Photo: Rick Obst / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Alsea Bay at Waldport is one of the most popular places on the central coast to catch Dungeness and red rock crab without a big boat. On a summer weekend, the docks and rental shops near the US 101 bridge are busy from early morning.
A visitor business
Shops along the bay rent small boats, crab rings and pots, sell bait and licenses, and often cook the catch for customers. For many families, a day of crabbing is the reason they choose Waldport over a bigger town.
Rules to know
Oregon requires a shellfish license for most crabbers, and only male Dungeness crab of legal size may be kept. Daily limits apply, and biotoxin closures announced by the Oregon Department of Agriculture can shut down harvest on short notice. Rental shops usually post the current rules, but checking ODA and ODFW before you go is wise.
Why it matters for Waldport
Waldport is smaller and quieter than Newport or Lincoln City. Recreational crabbing gives it a steady draw that brings visitors into restaurants, motels and campgrounds around the bay.
Silas Kerrigan covers business, the tourism economy and household finance in Lincoln County.
