Crab season is not every season. Even though crabs are out and about, that doesn’t mean they’re ready to be caught or that it’s environmentally friendly to do so right now. This is true for the Dungeness crab. Men and women can only catch them at certain times of the year, and other things, like the number that are available to catch, are also watched.
Crab is one of the most popular shellfish around, known for its sweet, delicate flavor and tender texture However, fresh crab is only available during certain times of the year when crab seasons are open for commercial and recreational harvesting If you love Dungeness, king, snow or other types of crab, you may wonder – how long is crab season?
Crab season lengths can vary significantly depending on the species, location and type of harvest. Some crab fisheries may only be open for a few weeks annually, while others could be open year-round. Read on for a deep dive into crab season calendars in major crab fishing regions of the United States and beyond.
Crab Seasons in Alaska
Alaska is famous for its king crab fisheries, which have been featured on the popular Discovery Channel show Deadliest Catch. The timing and length of crab seasons in Alaska can vary based on factors like species, location and crab population numbers each year. Here’s an overview of seasons for some of the most important Alaskan crab species:
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Red King Crab – The season for red king crab generally runs from mid-October through mid-January in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska areas. The season may last about 4 weeks or as short as 4 days.
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Blue King Crab – The blue king crab season opens between February and June around islands like St. Matthew, the Pribilofs and in certain Gulf of Alaska zones.
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Golden/Brown King Crab – In the Aleutians, golden king crab can be fished year-round from February to June.
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Snow Crab – The snow crab fishery mainly opens for a short winter window from October through January in the Bering Sea.
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Dungeness Crab – In parts of the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutians, Dungeness crab season opens from summer through fall.
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Tanner Crab – Tanner crab seasons take place during the winter months in the Bering Sea and Aleutians
In Southeast Alaska, timing varies – golden king crab is a springtime fishery, while red and blue king crab season occurs from fall through early winter instead.
Crab Seasons in the Pacific Northwest
Further south in Washington, Oregon and California, Dungeness crab is the prize catch. Dungeness crab season on the West Coast runs from mid-fall into early summer, but the exact dates vary by state:
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Oregon – The commercial Dungeness crab season usually opens December 1st and can run through August 14, while sport crabbing begins December 1st as well and goes through the end of August.
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California – The Dungeness crab season opens mid-November and typically continues through June 30 south of the Mendocino-Sonoma county line. To the north, the season starts December 1st and can run into July.
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Washington – In coastal Washington waters, the commercial crab season opens in early October or December and closes 2-3 months later in January. Tribal and recreational crabbing seasons begin in early July and last through September.
Gulf of Mexico Crab Seasons
In the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, blue crabs are the catch of choice. The blue crab fishery generally peaks in late spring and early summer.
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Louisiana – The season opens in early spring, usually in March or April, and continues through late fall.
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Florida – Blue crab season opens May 1 and closes July 25 for pot/trap fishing in state waters, with some summer closures.
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Texas – Blue crab season is open year-round, except for a winter closure from February 15 – March 1.
Stone crab season in Florida spans October 15 through May 15. Egg-bearing female crabs must be released, and only the claws can be legally harvested.
Crab Seasons on the East Coast
On the Atlantic seaboard, tasty blue crabs are also popular. Here are some key details on blue crab season by state:
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Maryland – Most of the commercial harvest takes place April through December. Recreational crabbing is open March 17 through November 15 in the Chesapeake Bay and year-round in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Virginia – The blue crab season opens March 17 and runs through November 30 for both commercial and recreational crabbing.
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North Carolina – In coastal North Carolina, the blue crab season lasts from March 1 through November 30.
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South Carolina – Commercial harvest occurs year-round, while the recreational season opens on March 1 and closes on December 15.
What about the Dungeness crab?
As we already said, the crabbing season usually lasts from November to June or July. However, the start or end date can change depending on a number of factors.
Let’s take a look at the information that is on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s site.
They have a list of 13 popular crabbing spots that shows whether they are open or closed, the days they are open, and the dates of the season.
Off the coast of Washington state and in Puget Sound, you can go crabbing for fun during certain times of the year. Here at Fathom Seafood we are able to harvest sustainably caught Dungeness crab all year round.
On the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife site, they provide weekly updates as to the status of crab season. “ODFW collects and tests crabs (for meat quality) out of the six major crabbing ports in Oregon. Weekly testing updates, along with information about season opening status will be posted below. Weekly updates will be provided until the decision to open the season is made.”
They also provide a wealth of information on the Dungeness crab fishery.
How do you know when it is catching season for a particular seafood?
Each state has its own rules. The rules will be different if you are fishing for fun or for money, and they will also be different if you are fishing in fresh water or the ocean.
According to America Go Fishing, fishing licenses and regulations depends on the following:
- The state you are fishing in
- Where you will be fishing
- How long you expect to fish
- What type of fish you want to catch
- The fishing method you will be using
- Resident status in that state
- If you plan to sell, eat, or release the catch
- Your age
- If you are active military
Wrapping Up King Crab Season | Deadliest Catch | Discovery
When is crabbing season?
Some regions even stretch crabbing season into July. It depends on the area and specific type of crab to know when the season is and when crabs will be their freshest. Some of the largest crab-producing states, like Alaska and Maine, start crab season in the fall, around October, and end it as temperatures start climbing in early spring.
When is king crab season in Alaska?
The season is much longer, so there is no need to open a special winter season: red and blue king crab may be taken from July 1 through March 31 and golden king crab may be taken from July 1 through June 15, unless closed or reduced by Emergency Order. Before 1970 there was no closed season for red or blue king crab in Southeast Alaska.
How long does Alaska crab season last?
Currently, the seasons last from two to four weeks. After the 2005 season, the Alaskan crab industry transitioned from a derby-style season to a quota system.
When does crab season start & end?
Some of the largest crab-producing states, like Alaska and Maine, start crab season in the fall, around October, and end it as temperatures start climbing in early spring. Some Southern states, such as Florida and South Carolina, have a year-round crab season.