Trap, scoop net, gloves, bait cage — everything to catch blue crabs at the Manasquan River bridges or Stone Harbor flats.
The cheapest path to a fresh crab dinner. Drop a baited trap off a NJ back-bay bridge, wait 20 minutes, and pull up dinner. The whole kit is under $100.
Crabbing is the gateway NJ shore activity — kids love it, gear is cheap, and the Manasquan River bridges, Stone Harbor flats, and Mantoloking marsh are all productive.
Total kit cost
$50–$100 total · Prime-eligible
Pick what you need below. Every link is Prime-eligible where possible — most arrive before the weekend.
Collapsible trap — easy storage, quick set.
OceanBuilt
Promar Collapsible Crab Trap — folds flat in your trunk, sets up in 30 seconds. The standard NJ back-bay rig.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Manasquan River bridge crabbing
Wide-mouth net for grabbing crabs you spot from the dock.
Shurhold
Long-handle wide-mouth crab net — for the crabs you spot from the dock and the ones the trap missed. Cheap insurance.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Stone Harbor back-bay shallow scoops
Crab claws hurt. Gloves help.
BIG WORM FISHING
Heavy-duty rubber-coated gloves — protect from claws, easy to wash, work wet. Cheaper than a hospital trip.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Pull-up handling at any bridge
Holds chicken or fish bait securely in the trap.
SquEqu
Wire bait cage — holds chicken legs or bunker chunks. Crabs work the cage, traps lock them in. Standard NJ bridge crab rig.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Mantoloking marsh crab session
NJ requires a free crabbing license for residents 16+. Get it at njfishandwildlife.com. Non-residents need a non-resident license. Always have it on you.
Manasquan River bridges, Mantoloking causeway, Stone Harbor docks, Cape May ferry terminal, Brigantine inlet. All shore-accessible. See our /fishing/crabbing/ guide.
Blue crabs: 4 1/2-inch minimum (point to point). Maximum bushel/day. No egg-bearing females. Always measure with a gauge or ruler — undersized crabs are fines.
2 hours before high tide is the sweet spot. Crabs move on the rising tide and stop at slack high. Plan your session around the tide chart, not the clock.
Seasonal deals on the gear we test on the shore.
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Under $100 for the four-item kit. License is free for residents. Bait is $5-10/day (chicken legs work great). The Manasquan River bridges are free to crab from.
Year-round, but peak is May-October. Water temps below 50°F slow blue crabs to a crawl. Best crabbing is mid-summer when crabs are at peak size and abundance.
Bridges and docks at any NJ back-bay town. Manasquan, Mantoloking, Stone Harbor, Cape May, Atlantic City all have free public crabbing spots. The Brigantine inlet pier is excellent.
Steam in beer + Old Bay for 25 minutes. Or boil in salted water with cocktail seasoning. NJ recipe: Old Bay + crushed garlic + a splash of beer. Don't over-cook.
Browse all NJ-friendly crab gear.
Read more →FishingCrabbing falls under NJ fishing rules.
Read more →Water qualityCheck water before eating your catch.
Read more →BeachesBest back-bay crabbing town.
Read more →BeachesRiver bridge crabbing capital.
Read more →PlanningTime your trap drops with the tide.
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