At a glance
6–8 in across the shell.
10–150 ft; from docks and piers in the bays.
Traps soak overnight or longer.
2 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Large, purplish-brown crab with a wide, fan-shaped shell and white-tipped claws. Males have a narrow tail flap on the underside; females have a wide, round one.
- Typical size
6–8 in across the shell.
- Maximum size
About 10 in across and 4 lb.
- Diet
Clams, oysters, snails, worms and dead fish.
- Behavior
Lives in burrows and rocky or oyster bottoms near shore; feeds at night.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from Central & Northern California and Oregon & Washington. Sand and eelgrass in bays, harbors and the open coast from Central California to Alaska.
- Habitat
Sand and eelgrass in bays, harbors and the open coast from Central California to Alaska.
- Depth
10–150 ft; from docks and piers in the bays.
- Fishing depth
1–30 ft, near shore and in bays.
- Best season
Florida stone crab season runs from mid-October into spring (check FWC for exact dates).
- Best time
Traps soak overnight or longer.
- Best tides
Not critical.
- Best weather / conditions
Calm days to set and pull traps safely.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Chicken, turkey legs, fish carcasses, clams and squid in a bait cage.
- Best artificial lures
Crab rings, pots and crab snares.
- Tackle setup
Recreational traps (limited number, marked buoy) or by hand where allowed.
- Hook size
No hook — traps baited with fish heads or pigs' feet.
- Line
Trap rope sized for the depth.
- Leader
Not used.
BigJoe's setup for Dungeness crab
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Sand and eelgrass in bays, harbors and the open coast from Central California to Alaska.
- Rig up: Recreational traps (limited number, marked buoy) or by hand where allowed. Not used.
- Pick your bait: Chicken, turkey legs, fish carcasses, clams and squid in a bait cage. Lures: Crab rings, pots and crab snares.
- Fish it: Drop a baited crab ring or pot from a pier or boat, wait 15–30 minutes for rings (longer for pots) and pull it up fast. Measure every crab.
- Time it: Traps soak overnight or longer. Not critical.
- Fishing techniques
Drop a baited crab ring or pot from a pier or boat, wait 15–30 minutes for rings (longer for pots) and pull it up fast. Measure every crab.
- BigJoe's tip
Crab are best when their shells are full and hard — a soft, light crab has little meat.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
- Cleaning
Pull off the back shell, remove the gills and guts, rinse and break the body in half.
- Cooking suggestions
Boil or steam 15–20 minutes and eat with butter, or clean before cooking for cioppino.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Claws can crush fingers — hold from behind.
- Regulations
Keep males only, above the state's minimum shell width (measured across the back); seasons, limits and gear rules differ by state and area. Check CDFW, ODFW or WDFW. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
- Conservation
Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.