After long delays, commercial crab season in California is about to begin. Fish and Wildlife announced that commercial crabbing from the Sonoma/Mendocino fishing line to the Mexico border will open on January 18th, 2024.
This means next week, you will be able to enjoy fresh, local crab both at home and in restaurants. If you love fresh crab, you’re in luck because you can buy directly from boats at Fisherman’s Warf to get the freshest catch possible. If you’re interested in buying crab directly from fishing boats, the off-boat fish and crab sales page is an excellent resource for finding and connecting with the fishing boats.
The 2024 season comes after multiple delays and is more than two weeks later than last year’s opening date, which was just in time for New Year’s Eve.
Despite the excitement, restrictions are still in place this year. All fishing south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (fishing zones 3-6) are under a 50% reduction in traps. This is reduce the risk of entangling humpback whales as they migrate north.
The commercial fishing industry has had a hard year, as evident by the late opening to crabbing season.
CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham stated in a press release, “Today’s action in the Central Management Area strikes a balance. It protects whales and turtles, and it gets people on the water allowing our hardworking commercial fishing fleet to provide fresh sustainable crab to California residents.”
The northern zones from the Oregon state line to Sonoma/Mendocino were opened on January 5, 2024, under a fleet advisory. The CDFW will do another risk assessment in mid-February.
Dungeness crab has a long history in San Francisco, particularly at Fisherman’s Wharf. Commercial crabbing first took off more than 100 years ago, and now it’s a season all of SF eagerly awaits. Early fishermen in SF would set up cauldrons of boiling water to cook and serve the crabs in little paper cups at Fisherman’s Wharf.
This sweet and briny treat was an instant hit with both locals and tourists alike. From there, Dungeness crab found its way into local SF restaurants, and now it’s wildly popular in Bay Area eateries.
By Grant MacHamer and Dana Flynn