Crabbing Kits for Kids & Families

A bucket, a line and a bit of bacon. That's about the whole of it, and it'll keep children happy by the water for hours. Our kits run from complete sets like the Kids Crabbing Kit with bucket, line and guide, or the Family Crabbing Kit and Seashore Activity Pack, through to standalone hand lines, a drop net with 10m line, and cheerful I Love Crabbing caps. One of the cheapest days out in Cornwall.

Choosing a kit by age

Match the line to the child. For younger ones we'd always point you to a hook-free line, safe and easy; older children can handle a hooked hand line with an adult close by. Buying for a whole gaggle of cousins? The Family Crabbing Kit keeps several busy at once on the quay. Our crabbing kits buying guide talks through what's in each set, and once the bucket's sorted it's worth adding a spotter book from our beach & shore essentials so children can name what they catch.

A safe, kind day on the quay

The method is gloriously simple. Bait with bacon or fish, lower the line gently from a harbour wall or pontoon, and wait for the tug. Mind the youngest crabbers and look after the catch: crabs in a bucket of fresh seawater, never overcrowded, and tipped back kindly when you're done. For more ways to fill a coastal afternoon, see our ideas for fun things to do with kids, and if you want a classic spot, the sheltered harbour at Looe is a much-loved place to dangle a line.