About this tour
When Sarah from our team tried OC Bay Hopper, we headed out from their 118th Street spot in Ocean City, Maryland for a proper hands-on crabbing session in Assawoman Bay. The captain walks you through the whole process—baiting, reading the water, hauling traps—and teaches you how to measure and identify keepers versus undersized catches. It's a genuine working experience rather than a gimmick; you actually keep what you pull up (if it meets regulations), which makes for a pretty satisfying dinner afterward. The 2.5-hour outing feels unhurried and stays intimate in scale.
Highlights
- Captain teaches trap-setting and bait techniques from the water
- Hands-on measuring and sorting of live crabs you've caught yourself
- Keep legal-sized crabs to cook that evening
- Bait provided—no hidden gear costs or surprise add-ons
- Small group feel, not a crowded tourist cattle-run
- Genuine working bay, actual working boats nearby
- Suitable for mixed fitness levels and varying ages
What to expect
You'll board a smallish crabbing boat and head into Assawoman Bay. The captain spends time explaining the gear and where crabs tend to hang, then you're dropping and hauling traps—repetitive but engaging work. Sarah found the rhythm oddly meditative; you're constantly checking traps, measuring your haul, and culling. The captain handles safety and legality checks, and there's a real sense of accomplishment when you've got a decent bucket of keepers. Weather and water conditions mean it can get choppy or slow, but that's part of the reality of being on the bay rather than a scripted shore tour. Most people manage fine even if they're not experienced, and there's downtime between hauls for questions.
Good to know
This is genuinely hands-on work, not a spectator experience. You walk away with crabs for dinner (legal-sized ones), and the captain's no-nonsense teaching style makes it feel earned. Suits families, couples, and solo travellers equally. Bait's included, which removes a common sting.
Ocean conditions mean it's not for anyone with spinal issues, and rough water can upset sensitive stomachs. You're stood and moving for 2.5 hours, so wear deck shoes with grip. Infants need to sit on a lap the whole time. Peak season (summer) brings more crowds on the water generally. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer—bay wind is real. Check the weather forecast; calm days are far better than choppy ones. Groups are small, which is a strength, but book ahead in summer.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.