Dungeness crab
Know your fish
Dungeness crab
Metacarcinus magister
Typical size:150–200 mm
- Purple-brown oval shell with white-tipped claws; shell is widest just in front of the rear points
- Males: narrow lighthouse-shaped abdomen flap; females: wide beehive-shaped flap
- Red rock crab: dark red, black-tipped claws, smaller
Looks like: Red rock crab is legal at 115 mm; don't confuse it with an undersized Dungeness.
Min 165 mm
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mm
OK to keep
- Males only, 165 mm across the shell measured inside the points (red rock 115 mm)
- 4/day in most Areas (6 in Area 24); carapace stays on until you are home
Must release
- All females
- Any male under 165 mm
- Soft-shelled crabs (just moulted), voluntarily
Best months
June, July, August, September, October, November
Rules
Males only. Keep the carapace on until home. Traps: two escape rings 105 mm, rot cord, float marked with name and phone. Set and haul only between one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
Fishing licences across Canada
Rig to tie
- 1Float Cylindrical, 27 × 12 cm minimum, marked with your name and phone
- 2Line Leaded rope, 1.5 × depth, so it sinks clear of props
- 3Trap Collapsible or ring trap with rot cord
- 4Escape rings Two rings, 105 mm minimum (the law)
- 5Bait cage Fish carcass, chicken or turkey leg; cage keeps seals out
How to tie and fish it
Tie it:Clip the line to the trap bridle, tie the float on with a bowline. Max 2 traps per person in Area 20; 4 elsewhere.
Fish it:Set on sand in 40–100 ft (20–30 ft off a pier) at high slack and soak over the turn. Males only, 165 mm across the back, carapace stays on until you are home. Pull only in daylight.