The traditional Nov. 15 start of commercial Dungeness crab season will not happen this year. In an Oct. 30 announcement, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the commercial fishery will be delayed from the California-Oregon border to Point Conception until at least Jan. 1, 2027. That stretch, Fishing Zones 1 through 5, covers the entire Bay Area coast, along with Santa Cruz County.
Why
CDFW said the delay is required because of the number of humpback whale entanglements in 2026 and the high number of humpbacks across the fishing grounds. Current rules require the department's director to act to reduce the chance of more entanglements for the rest of the year. The delay also lets whales migrate out of California waters before commercial crabbing opens. Lookout Santa Cruz reported that three whales have been confirmed entangled in California commercial crab gear this year and two in recreational gear. It also said this is the seventh straight year the opener has been pushed back.
What recreational crabbers can do
The recreational season opens Nov. 7 in most areas, but crab traps are banned from the Oregon border to Point Conception until at least Jan. 1. CDFW said hoop nets and crab snares (loop traps) are still allowed. Hoop nets must be checked every two hours and cannot be left unattended for longer. The department also issued a fleet advisory telling crabbers not to set gear where whales are present. Separately, recreational crabbing is closed entirely in a stretch of Mendocino and southern Humboldt county waters because of high domoic acid levels.
Impact on the harbor
At the Santa Cruz Harbor, H&H Fish co-owner Hans Haveman told KSBW the delay "really hurts" local fishermen. He said the shop will probably bring in crab from farther north instead. He also pointed out that rock crab, fished in shallower water, is still available year-round.
What's next
Lookout reported that CDFW will reassess the risk on Dec. 18 and decide then whether the season can open in January.