Dungeness crab season officially opens on the Central Coast on Thursday

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JAN. 18, 2024 AT 6:27 PM- After multiple delays, commercial Dungeness crab season has officially opened on the Central Coast.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife is allowing half the amount of traps that would normally be out in the water.

Fish and Wildlife officals said that the move was meant to get crab season started as soon as possible while reducing the risk of humpback whales getting tangled up in fishing gear.

Buster Cantanzaro who works for the Monterey Fish Company said they are excited to see fresh crab on the menu.

"We just got our first report from our fishermen who are out at the grounds picking up their traps." Cantanzaro said. "So, we're anticipating, they should be in late this afternoon so by tomorrow morning we'll have fresh cooked and live crab."

Catanzaro said that other businesses on Old Fisherman's Wharf have placed big orders for crabs.

Fish and Wildlife lifted the temporary restriction on recreational crab traps on Jan. 12

Dungeness crab season to open on the Central Coast on Jan. 18

UPDATE ON JAN. 14, 2024 AT 8:08 PM- After multiple delays, Dungeness Crab Season is scheduled to start on Thursday for fisheries on the Central Coast.

The California Department Fish and Wildlife said that fisheries from the Mendocino-Sonoma County line down to the California-Mexico border will be allowed to fish.

However, Fish and Wildlife officials said that fleets will have to operate under a 50 percent trap reduction in order to protect whales from getting tangled in fishing lines and nets.

The season had started for California's northern counties on Jan. 5 which include Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

Dungeness crab season pushed back to Jan. 11 for Monterey Bay, season opens Jan. 5 for northernmost counties

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said northernmost counties in California will have Dungeness crab season open on Jan. 5.

However, Fish and Wildlife officials said that crab season in the Monterey Bay will remain closed due to the presence of humpback whales and potentially getting entangled with crab traps.

State officials said the next assessment for the region will take place around Jan. 11.

The season will open on January 5 for fisherman who operate from the Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line.

All other regions in the state will remain closed at this time.

According to Fish and Wildlife, recreational crab traps are still restricted in these areas but recreational crab fisherman are allowed to use other methods including hoop nets and crab snares.

This is the fourth time that the opening of crab season has been delayed.