Commercial Dungeness crab season begins Dec. 16 from Cape Foulweather to California border

(NEWPORT, Ore. -December 5, 2023) – Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery opens Dec. 16 from Cape Foulweather (just south of Depoe Bay) to the California border.

Pre-season testing shows that crabs remain too low in meat yield to open commercial fishing from Cape Foulweather to the Washington border. The next round of crab meat yield and biotoxin testing will help determine if this area can open Dec. 31 or is further delayed.

Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed or partially opened so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs are not wasted. This year’s season was initially delayed until at least Dec. 16 due to low meat yield in some coastal areas.

ODFW tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and the commercial Dungeness crab industry.

Weekly season opening updates are posted online until the decision to open the season is made.

Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. A history of Oregon’s commercial crab landings is available online.