When is Crab Season in California? A Guide to Crabbing in the Golden State

As a seafood lover living in California, one of my favorite times of year is crab season! Crabbing is a popular recreational activity up and down the Pacific coast, and fresh crab is a delicious highlight of many Californians’ diets when in season. In this article I’ll walk through everything you need to know about harvesting your own crabs from the ocean and bay waters of California including when, where, and how you can get your hands on these tasty crustaceans.

An Overview of Crab Seasons in California

There are a few key types of crab found along the California coast that are popular for recreational crabbing

• Dungeness Crab – By far the most popular type of crab for eating. The Dungeness crab season runs from November to June/July depending on location.

• Rock Crabs – Includes yellow, red, and brown rock crabs. Open year-round statewide.

• California Spiny Lobster – Technically not a crab, but a popular crabbed crustacean. The lobster season runs October to March.

The exact crab season dates depend on the species, location, and regulations in a given year. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife sets the season dates annually based on crab population levels.

Generally, you can count on Dungeness crab season opening sometime in November and closing in June or July. For rock crabs, crabbing is open year-round making them a great option for putting crab on the table outside of peak Dungeness season.

Dungeness Crab Season by Location

Dungeness crab season dates can vary across different parts of the California coast. Here’s a breakdown of Dungeness crab season openers for key areas:

• Northern California – From the California/Oregon border down to Sonoma County, the Dungeness crab season opens in early November and runs through July.

• Central California – From Sonoma/Mendocino county south to Monterey County, the season opens in early-mid November and closes end of June.

• Southern California – From Monterey County south, the Dungeness season typically opens in mid-late November and closes in early March.

Within San Francisco Bay, there is no recreational crabbing allowed for Dungeness crab. You have to go out into the open ocean waters of the bay or along the outer coast to crab for Dungies.

How to Check Current Crab Season Dates

The best way to look up current crab season dates for your area is to check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s ocean fishing regulations page for the most up-to-date info. Here you can view a map of fishing zones and regulations for key species including Dungeness crab, rock crab, and more.

Crab season dates can vary year-to-year, so it’s always good to check the regulations at the start of each season. For example, in 2025, most of the California coast closed the Dungeness crab season early on April 8 due to risks of whale entanglements from crabbing lines. Make sure to verify the open season dates for your location each year.

Minimum Size Regulations for Crabs

Recreational crab fishers in California need to abide by certain size limits which vary by species:

• Dungeness Crab – 6 1⁄4 inches minimum size
• Rock Crabs – 4 inches minimum size
• California Spiny Lobster – 3 1⁄4 inches minimum size

It’s critical to have a crab gauge on hand to measure your crabs and make sure they meet the minimum size. Undersized crabs need to be released back into the water unharmed. Wardens do enforce the size limits and can cite people for possessing undersized crabs.

Daily Bag Limits for Crabs

Along with minimum sizes, there are daily recreational bag limits in place for the number of crabs you can take in a day:

• Dungeness Crab – 10 crab per day
• Rock Crabs – 35 crab per day
• California Spiny Lobster – 7 lobster per day

After catching your crabs for the day, be sure to stop harvesting once you reach the bag limits. Overharvesting of crabs has led to shortened seasons in the past when population levels drop. Following the regulations helps ensure healthy crab populations for seasons to come.

When and Where to Go Crabbing in California

Now that you know the regulations, where and when should you actually go crabbing?

For Dungeness crab, November through December is prime season when crab quality peaks. However, you can still get great quality Dungeness from January through April or May before shell quality starts to decline. I love hitting the crab opener on November 15th each year to kick off the season.

For crabbing close to home in the San Francisco Bay area, the piers along Ocean Beach, Pacifica Pier, and Pillar Point Harbor Pier are all solid spots to drop crab traps and snares. For boat-based crabbing, heading out from ports in Princeton Harbor, Pillar Point Harbor, and Half Moon Bay put you close to prime crab grounds.

Up in Northern California, the piers dotting Highway 1 like Pacifica Pier offer shore access to crabs. Going outside Humboldt Bay is a popular launch point for boats to target Dungeness crab.

Central Coast options like Monterey Harbor, Santa Cruz Wharf, and Avila Pier provide shore and boat access to quality crabbing spots. Venturing a bit south to Morro Bay is another crabbing hotspot in season.

Tips for Preparing and Cooking Your Catch

Once you’ve hauled in your daily limit of tasty Dungeness or rock crabs, you’ll want to prepare them properly for the table. Here are some tips:

• Place live crabs in an ice slurry to humanely kill before cooking. Never cook crabs alive.
• Clean crabs by removing the top shell, gills, intestines, and mandibles. Rinse well.
• Crabs can be boiled, steamed, baked, or grilled. Season water or drizzle crab meat with garlic butter, lemon, or seafood seasoning.
• Eat crab meat right from the shell or use it in dishes like crab cakes, cioppino stew, crabs benedict, etc.
• Refrigerate cooked crab meat up to 2 days or freeze for longer term storage.