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Information & facts
Species Name
Dungeness crab
(Cancer magister)
Size Range
Average 6-7 inches, can grow to 10 inches
Species Description
One of the most popular items on BC seafood menus is the Dungeness crab. The shell is purple-tinged, gray or brown on the back and the tips of the claws are typically white. The Dungeness crab can reach ten inches across the back though six to seven inches is more common. The Dungeness crab is frequently associated with eelgrass beds and prefers sandy or muddy substrates.
Dungeness crab can reach 10 inches across the back, although six to seven inches is more common. The Dungeness crab is frequently associated with eelgrass beds and prefers sandy or muddy substrates.
Dungenous Crab Fishing Tips, Tricks and Tactics
Crab pots are crab traps commonly used to catch Dungeness crab in BC and can be bought or made. They are constructed by wrapping netting or wire mesh over an iron frame in which one or two funnel-shaped openings, called tunnels, are provided for crab to enter. Rapid exit from the pot is prevented by a 'trigger' device.
Crab traps must have an opening in the top or side wall that is sewn shut with a length of untreated cotton twine, no greater than #120 (often called rot cord)
- When the twine rots, it must produce an opening of at least 7 cm x 20 cm (rectangle) or 11 cm x 11 cm (square)
- On traps with a rigid frame and a hinged lid, the lid must be secured by a loop of the same type of twine so that the lid will open freely when the rot cord breaks. There must not be any other fastenings that interfere with the lid opening
- This regulation exists so that if a trap is lost and the twine rots, captive crabs can escape and the trap can no longer catch fish
- You may use mechanical devices to recover your traps
Crab pots are generally baited with chicken, fish carcasses, salmon heads, or other meat, then set in water 20-150 feet deep (they must be placed below the lowest tide line) and located by the line buoy. Sport crabbers must attach red and white marker buoys. These must be legibly and permanently marked with the operator's first name, last name and address. Buoy lines must be weighted sufficiently to prevent them from floating on the surface.
Know before you go:
- Always check the latest closures and restrictions for your area. In many areas of British Columbia, fishing is not allowed or is restricted. It is illegal to harvest shellfish from closed or contaminated areas
- You must have a tidal waters sport fishing license to harvest shellfish in salt water, including tidal water boundary areas in rivers
- Identify your catch. It is illegal to possess female Dungeness or Red Rock crabs
- Advisories are put in place for shellfish contaminated by dioxins and furans. The restrictions apply to recreational harvesting of certain species at specific sites, usually around industrial sites. In crab, some kinds of contamination are primarily concentrated in the hepatopancreas. While this portion of the crab is not usually eaten, some individuals may consume it. Consumption advisories pertain to this portion of the crab only. You will find dioxin consumption advisories on the area page for the location you intend to fish
More Resources on Crab Fishing
We hope that the information provided on this page makes you a better crab angler. In case you’d still like to continue your research into crab fishing I put together the below list of resources. They should be sufficient for expanding your knowledge base.
- How to Catch Crabs - There is nothing quite like a harvest of freshly caught crabs to set the tone for a perfect shoreline feast. Charlie White shows how beginners and veteran crabbers alike can benefit from his decades of experience—from finding and capturing crabs to storing, cleaning, and cooking your catch. Whether you use crab traps or the traditional shoreline, low-tide hunt to bag your quota, this book will aid your cause.
- Dungeness Crab – Wikipedia – Learn more about dungeness crab on Wikipedia.