For any child growing up in or near East Yorkshire, crabbing and rock pooling in and around Bridlington is almost a rite of passage. From bright-eyed, bouncing young children pumped full of doughnuts and popcorn, to veteran crabbers remembering the good old days, everyone has memories of casting off from the harbour wall and dipping into the Sewerby rockpools.
Crabbing in Bridlington
What to use for crabbing
For a good crabbing session, you will need:
- A crabbing line or net – Lines are cheaper and easier to carry, but nets make the catch much easier, as crabs can fall off the lines.
- A bucket of water – or something similar to put your crabs in
- Bait – Crabs will eat anything, the smellier, the better. Fish offcuts or sardines are great.
- A net on a pole (optional)
Where to go crabbing in Bridlington
Harbour walls are usually the best place to go crabbing, as they offer a good view of the sea and a nice high place to cast your crabbing line off from. The Crane Wharf in the middle of the harbour, near North Pier is generally considered the best crabbing spot in Bridlington. It offers all the usual advantages while also being sheltered from waves, which crabs don’t like.
How do you catch crabs?
- To start crabbing, fill a bucket with seawater near your fishing spot and add seaweed to keep the inhabitants comfortable. Place the bucket in the shade to prevent overheating.
- Load bait into the bags you find on the end of the lines or at the bottom of your nets, and make sure they’re attached firm.
- Lower your line or net slowly into the water, swinging it gently until the bait bag touches the seabed.
- Wait for a few minutes for crabs to take the bait.
- Raise the net slowly, feeling for weight or tugs, then carefully check your catch.
- Transfer crabs and other sea creatures to the bucket. If you’re using a line, a fishing net on a stick may help with this part.
- Release them back into the sea afterwards. Please do not be tempted to take them home as pets, or for dinner. You need clearance to do either of these things and eating your catches can give you a very dodgy tummy. We check and clean our crabs carefully, so come talk to us if you are hungry.
Recording your catches or competing with your family and friends can add a little extra zing to your crabbing. You can use your bucket and pole-net for rockpooling, too.
Rock pooling around Bridlington
Although there are not many rockpools to be found among Bridlington’s harbours and sandy beaches, there are a few within range of a short walk.
Where to go rock pooling around Bridlington
The best place for rock pooling in Bridlington is at the back of the south pier on the harbour when the tide is out. Flamborough South Landing and Danes Dyke are also good when the tide is out, but Sewerby is perfect all the time.
You can find Sewerby Beach by walking up the beautiful north beach for 45 minutes to an hour from Bridlington Harbour. Dane’s Dyke is an inlet 30 minutes further north still and South Landing is a bay yet another half hour north with a Lifeboat station. Keep your eye out to know where to stop. Alternatively, Sewerby is a quick 10-15 minute drive from Bridlington town centre.
What to use for rock pooling
You don’t need anything to go rock pooling, really. Wellies are good if you don’t want to risk wet feet, and it’s always fun to record your finds on a mobile phone or camera. If you want to get really advanced, a stick can help to move seaweed and flotsam (washed-up rubbish) out of the way.
Apart from that, some weather-appropriate clothing and drinking water are more than enough. The latter doubles for hand-washing, too.
How do you go rock pooling?
It’s pretty simple. Think of a treasure hunt, but instead of gold and jewels, you’re looking for the animals and plants that live in the rock pools. Go from pool to pool and see what you can see, you may want to look under the seaweed – enter your stick – but be sure not to disturb the sea life.
As well as crabs and the odd lobster, there are mussels, seaweed, sand eels, periwinkles, anemones, many wading birds, dozens of tiny fish and many other little creatures to be found.
Responsible rock pooling
As we said, be absolutely sure not to disturb the sea life. By all means, you can pick up most shellfish for long enough to take a pic and show your family and friends, but don’t touch swimming fish or anemones, or scare the wading birds. Everywhere north of Sewerby to Flamborough North Landing is a protected No Take Zone, which means:
“Although you cannot take anything from the No Take Zone, you can enjoy exploring the rockpools and beach. Please remember to put everything back as you found it and take care not to disturb any wildlife or damage the area.”
The most important rule is: Enjoy yourself!
Oh, and if you end up with some photos you’re particularly proud of, send them to info@independentshellfish.co.uk or contact facebook.com/IndependentShellfish and we’ll be glad to show them off for you.