Can I Keep?Dungeness Crab Regulations in California (2026)
Metacarcinus magister
Recreational dungeness crab rules in California saltwater, as published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Last checked November 7, 2026.
Limits differ by area — the summary below is the first published rule; see every rule underneath.
Size limit
The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾…
Bag limit
10 per person
Season
NOTE: CDFW has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab…
Can I keep it today? Check your harbor & date
Recreational Dungeness Crab rules in California
- Where
- Northern Management Area
- Size limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Bag limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Season
- NOTE: CDFW has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab season in Northern California from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas (40° 17.6' N latitude) to the southern boundary of Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (39° 33.3' N latitude) due to a public health hazard. The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 in Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties. To check for in-season closures due to domoic acid, call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.
- Be sure to review recreational trap, hoop net, and Dungeness crab fishing regulations before going crabbing.
- Crabbers can sign up for crab trap restriction notifications through the Marine Region News Service.
- Status from the CDFW status icon for this section (yellowcircle.png); yellow = 'Partially closed fishing season or alert'.
- State health agencies determined that Dungeness crab collected in Eureka area (Humboldt County) and north of Fort Bragg (southern Humboldt County and northern Mendocino County) have unhealthy levels of domoic acid and recommended delaying the opening of the recreational fishery in state waters.
- Also, the California Department of Public Health strongly recommends removing and discarding the viscera (internal organs, also known as "crab butter" or "guts") to avoid any inadvertent exposure to domoic acid that may sporadically be found in crab viscera.
- To check for in-season closures due to domoic acid, call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.
- Where
- Mendocino Management Area
- Size limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Bag limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Season
- NOTE: CDFW has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab season in Northern California from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas (40° 17.6' N latitude) to the southern boundary of Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (39° 33.3' N latitude) due to a public health hazard. To check the status of in-season closures due to domoic acid, call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883. The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties.
- Also, crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- The use of hoop nets and crab snares is permitted (see this summary of regulations for hoop net use north of Point Arguello, and additional information including Frequently Asked Questions about crab traps and hoop nets).
- Please visit the Whale Safe Fisheries web page for the latest information regarding use of traps, or to sign up for updates.
- Status from the CDFW status icon for this section (yellowcircle.png); yellow = 'Partially closed fishing season or alert'.
- State health agencies determined that Dungeness crab collected in Eureka area (Humboldt County) and north of Fort Bragg (southern Humboldt County and northern Mendocino County) have unhealthy levels of domoic acid and recommended delaying the opening of the recreational fishery in state waters.
- To check the status of in-season closures due to domoic acid, call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.
- For updated information on warnings, advisories, and quarantines concerning naturally-occurring shellfish toxins, call CDPH's toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133, and review CDFW's Finfish and Shellfish Health Advisories web page.
- Also, crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- Where
- San Francisco Management Area
- Size limit
- The seasons for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) are as follows: Season north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 Season south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through June 30, 2027 The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Bag limit
- The seasons for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) are as follows: Season north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 Season south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through June 30, 2027 The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Season
- The seasons for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) are as follows: Season north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 Season south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line*: Open from November 7, 2026 through June 30, 2027 The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- NOTE: Crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- The use of hoop nets and crab snares is permitted (see this summary of regulations for hoop net use north of Point Arguello, and additional information including Frequently Asked Questions about crab traps and hoop nets).
- Please visit the Whale Safe Fisheries web page for the latest information regarding use of traps, or to sign up for updates.
- Status from the CDFW status icon for this section (yellowcircle.png); yellow = 'Partially closed fishing season or alert'.
- NOTE: Crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- Also, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) strongly recommends removing and discarding the viscera (internal organs, also known as "crab butter" or "guts") as a best practice to avoid any inadvertent exposure to domoic acid that may sporadically be found in crab viscera.
- For the latest consumption advisories, call the California Department of Public Health's toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or check CDPH's Shellfish and Seafood Advisories web page.
- Where
- Central Management Area
- Size limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Bag limit
- The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
- Season
- The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open from November 7, 2026 through June 30, 2027 south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line.
- NOTE: Crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- The use of hoop nets and crab snares is permitted (see this summary of regulations for hoop net use north of Point Arguello, and additional information including Frequently Asked Questions about crab traps and hoop nets).
- Please visit the Whale Safe Fisheries web page for the latest information regarding use of traps, or to sign up for updates.
- Status from the CDFW status icon for this section (yellowcircle.png); yellow = 'Partially closed fishing season or alert'.
- NOTE: Crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement, and a Fleet Advisory has been issued that instructs crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.
- Also, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) strongly recommends removing and discarding the viscera (internal organs, also known as "crab butter" or "guts") to avoid any inadvertent exposure to domoic acid that may sporadically be found in crab viscera.
- Where
- San Francisco Bay District (bays & inshore)
- Status from the CDFW status icon for this section (redcircle.png).
- Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) may not be taken from, or possessed if taken from, San Francisco and San Pablo bays at any time.
Commercial rules
Show 2 commercial rules
- Where
- Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 (California/Oregon border to the southern boundary of Mendocino County) (ocean)
- Size limit
- a) Except as otherwise provided, no Dungeness crab less than six and one–quarter (6¼) inches in breadth, and no female Dungeness crab, may be taken, possessed, bought, or sold, except that not more than 1 percent in number of any load or lot of Dungeness crabs may be less than six and one–quarter (6¼) inches in breadth but not less than five and three–quarter (5¾) inches in breadth. b) Dungeness crab shall be measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly from front of points (lateral spines).
- Season
- Dungeness crab may be taken for commercial purposes in Districts 6, 7, 8, and 9 only between December 1 and July 15.
- All Dungeness crab traps shall be removed from state waters by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the applicable Dungeness crab season.
- Crab traps may be set and baited 64 hours before the opening date of the Dungeness crab season. Crab traps may be set and baited in advance of that opening date if no other attempt is made to take or possess Dungeness crab.
- DISTRICT 6 includes the ocean waters and tidelands of the state from the northerly boundary of the state to the west end of north jetty at the entrance to Humboldt Bay.
- DISTRICT 7 includes the ocean waters and tidelands of the state from the west end of north jetty at the entrance to Humboldt Bay to the southern boundary of Mendocino County.
- Season delay: [Inoperative April 1, 2029; Repealed effective January 1, 2030] (a) The director may order a delay in the opening of the Dungeness crab fishery after December 1 in Districts 6, 7, 8, and 9 in any year.
- Permit: Dungeness crab vessel permits are valid only in state waters and in the Pacific Ocean in federal waters south of the border with Oregon.
- The director may modify the Dungeness crab season due to marine life entanglement risk (FGC §8276.1; T14 CCR §132.8); check CDFW in-season notices.
- License: Any resident 16 years of age or older who uses or operates, or assists in using or operating, any boat, aircraft, net, trap, line, or other appliance to take fish or amphibia for commercial purposes, or who causes to be brought ashore any fish or amphibia at any point in the state for the purpose of selling them in a fresh state, or who contributes materially to the activities on board a commercial fishing vessel is required to have a commercial fishing license. (FGC §7850).
- Source: 2026 California Commercial Fishing Digest (CDFW); regulations may change in-season.
- Where
- All other districts (south of the southern boundary of Mendocino County) (ocean)
- Size limit
- a) Except as otherwise provided, no Dungeness crab less than six and one–quarter (6¼) inches in breadth, and no female Dungeness crab, may be taken, possessed, bought, or sold, except that not more than 1 percent in number of any load or lot of Dungeness crabs may be less than six and one–quarter (6¼) inches in breadth but not less than five and three–quarter (5¾) inches in breadth. b) Dungeness crab shall be measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly from front of points (lateral spines).
- Season
- Dungeness crab may be taken for commercial purposes in all other districts only between November 15 and June 30.
- All Dungeness crab traps shall be removed from state waters by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the applicable Dungeness crab season.
- Crab traps may be set and baited 64 hours before the opening date of the Dungeness crab season. Crab traps may be set and baited in advance of that opening date if no other attempt is made to take or possess Dungeness crab.
- DISTRICT 6 includes the ocean waters and tidelands of the state from the northerly boundary of the state to the west end of north jetty at the entrance to Humboldt Bay.
- DISTRICT 7 includes the ocean waters and tidelands of the state from the west end of north jetty at the entrance to Humboldt Bay to the southern boundary of Mendocino County.
- Permit: Dungeness crab vessel permits are valid only in state waters and in the Pacific Ocean in federal waters south of the border with Oregon.
- The director may modify the Dungeness crab season due to marine life entanglement risk (FGC §8276.1; T14 CCR §132.8); check CDFW in-season notices.
- License: Any resident 16 years of age or older who uses or operates, or assists in using or operating, any boat, aircraft, net, trap, line, or other appliance to take fish or amphibia for commercial purposes, or who causes to be brought ashore any fish or amphibia at any point in the state for the purpose of selling them in a fresh state, or who contributes materially to the activities on board a commercial fishing vessel is required to have a commercial fishing license. (FGC §7850).
- Source: 2026 California Commercial Fishing Digest (CDFW); regulations may change in-season.
Quick answers
What is the dungeness crab size limit in California?
The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
How many dungeness crab can I keep in California?
The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
When is dungeness crab season in California?
NOTE: CDFW has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab season in Northern California from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas (40° 17.6' N latitude) to the southern boundary of Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (39° 33.3' N latitude) due to a public health hazard. The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open from November 7, 2026 through July 30, 2027 in Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties. To check for in-season closures due to domoic acid, call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.
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Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Most anglers need a California saltwater license or registry: get one here.