything in easy reach. You can even catch the bus from a few steps away from Rock Cottage to save taking the car into Padstow and finding a parking space. Booking and availability checks can be made online www.rockcottagepadstow.com or drop me and email with any queries. Happy crabbing!
