DEPOE BAY — If you want to beat the high cost of store-bought Dungeness crab you’ll have to do it by boat from the world’s smallest navigable harbor.

According to the latest dispatch from the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, crab fishing has been “slow” from docks around the state. But in Depoe Bay, anglers are caging up to nine sweet-tasting Dungies apiece aboard the 5-hour charter-fishing trips.

The “combo” fish-and-crab expeditions out of Dockside Charters (541-765-2545) and Tradewinds Charters (541-765-2345) are expected to get even better as pots move deeper into summer.

“You arrive at 5:30 a.m. and are under the bridge and on your way by six,” said Dockside’s Taylor Conklin, describing how crab pots are dropped off in a secret honey-hole and retrieved after anglers have met their limits or at least gotten close. “Females and undersized crabs are returned, and we’ll clean and cook them for you.”

Conklin said Dockside offers the trips for $130, with discounts for seniors and active-duty and retired military. A fishing license and ocean endorsement, $9 thanks to the Oregon legislature, are required and available online.

At its website, Tradewinds Charters reported that skippers are returning with near-limits or limits on deep-sea trophies. The all-depths bag limit is four general marines species (blue or black rockfish, greenling, skates and others) daily, plus up to three lingcod, 10 black cod and up to 25 flatfish such as flounder, sanddabs and California (not Pacific) halibut.

For more details on limits and species, check out this colorful and informative  ODFW Sport Groundfish guide:

https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/docs/what_can_i_keep.pdf