Dungeness Crab Season to Open in Central Management Area

The season is set to open Jan. 5, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., with pre-soak to begin on Jan. 2, 2026, at 8:01 a.m.

The announcement has been made, and it is time to get to work. PCFFA provided the following quote to CDFW to include in their press release. Full press release and final Director’s determination are linked below.

“The commercial fishing fleet has always been both a producer of sustainable seafood that feeds our communities and coastal economies, and a steward of the ocean we depend on for our lives and livelihoods. Hard work and sacrifices by the fleet have reduced entanglements even as whale populations have grown, and we appreciate CDFW for recognizing that progress and responding by opening the season with additional opportunity,” said Lisa Damrosch, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. “This opening reflects a careful balance and shows what is possible through shared effort to thread the needle within the system we are operating under. We also want to thank the Director for his leadership and many years of service at CDFW and wish him success in his next role.”