Interested in the local Outer Banks nightlife? Head to the sand. One of the most popular after-dark activities on the OBX beaches is ghost crab hunting, and all a prospective OBX hunter needs to participate is a flashlight and a love of the beach.

A Ghost Crab on the beach

Ghost crabs are small, almost iridescent critters that call the shoreline's ocean wash to the high tide line home, and at night, they come out in droves combing the beaches for a late dinner. Vacationers who want to get up-close-and-personal with the local wildlife need only to visit the oceanfront after the sun sets, turn on the flashlight, and watch the local ghost crab population scatter.

Aptly named due to their inherent nocturnal habits, ghost crabs are a little-known but well-loved local attraction that every vacationer has the opportunity to meet and greet. On your next vacation, take a mini expedition of your own and introduce yourself to these skittish but abundant local natives.

Ghost Crabs holes on the beach

About the Outer Banks Ghost Crabs

There are technically over 20 species of ghost crabs roaming earth's shorelines. The variety you'll spot most along the Outer Banks is the Atlantic Ghost Crab, which shares many characteristics with the fiddler crab, also found all along the coastal North Carolina area along muddy soundside areas or hidden next to salty canals.

Ghost crabs are on average about 2" wide across, (although avid ghost crab hunters have been known to find a few that are 4" wide or more), feature long legs, and eyes that are perched on stalks and can rotate a full 360 degrees. Their name derives from their pale, sandy color, which makes them almost invisible against the shoreline until they start moving.

Ghost crabs essentially live on the beach, burrowing deep into the sand for protection from the blazing sun as well as passing predators. These burrows will only be a couple inches wide on the surface, and beach passer-bys may notice these small, half-dollar sized holes in the sand, but underneath the surface level, these intricate tracks can run up to 4' ft. deep, not including any outlying branches, allowing a network of protection from the elements. Despite being coastal North Carolina residents, ghost crabs are not big fans of the sunshine, and will spend most of their beach days tucked well inside their holes, or doing a bit of Summer cleaning" by popping out on occasion to remove any excess sand or debris.

Ghost crabs are notoriously shy, and with 360 degree vision, are very sensitive to any action that occurs around them. This is why many daytime beach goers will never encounter them, unless they are perfectly still, either taking a beachside nap, or lost in a good book. In these cases, a ghost crab may break out of an otherwise-unnoticeable hole in the sand to deposit some of the remnants of their cleaning efforts.

The ghost crab really stakes a beach claim at night, when the majority of the daily beach visitors have disappeared and the ghost crabs can enjoy the shoreline all to themselves. This is when the ghost crabs feed, foraging on coquina clams, mole or "sand crabs," or any other recently deceased small sea critter that washes up, and this is also when it seeks a mate.

Like most species, mating for ghost crabs is a competition, with the strongest male coming out the victor. Ghost crabs have a ritualized competition for a female ghost crab's affections, which involves a seemingly choreographed fight between two males, raising both their claws as well as their bodies in intimidating poses until one sinks into a submissive posture and gives in. If this doesn't happen right away, a "pushing fight" ensues until one crab finally withdrawals. The majority of this action, as well as the intensive scavenger hunt for the day's meals, always happen at night.

As for breeding, the female ghost crab generally lays her eggs directly in the ocean wash, and afterwards, the abandoned larvae drift along the water for up to six weeks until they hatch and make their way towards the shoreline. This is a dangerous process, and a number of eggs fall prey to passing fish, or rough surf, before ever making it to the shoreline.

Once on the beach, however, ghost crabs carve out a happy life along the shoreline. Completely dependent on the saltwater beaches and the daily deposits that wash up with the surf, the Outer Banks ghost crabs have plenty to brag about, with miles of open beaches and unpopulated shorelines to comb for food, friends, and shelter.

Ghost Crabs holes on the beach

Hunting Ghost Crabs on the Outer Banks

Ghost crab hunting has become a very popular pastime in recent years, as it allows the entire family to have an excuse to stay out a little late and enjoy a little more beach time outside of the daylight hours. In addition, it's a completely free activity that everyone in the family can get on board with, especially the youngest members of the group, as the excitement of spotting a crab generally elicits a lot of squeals and shrieks along the way. Ghost crabs are essentially harmless, and will very quickly shy away from humans. At the very worst, a ghost crab hunter may suffer a toe or hand nibble if they get too close, (a bite that will barely break the skin), and at best, a family of ghost crab hunters will get some incredible pictures and some equally incredible vacation memories along the way.

Ghost crab hunters essentially only need two things, a quiet Outer Banks night and a flashlight, to have a successful "hunt." However, there are a few other tips and tricks to keep in mind to ensure not only a successful ghost crab hunt, but one that's filled with endless "catches."

  • First and foremost, "hunters" are reminded to not hurt the crabs. This is strictly a chasing activity.
  • If possible, wear darker clothing and tread as quietly as possible, Ghost crabs are very observant and relay on their sense of something being out of place to protect them from any possible predators. With this in mind, keep your flashlight light well out in front of you to find ghost crabs before you've even remotely intruded on their area.
  • Once a ghost crab is captured in a flashlight beam, it will stand motionless for a moment while it collects its bearings. This is an ideal time to take a few photos and / or get an up-close look at the critter before it scurries away.
  • Whatever you do, don't attempt to poke, prod, or pick up a ghost crab. Although clearly not fatal, a ghost crab pinch can still be a little painful, and it's best to take a picture, either on camera or via a mental recollection, and allow the ghost crab to be on its way.
  • The best time to find ghost crabs is during the prime summer months, from late May until early September, when they are out on patrol in full force. Stick close to the shoreline, in between the low tide and high tide lines for the best hunting grounds, and keep an eye out for small holes that range from the circumference of a nickel to the circumference of half dollar. Chances are if you spot these little holes, there's a ghost crab or two nearby.
  • When it comes to the best beaches to find ghost crabs, the quieter and more secluded the better. Beaches with little night traffic, including pedestrians, beach bonfires, or vehicular traffic, are the best ghost crab hunting grounds. Luckily, on the Outer Banks, these beaches are in abundance, and generally all a vacationer has to do is head to the nearest beach pathway to start their hunting expedition.

Hunting for ghost crabs is arguably one of the most popular Outer Banks local pastimes. Easy to do, completely free of charge, and enjoyable for family members of all ages, a ghost crab hunt can turn into some incredible wildlife spottings and photos in the best of circumstances, and a quietly pleasant wander down the beach under the stars during the worst circumstances.

On your next Outer Banks vacation, make it a point to join in the fun. Simply grab a flashlight, throw on the flip-flops and head to the beach. Regardless of whether you spot a crab skittering by or not, you're sure to find that the cool ocean breezes and the vast canopy of stars is a treasure worth discovering all its own.

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

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