The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Dungeness Crab Metacarcinus magister
Dungeness Crab Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 6–7 in across the shell, 1.5–2.5 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | over 10 in across the shell in big males |
| Lifespan | 8–13 years |
| Range | Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands and southeast Alaska south through Washington and Oregon to California, thinning out toward Baja. |
| Habitat | Sand and mud bottom in bays, estuaries and open coast, thickest inside about 100 ft but found down past 600 ft. |
| Diet | Hunts small clams, worms, shrimp and slow fish, and will happily clean up anything already dead — which is why oily cut bait fills a trap. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Dungeness Crab
- Wide purplish-brown to orange carapace, roughly hand-width across
- Carapace edge bears a row of marginal teeth; widest at the LAST (rearmost, 10th) tooth
- Cream/white-tipped claws
- Sawtooth front edge with several spines between the eyes
- Four pairs of walking legs plus one pair of pincers
Tell it apart: The widest point of the shell falls at the last (rearmost) marginal tooth, and the white-tipped claws separate Dungeness from the smaller, redder rock crabs whose shell is widest farther forward.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab
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- Best in the cold months, November through February, after the season opens — drop baited crab pots, snares, or rings on sand near rocky structure.GearFolding crab potsCrab snaresBait cages + buoys
- Best fall and winter, September through January, plus an early-year window — drop baited crab pots and rings on sandy bottom near bay mouths.GearFolding crab potsCrab ringsBait cages + buoys
When & Where Dungeness Crab Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Inshore |
Dungeness Crab Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.