Crab is a beloved seafood that many people eagerly await each year. But when exactly does crab season start? The answer varies across the country. Here’s a guide to when and where you can expect crab seasons to open in the U.S.
What Determines When Crab Season Starts?
Several factors impact the opening of crab season each year:
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Crab growth cycles Crabs shed their shells to grow, There are regulations on harvesting soft-shell crabs to allow them time to re-harden their shells Season opening dates allow time for molting and re-hardening
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Meat fill Fisheries managers sample crabs leading up to the season to test their meat fill. Minimum meat fill standards help ensure crabs are harvested when they’ll provide the most meat
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Protection of breeding stocks: Opening dates are set to protect mature female crabs during peak breeding and hatching times. Limits on size and sex of harvested crabs also help maintain healthy populations.
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Annual surveys: Surveys estimate the abundance of harvestable crab. If populations are low, the season may be delayed or shortened to avoid overharvest.
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Weather and ocean conditions: Bad weather and poor ocean conditions can impact the timing of crab season. Opening dates may get pushed back if crabs are scattered and difficult to catch.
Major U.S. Crab Fisheries
The major crab fisheries in the U.S. include:
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Alaska King Crab: The Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab seasons run from October through January.
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Pacific Dungeness Crab: Dungeness crab seasons on the West Coast run from November through June, with some summer openings.
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Atlantic Blue Crab: The blue crab season centers around spring and summer months, but harvest occurs year-round in the South.
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Gulf Stone Crab: The season for Florida stone crab runs from October 15 to May 15.
When Does Crab Season Start by State?
Here’s a state-by-state look at when you can expect the crab season to start:
West Coast
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Washington: The Puget Sound summer crab season opens in early July. The winter season opens as early as October depending on crab condition. Coastal crabbing opens year-round.
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Oregon: The ocean commercial season historically opens December 1. Recreational crabbing opens June 15, though it can vary.
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California: The Dungeness crab season opens mid-November and runs through June 30. Rock crab is open year-round.
Gulf States
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Louisiana: The blue crab season opens in the spring, usually in April or May.
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Mississippi: Blue crab season opens in the spring, around March.
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Alabama: Blue crab harvest runs March 1 to December 31.
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Florida: Stone crab season opens October 15. Blue crab is open year-round.
East Coast
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South Carolina: Blue crab season opens based on water temperatures, usually March to April.
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Virginia: Blue crab harvest begins in March. The winter dredge season lasts November to March 31.
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Maryland: The commercial crab season typically opens April 1. Recreational crabbing opens April 1 or when water temperature hits 52°F.
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Delaware: The recreational blue crab season opens year-round. The commercial season opens around March or April.
New England
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Maine: The crab harvest begins in early spring, around April. Some areas don’t open until June.
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Massachusetts & Rhode Island: Regulations allow year-round crab harvesting.
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Connecticut: Recreational crabbing opens in April. Commercial season starts when 50% of crabs have shed, usually late April.
When Does Crab Season End?
Crab season closing dates also vary by state but are generally timed to protect breeding and molting crabs.
Some states close crab seasons in the fall and winter months. Others close certain fisheries but allow year-round harvesting of some crab species.
Make sure to check your state’s regulations each year to know exact crab season opening and closing dates in your area.
Enjoying Crab at Its Best
Part of the fun of crab seasons is the anticipation of fresh crab after a long off-season. With this guide, you’ll know when to expect the start of crab season where you live or where you plan to travel.
Remember to check regulations before each season for any date changes. And once crab season arrives, get out there and enjoy some tasty crab fresh from the sea! Monitoring opening dates is the best way to ensure you can indulge in crab at its seasonal best.
State Waters Trap Closures:
Sept. 20 – Oct. 4 closed to traps in Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles and in federal waters.
Special regulations apply for traps and this species when in Biscayne National Park.
New Recreational Blue Crab Trap Requirements in Effect
Starting March 1, 2023, recreational blue crab traps must have bycatch reduction devices installed on trap throats or trap throats must meet new size and construction requirements. This proposal is part of a larger approach to prevent further decline of Diamondback Terrapins.
Recreational fishers age 16 and older (including those normally exempt from needing a license) are required to complete an online, no-cost recreational blue and stone crab trap registration before using blue or stone crab traps.
To register, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and add the Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration or the Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration to your account.
Upon completion, each person will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner’s full name and address. Registration numbers for blue crab traps will begin with the letter “B”; registration numbers for stone crab traps will begin with the letter “S”.” This information must be legible and must be permanently attached to each trap.
This no-cost registration will allow FWC to collect important information about these recreational fisheries needed for future stock assessments and management decisions.
Traps must be registered annually but unique registration number will not change year-to-year.
Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed. Here’s why and when it might start
FAQ
Is Dungeness crab season open in California?
What month does crab season start?
The primary season for all crab species runs from October to January, when they are often at their largest and populations are highest after spawning. Some regions even stretch crabbing season into July. It depends on the area and specific type of crab to know when the season is and when crabs will be their freshest.
When can you catch crabs in North Carolina?
From May through September, crabs are easy to catch in the Outer Banks. And you definitely shouldn’t go home without trying it.Jan 10, 2022
Is crab season open in Washington state?
Recreational crabbing is open year-round on the Washington Coast, but pot gear season closes in several areas for a portion of September, October, and November to reduce soft-shell crab mortality. Crab snares and foldable traps are legal during this time, as are ring nets that lie completely flat on the bottom.