Recreation Dungeness Crab season opened February 11th. Sport anglers rejoiced in the thought of catching these tasty crustaceans after a long delayed season.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Fish and Game Commission were notified by the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) that quarantine has been lifted in certain areas. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), has determined that Dungeness crab caught on the mainland coast south of 38 degrees 00′ N’ latitude Point Reyes in Marin County no longer poses a significant human health risk from high levels of domoic acid and recommends the opening of the Dungeness crab fishery in these areas. The commercial and recreational rock crab fishery will remain closed north of 35 degrees 40′ N latitude Piedras Blancas Light Station and in state waters around San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands. This determination was based on extensive sampling conducted by CDPH in close coordination with CDFW and fisheries’ representatives.
Some anglers were on standby with traps ready to deploy and bait jars ready to be dropped. By the next day of the opener, sport boats were heading out to start crabbing and charter vessels were booking trips to crab fish. The catches are high and the crabs are big. Reports of traps having 20 large crabs in them are common from Monterey to San Francisco. Recreational anglers were greeted with calm seas, warm weather and subsiding swells. Crab fishing should remain strong into spring and early summer. Anglers need to be aware of the regulations and keep an eye out for soft-shelled molting crabs. As advised, clean the crabs and rinse the body cavity out before cooking and eating them.
At the time this is being written, commercial crab fishing in California is closed, although talk is pending about a possible opener. Pursuant to emergency regulations enacted by CDFW regarding the commercial Dungeness crab fishery closure, no less than seven days’ notice to commercial crab fishermen is required prior to opening the season. CDFW remains engaged in discussion with the Dungeness Crab Task Force Executive Committee about the potential opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery, which could happen next week.
Recreational anglers took the news hard, and commercial fishermen have taken the brunt of the closure and have put many fishermen and their families in a challenging financial situation. Even if or when a commercial season may open, it could be heavily impacted into small open areas and the retail market could be wary of eating crabs. Hopefully the sport season opening first will prime the market and alert consumers that crabs are safe and delicious to eat. If a proper season is not set for a commercial fishery, commercial fishermen hope for financial relief that comes in a form other than a loan.
I plan on getting some Dungeness crabs soon and hope the state opens for crabbing across the board.
nMike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 20 years. Contact him at ca************@ya***.com.
