Rick Kajan with a Big Dungeness Crab

Crabbing here requires a suitable crab trap with about 100 feet of rope topped with a small buoy or a white plastic bleach bottle. You will also need to use a small boat to put your trap out in the right location. You will also need to be up on the latest regulations. You are most likely to catch two common species of crab: Red Rock Crabs and Dungeness Crabs. Red Rock Crabs are smaller, tend to have less meat, and have a bit stronger flavor. Dungeness are the prize. They have a sweet, mild flavor and plenty of succulent meat. One crab is a full meal for a hungry sailor. Check out our recipes for some tried and true crab delights. Recipes

 

From:   DF&G Sportfishing Regulations 2005

Crustaceans

29.80. Gear Restrictions.

(a) General: Saltwater crustaceans may be taken by hand. Nets, traps or other appliances may not be used except as provided in this section.

(b) Baited hoop nets may be used to take spiny lobsters and all species of crabs. Between Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County , and the United States-Mexico border, not more than five baited hoop nets may be fished by a person to take spiny lobster and crab, not to exceed a total of 10 baited hoop nets fished from any vessel.

(c) Crab traps shall have at least two rigid circular openings of not less than four and one-quarter inches inside diameter so constructed that the lowest portion of each opening is no lower than five inches from the top of the trap.

(d) Crab loop traps may have up to six loops.

(e) Crab trap areas: Crab traps, including crab loop traps, may be used north of Point Arguello to take all species of crabs (see regulations for take of Dungeness crabs in traps from commercial passenger fishing vessels in Section 29.85, Title 14, CCR).

(f) Shrimp and prawn traps may be used to take shrimp and prawns only. Trap openings may not exceed 1/2 inch in any dimension on traps used south of Point Conception nor five inches in any dimension on traps used north of Point Conception.

(g) Diving for crustaceans: In all ocean waters, except as provided in Section 29.05, skin and SCUBA divers may take crustaceans by the use of the hands except divers may not possess any hooked device while diving or attempting to dive.

(h) Hand operated appliances: Spades, shovels, hoes, rakes or other appliances operated by hand may be used to take sand crabs and shrimp.

(i) Dip nets and Hawaiian type throw nets: Shrimp may be taken with dip nets and Hawaiian type throw nets north of Point Conception.

(j) Shrimp trawls: Shrimp beam trawls may be used to take shrimp only in San Francisco Bay waters east of the Golden Gate Bridge , and in San Pablo Bay . The beam trawl frame from which the net is hung may not exceed 24 inches by 18 inches. The trawl may be towed by motorized vessels but may not be retrieved by mechanical devices. Any fish, other than shrimp, caught in the trawl must be returned immediately to the water.

29.85. Crabs.

(a) Dungeness crab (Cancer magister):

(1) Closure: Dungeness crab may not be taken or possessed in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay , plus all their tidal bays, sloughs and estuaries between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge .

 (2) Open season:

(A) Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties: From the Saturday preceding December 1 or December 1 when it falls on Saturday through July 30.

(B) All other counties: From the Saturday preceding the second Tuesday in November through June 30.

(3) Limit: Ten, except in Sonoma , Marin, San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Cruz , and Monterey counties, when fishing aboard a commercial passenger fishing vessel required to be licensed pursuant to Section 7881 and/or Section 7920, Fish and Game Code, the limit is six.

(4) Not more than 60 crab traps are authorized to be used to take Dungeness crab from a vessel operating under authority of a Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel License issued pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 7920.

(5) Traps and trap buoys used by a commercial passenger fishing vessel to take Dungeness crab under authority of this Section and Section 29.80 shall have the commercial boat registration number of that vessel affixed to each trap and buoy.

(6) No vessel that takes Dungeness crab under authority of this section, or Section 29.80, shall be used to take Dungeness crab for commercial purposes.

(7) Minimum size: Five and three-quarter inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines); except in Sonoma , Marin, San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties, when fishing aboard a commercial passenger fishing vessel required to be licensed pursuant to Section 7881 and/or Section 7920, Fish and Game Code, the minimum size is six inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines).

(b) All crabs of the Cancer genus except Dungeness crabs, but including: yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs:

(1) Open season: All year.

(2) Limit: Thirty-five.

(3) Minimum size: Four inches measured by the shortest distance through the body, from edge of shell to edge of shell at the widest part, except there is no minimum size in Fish and Game districts 8 and 9 ( Humboldt Bay ).

(c) All crabs of the genus Cancer, including Dungeness crabs, yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs, may be brought to the surface of the water for measuring, but no undersize crabs may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person’s possession or under his direct control; all crabs shall be measured immediately and any undersize crabs shall be released immediately into the water.

(d) Sand crabs (Emerita analoga): Limit: Fifty.

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