Dungeness Crab, June 2023, Washington State

Please check your local regulations:

This area allows year-long crabbing if you are not using crab pots. We are currently allowed to take 6 male crabs that are 6-inches but no females. Finding crabs in the sand and tide pools can be difficult if not timed properly.


The strawberry moon accentuated the high and low tides this week. We experienced -2.5 ft tides and these strong tides help female Dungeness crabs molt which attracts males. Males can only successfully mate after a female is newly molted. Many of these males are in a pre-mating embrace until the female molts which can last up to 2 weeks. About 20 crabs that I found were female while 3 were male.