How to Experience Delaware’s Horseshoe Crab Phenomenon

Delaware, Featured

January 4, 2019

Horseshoe crab spawning season is one of my absolute favorite things about living in Delaware, and it is truly an amazing phenomenon. The Delaware Bay is the largest spawning area in the world for horseshoe crabs, and every spring from May to late June, tens of thousands of horseshoe crabs will lay their eggs on the shore of the Delaware Bay. You don’t want to miss it. 

Here is how to see the horseshoe crabs in Delaware. 

 

Time of Year

Horseshoe crab spawning season runs every spring from May through the end of June, though crabs will start showing up in late April and stick around until early July. However, the best time to see them is mid-May through mid-June.  

Time of Day

This is important. While you will likely see horseshoe crabs throughout the day during horseshoe crab season, the best time to see them is at night. The horseshoe crabs come to shore to lay their eggs at high tide during the full moon and new moon. The absolute best time to see them is the exact time when these two events happen at the same time. For example, if high tide happens at 11:37pm on the night of a full moon, then make sure you are on the beach at 11:37pm to see the most crabs. They will literally start retreating with the tide. You can also see the crabs a day or two before and after the exact day of the full/new moon, but the night of will be the best. Check the tide charts and moon charts and plan plan ahead when to see the crabs.

 

How to Use Tide Charts

To know what dates you are likely to see horseshoe crabs and to figure out what time you need to be at the beach, use a tide chart. Time your horseshoe crab quest for the nightly high tide on the days near a full moon or a new moon.

I like using this tide chart from US Harbors, and I set the location as Bowers Beach, Delaware. Setting the location for Bowers Beach will work well for most of the bay beaches in the area, but if you are going farther than about 30 minutes south of Bowers Beach, then I recommend updating the location in the tide chart to reflect your location.

Picking a date: When you are looking at the tide chart, look at the moon phases. You’ll likely find the most horseshoe crabs on the exact dates of the new moon and full moon, but a few days before and a few days after will also likely be good.

Picking a time: Find the date you are interested in on the tide chart. See what time the PM high tide happens. Plan to be at the beach at least 30 minutes before the exact high tide time.

In the example below, I am going to go look for horseshoe crabs on Tuesday, May 11 because it is a full moon. High tide will be at 10:12pm so I will plan to be at the beach around 9:45pm.

Locations

To see the crabs, you need to go to the beach, but not just any beach. Horseshoe crabs spawn on the shores of the Delaware Bay, which means you need to go to a Bay beach, not an ocean beach. In Delaware, any beach north of The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park is a bay beach, and anything south is typically an ocean beach. 

Here are my favorite beaches to see the crabs: 

  • Kitts Hummock Beach 
  • Slaughter Beach
  • Bowers Beach
  • The Bay at Cape Henlopen State Park (though the other three beaches get more crabs)

Gear

Bring a flashlight, preferably a headlamp, and sturdy shoes. You will be walking through a beach crowded with crabs at night in the dark, so flip flops are not the best choice! Pick old tennis shoes, rain boots, or sandals with straps that go around your heel.

Horseshoe Crab Surveys

Each year, several organizations in Delaware run horseshoe crab surveys as part of a national research study, and they are always looking for volunteers to help count the crabs. You can find more information about the surveys here: 

 

Have fun and go see the amazing horseshoe crabs!

Featured Posts

  1. […] Experience horseshoe crab spawning season on a Bay beach. […]

  2. […] Check a tide chart, and time your horseshoe crab hunting at night during high tide. Now that you know when to see the horseshoe crabs, I also wrote an entire blog about how to see them, and you can check that out here.  […]

  3. […] Now that you know when to see the horseshoe crabs, I also wrote an entire blog about how to see them, and you can check that out here.  […]

  4. […] Now that you know when to see the horseshoe crabs, I also wrote an entire blog about how to see them, and you can check that out here.  […]

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Hi there! I'm Abby. 
I'm a traveling photographer, writer, and artist and I'm most passionate about using visual communication connecting people with the outdoors.

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