Crab Season Is Officially Open Along The California Coast

We should start seeing tanks filled with crabs in grocery stores by this weekend.

By Marilyn Nelson on November 15, 2018

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Yes crab lovers, there will be lots of Dungeness crab for the holiday season.

Fishermen are expecting a bountiful crab season year – although it appears prices will likely be higher than normal, reports SFGate.

All but Bodega Bay got the green light to start crabbing off the northern California coast this morning. The area between Bodega Bay and the Sonoma/Mendocino county line will remain closed due to domoic acid, the same toxin that has caused delays in specific areas for four straight years.

The crab are expected to land in San Francisco and other local harbors by this afternoon and start showing up in stores by Friday and Saturday.

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The crew of the New Rayann loads crab pots on the deck of the fishing boat at Pier 45 for the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season. The season will open on time on Thursday, meaning Bay Area shoppers can expect to see grocery tanks and seafood displays full of the crustaceans by this weekend. Fishermen and industry watchers expect a good crab year with a fairly consistent supply, though early indications are that prices will likely be higher than normal. “I hear the crabs are nice, they’re full,” said Larry Collins of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association, referring to reports from recreational fishermen since their season opened Nov. 3. 📷: @chinnski ~ ~ #commercialcrabbing #crabseason #dungenesscrab #crabs

A post shared by San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) on Nov 15, 2018 at 9:14am PST