Just after sundown, you’ll find parents and kids chasing little sand crabs along the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. It’s a fun activity the entire family can enjoy and teaching kids to release their catch is always a good lesson in ecological awareness. Of course, if you’re looking for crabs to cook up in the kitchen, the Alabama Gulf Coast is famous for Blue Crabs.

From April through June, and September through October, Blue Crabs mate in the area’s estuaries and rivers. The Gulf State Park Pier is a popular place for recreational crabbing or fishing. A saltwater fishing license can be purchased at the pier and one crab basket per person is allowed (do not leave your crab basket unattended and no pets are allowed). This state-of-the-art pier offers full facilities and it’s worth a visit just to stroll along and enjoy the amazing view. For full Gulf State Park Pier fishing regulations go to www.alapark.com.

Many visitors enjoy crabbing off the piers at Fort Morgan, Dauphin Island, Fairhope or the seawalls at Little Lagoon Pass. And you can also cast your crabbing basket from a kayak or canoe when you’re out exploring the local waters. For complete information about locations mentioned above, visit www.gulfshores.com. For details about state crabbing regulations, go to www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations.