Four common recreational methods. Pick the one that matches your access, license, and patience on Assawoman and Isle of Wight bays.
| Easiest for visitors | Hand line + dip net on a public pier |
|---|---|
| Best all-around | Collapsible / ring traps from dock or skiff |
| Boat efficiency | Trotline (when you have room and know-how) |
| Most paperwork | Recreational crab pots (tags, buoys, soak rules) |
| Method | Best Ocean City access | Skill / gear | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand line + dip net | Northside Park, 9th St pier | Low | Kids & first vacation afternoon |
| Collapsible traps | Pier or small boat | Medium | Families who want more keepers per hour |
| Trotline | Skiff / bay boat | Higher | Covering more water with a ground line |
| Crab pots | Boat with legal tags | Highest paperwork | Overnight soaks when rules allow |
Trip reads written for this hub—pacing and advice, not a second directory.
