Commercial Dungeness season on track for a Dec. 1 opener
With the most-recent Dungeness crab quality tests coming back as passing, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said commercial fishing north of the Sonoma-Mendocino county line is on track to open Dec. 1.
While quality testing in Trinidad and Eureka was below the 25% meat recovery mark near the beginning of November, the testing on Nov. 15 is much closer to the goal. According to CDFW data, in Trinidad during the Nov. 15 testing, meat recovery was rated at 24.9%; in Eureka, the meat recovery was 24.8%.
But fishing south of the SonomaMendocino county line is delayed.
“Based on aerial and vessel-based surveys, and after consulting with the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue to delay the commercial fishery and temporarily restrict recreational crab traps in Fishing Zones 3 and 4,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Available data indicate high numbers of whales remain in the fishing grounds. When data indicate whales have migrated out of the fishing grounds, CDFW stands ready to open the commercial season and lift the temporary recreational trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3 and 4.”
Recreational fishing is already open in northern areas.
“Early reports of successful crabbing is coming in from recreational crabbers in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 and those using hoop nets in Fishing Zones 3 and 4,” a news release from CDFW states. “The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab is open statewide (all Fishing Zones) with a temporary crab trap restriction for Fishing Zones 3 and 4.”