Best Places to go Crabbing in Lyme Regis Dorset

If you are a regular visitor of Mudpie Fridays then you will know that the boys are a little obsessed with going crabbing. So when we visited the Jurassic Coast, staying in Lyme Bay they wanted to go crabbing in Lyme Regis Dorset. We spent the morning of our first-day fishing in Lyme Regis before trying our luck at catching crabs on the harbour wall. It was a great way to spend the day. Here is everything you need to know about visiting and maximising the number of crabs you can catch.

Where to go crabbing Lyme Regis Dorset

Initially, I had thought that a great place would be the famous Cobb that runs around the outside of the harbour. However, after speaking to the staff at Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium we had a change of heart. He said that the best places for crabbing in Lyme Regis was along the harbour not at the end of the Cobb. Which turned out well for us since the Cobb was closed when we visited. 

Right outside the aquarium, there is a low wooden beam which makes it slightly safer for the kids. Further up there are no wooden sleepers and so you need to watch young children like a hawk. We found a suitable spot close to the aquarium. Not only did we have spectacular views across the harbour but it turned out to be a good place as there were ice creams nearby. 

The harbour is located in the town centre, from the high street it is around a fifteen minute walk. You will walk down Marine Parade which will take you past the pebble beach, various cafes, fish and chip shops gift shops and the National Trust. This is also the perfect place since there are also public toilets close by. 

When is the best time to go crabbing Lyme Regis?

The harbour is not deep all the way around. There is even a small piece of sand in the corner during low tide. Shore crabs like to have enough water above them to feel safe. This is partly why you are likely to catch more at high tide. As they come back in towards the shore, for this reason, I would suggest checking the tide times in advance. And planning your day around them. Especially useful if you are also planning on doing a spot of fossil hunting. Which you will most likely do when the tide is out. Lyme Regis has some of the best beaches in West Dorset for finding fossilised treasures. 

What do you need to go crabbing in Lyme Regis?

You can either use a crab line or drop nets. Having been crabbing on so many occasions I have lost count of the number of times we have used drop nets. I find them much easier than crabbing line. Which is essentially a piece of string with a weight and some bait tied to the end of it. At the end of the day the more crabs we catch the happier the boys. If you also opt to use a crab net then make sure you have something to weigh it down so that it stays on the seabed. 

The nets also come with a bait bag which I also think helps. We have always used smokey bacon the stinkier the better and have often found this to be the best bait. Although you can buy mackerel from the local shops. As well as nets and lines from the RNLI shop on the sea front. Bacon can be brought in Tesco Express in Broad Street. This is the main shopping street which is full of independent shops.

Do not forget a bucket to keep your catch safe. Sea water is easily accessible by the steps closest to the shallow end of the harbour. Of course, the other thing that the little rascals need is patience. Something which you can not buy! 

Where to park

If you are not staying in the town then there are several places to park when visiting for a day trip. The closest car park and one of the largest in the area is Monmouth Beach Car Park. Although the town is very popular so plan to arrive early. It is only a thirteen-minute drive from Charmouth Beach

Things to be aware of when catching crabs

• We caught some shore crabs and also some small hermit crabs which refused to come out of their shells. As well as a rather large spotty shrimp! The boys had great fun crabbing in Dorset.
• Keep your bucket out of bright sunlight. Especially in the summer months, the water can get warm quickly which is harmful to the crabs. For happy crabs you should change the water out on a regular basis. 
• Be careful of the boat trips which operate at the end of the harbour wall. They collect people from the steps at the end. There are also several fishing boats which will moor up during late morning, and early afternoon. 
• As well as crabbing there is so much to do in Lyme Regis for the whole family. Including fossil hunting, Lister Gardens, the town mill, Lyme Regis Museum, mini golf and many more.
• Plus the option to go fishing in Lyme Regis on one of the many organised boat trips. Useful to have crabbing as aa fall back option if you do not catch anything!
• For smaller children you may wish to consider East Cliff Beach which has lots of rock pools. This may be easier for them and all you would need is a handheld net. 

If you have enjoyed this blog post about crabbing in Lyme Regis Dorset, and you are planning on visiting. Then you may also find the below posts of interest

• Things to do in Lyme Regis. 
• Ammonites in Lyme Regis & the Ammonite Pavement
• Lyme Regis Beaches 

Other Crabbing Locations

Check out our other posts below for the best crabbing spots we have found so far:

• Best place for crabbing in Kent
• Best place for crabbing in West Sussex
• Crabbing in Rye
• Best place for crabbing in Cornwall
• Crabbing in Cromer Norfolk
• Crabbing at Walberswick Suffolk

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