Shore Crab
Crustacean
A small, hardy crab with a dark green-brown, slightly hexagonal shell and five short spines on each side of the eyes — the most common crab found in rockpools and harbours around the UK.
Facts
- Extremely tolerant of changing conditions, surviving in everything from full-strength seawater to brackish estuary water.
- The classic quarry of harbour-wall crabbing lines and buckets, especially for children.
- An important bait species too — peeler shore crabs (mid-moult, soft-shelled) are prized bass and smooth-hound bait.
UK fishing rules
No size or bag limit applies to recreational shore crabbing; general good practice is to return crabs promptly and avoid keeping them out of water for long.
Where to catch Shore Crab (1 mark)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells-next-the-Sea Quay & Beach | East | Apr–Sept | Baited hand-lines off the quay wall — the town's signature activity, kit hire available on the quay |