Dungeness crabs have four pairs of armored legs, two claws, and a wide, hard shell. A Dungeness's legs are shorter compared to other commercial crabs and their claws have a distinctive hook. The claws of th… See more

Mature female crabs generally molt in late spring, although exact timing varies with location. Mating occurs immediately after the female has molted and before the new exoskeleton hardens. Males are able to detect whe… See more

Dungeness are most often found in areas with sandy bottoms but can be found on a wide variety of bottom types. The crabs are found in high density from the intertidal zone to a depth of between 170 and 300 ft. Individual … See more

The Dungeness fishery was started by San Francisco fishermen in 1848. By the early 1900s the fishery had expanded to match the entire range of the crabs. Around this time regulations were put in place to allow only hard-s… See more

It is estimated that every season since 1970 the fishery has taken 9-98% of the legal-sized male population with an average of 66% a year. The majority of this catch is caught in the first six weeks of the season. Despite thi… See more