Where and When to see Horseshoe Crab Spawning

Want to see for yourself a New Jersey beach busy with horseshoe crabs? Timing, conditions, and location matter. There are no guarantees, but here are some tips and commonsense suggestions.

Know the Season

Peak spawning activity for horseshoe crabs in New Jersey is from mid-May through mid-June, though the season can extend from late April far into July. Spawning crabs come up with the high tides, and start to return to the water by a mid-falling tide. *Extra tip for shorebird viewing: time your visit for late May to catch the Arctic-breeding shorebirds on their stopover during northbound migration.

Choose the Best Conditions

Crabs do. In the thick of the spawning season, you are likely to see the most crabs on calm nights (low wind, low surf), nighttime high tides around the new and full moons (the highest high tides of the season). *Extra tip for shorebird viewing: plan your visit during the daytime falling to low tide period.

Pick Your Locations

New Jersey is known for its sandy beaches, and horseshoe crabs can be found spawning all across the state. The most activity by far is found on the Delaware Bay coastline, in Cumberland and Cape May counties (check out this link for a map of spawning beaches). *Extra tip for shorebird viewing: Beaches with the best habitat for crabs are also the most important stopover beaches for Arctic-breeding shorebirds. New Jersey allows the crabs and visiting shorebirds at these sites a disturbance-free experience during the migration period (May 7 – June 7), when beaches are closed to access day and night. Don’t let that stop your visit – many have viewing locations, signs, and stewards to assist your visit.

Help New Jersey identify spawning habitat https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/hcid03.htm

Seasonal beach closures for migratory shorebirds: https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/beachclozmap.htm

Local tides and currents NOAA https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/map/index.html

Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Survey https://www.delawarebayhscsurvey.org/

Other Suggestions

Communities at these spawning beaches appreciate their peace and solitude, whether they are at remote beaches or in dense developments. Be respectful of the noise you make, where you park, and follow any restrictions for property access.

Access roads to some beaches are uneven or unpaved, and may flood during high tides. If you’re not sure, use caution.