Tuesday November 3, 2026
The Sacramento Bee —
Winter along the California coast means Dungeness crab season.
But those who want crab for the holidays might have to catch it themselves.
On Oct. 30, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the beginning of the recreational crab fishing season, and the delay of the commercial season.
Certain areas are off-limits to crab fishing, due to high levels of neurotoxin found in the local crabs.
Plus, the CDFW has restricted the use of crab traps in Northern California.
Here’s what to know:
When does recreational crab season begin in California?
The recreational Dungeness crab season will open Nov. 7.
However, the area between Cape Mendocino and the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve is off-limits to crab fishing.
Along that span of coastline, north of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, Dungeness crab have been found to contain “unhealthy levels of domoic acid.”