Legal to Take Female Dungeness Crab?

December 17, 2009

Question: Is it legal to take female Dungeness crab in California during the season? I was sure it was illegal but could not find anything in the regulations confirming this. Can you help? (Walt D.)

Answer: Sport fishermen may keep female Dungeness crabs; it’s only the commercial crabbers who are required to discard them. Although females may be retained by sport fishermen, the crabs are often smaller in size and have smaller pincers (and less meat altogether) so many fishermen choose to let them go. The larger females that meet or exceed the minimum size limit may also produce the most young, so many people feel it is a good investment in the fishery for the future to retain only the males and to let the females go.

... the crabs are often smaller in size and have smaller pincers (and less meat altogether) so many fishermen choose to let them go.

+1 billion!

The larger females that meet or exceed the minimum size limit may also produce the most young, so many people feel it is a good investment in the fishery for the future to retain only the males and to let the females go.

+1 gazillion 

... the crabs are often smaller in size and have smaller pincers (and less meat altogether) so many fishermen choose to let them go.

+1 billion!

The larger females that meet or exceed the minimum size limit may also produce the most young, so many people feel it is a good investment in the fishery for the future to retain only the males and to let the females go.

+1 gazillion 

But but but ... ah, nevermind.

-Allen

... the crabs are often smaller in size and have smaller pincers (and less meat altogether) so many fishermen choose to let them go.

+1 billion!

The larger females that meet or exceed the minimum size limit may also produce the most young, so many people feel it is a good investment in the fishery for the future to retain only the males and to let the females go.

+1 gazillion 

But but but ... ah, nevermind.

-Allen

... yeah, i know! 

Go catch Female Rockies!