Crab Traps

July 28, 2022

Question: Are recreational crab traps allowed to be fished once Dungeness crab season ends?

Answer: The Dungeness crab recreational season will close statewide Saturday, July 30. Once the season ends, crab traps to take crabs other than Dungeness are allowed north of Pt. Arguello (Santa Barbara County) to the Oregon state line.

As a reminder, the crab trap rules that went into effect November 1, 2021, would still apply and can be found on this flyer (PDF)(opens in new tab).

We also have some useful FAQs regarding these new crab trap rules.

Stay tuned in October for notices regarding the use of crab traps prior to the start of the 2022-23 Dungeness crab season currently scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2022.

So this is a dungeness thing? Not really a whale thing?

So this is a dungeness thing? Not really a whale thing?

yah, I'm confused as well...

i'm pretty sure its because like 90% of people doing traps do it for dungie. the # of ropes in the water during "rock crab only" season is way less. especially from what i see running up and down the coast in a boat. i saw 1 set of buoy yesterday in 14 miles of coastline

i'm pretty sure its because like 90% of people doing traps do it for dungie. the # of ropes in the water during "rock crab only" season is way less.

Or 99%.

i'm pretty sure its because like 90% of people doing traps do it for dungie. the # of ropes in the water during "rock crab only" season is way less.

Or 99%.

i typed that first but changed it to 90 so i didn't seem so dramatic hahahahaha