Thread: Where to fish for blue crabs

Greetings all,
My family will be in gulf shores for a week here at the end of June and I'm wanting to take my sons fishing for blue crabs. I'd appreciate any suggestions for good areas to try. We are staying down on the Fort Morgan end, but we are willing to drive.

I've done some research and it seems maybe the Fort Morgan pier, and possibly Little Lagoon Pass. Any thoughts on these?

How about the wall across from the Fort Morgan Fishing Beach? Are you allowed to fish from there?

I'd also like to try Little Lagoon itself but not sure where since we aren't staying in a property with access. Are there public areas for Little Lagoon?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks very much!

At the fort on the gulf side when it is calm, also the 'no-name' road, and Mobile St access.
On the bay side off the jetties near the boat ramp and ferry dock (but the water may be too shallow along the seawall?)
A little east is the Ft Morgan marina (for a small fee) and a few miles east from there is another no-name road.
Then there is the shoreline around the launch at The Pines.
There is Lagoon public access along Ft Morgan Road (Hwy 180) from Pine Beach Trail and Jeff Friend Trail and at Mo's Landing public launch.
There is access under the Hwy 59 bridge on the Inter Coastal Water Way and Little Lagoon bridge that would work for crabbing too, as well as near the 'weir' on Hwy 135 (at the west end of Lake Shelby).
And Little Lagoon Pass Park around on Hwy 182.

Hope this helps!

Go to Billy's and just buy some. Not as much fun but can get them there if you strike out catching them on your own.

+1 on Ft. Morgan Marina. Just about any dock with lights on the bay side on the peninsula. The water off the end of most of them is less than a couple of feet deep at low tide and you can see the bottom. Drop your pier net off the bottom and toss some dead shrimp n tp of the net.

We used to go on the beach at night with flashlights and nets and scoop them up when the surf was fairly calm. We used to do pretty good but I couldn't tell you if this is the right time of year to do it. Blue and calico crabs, both are good eating.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Very much appreciated. Although I've crabbed a few times before, I've not done it in the surf. I usually do handlines and the basket style nets off of jettis and piers and such.

What is usually recommended for crabbing in the surf? Would that be the traps, or would the baskets still work?

Also, I'll need to pick up some supplies and I always try to patronize small and local businesses. I've read a bit and it looks like Brunson Net Supplies in Foley may be a good bet. Any suggestions on that, or anywhere else to pick up crabbing and fishing supplies?

Thanks again. We are really looking forward for our trip.

Something like this is what we used in the surf. Shine your light til you see one and scoop it up.

Years ago I lived in Louisiana, we used to use trot lines for crabs, just tie a line between 2 stakes, put fish heads or chicken necks on the drops. Wait an hour or so, walk slowly along the line while raising it, caught a ton of crabs that way.

As a kid I used to wade out in surf, hook a fish head on my rod and reel , cast it out and reel in slowly. I had a hand dip net tied to my belt to dip them when they got close. Lots of fun for a kid and got some beautiful crabs.