Celebrate Crab Season in Sonoma County

Dungeness Crab season typically runs from November through June off the Sonoma County coast, but winter is always the time locals go wild for crustaceans and get downright crabby. Crab festivals pop up, families go crabbing off the end of piers, and others book space on a crabbing party boat out of Bodega Bay.

Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

Want to get crabby yourself? Here are a few suggestions:

Go Crabbing On Your Own

A few things you need to know if you’re going to get crabby on your own:

If crabbing from a public pier, you don’t need a sport fishing license to set a trap or net (read all about it in the state’s Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations [pages 51-52]). You can keep up to 10 Dungeness crabs per day during the season, but they must measure a minimum of 5-3/4 inches across the shell. The best time to catch is early in the morning or an hour or so before sunset.

A popular on-shore crabbing spot: The breakwater jetty off Doran Regional Park. Another good place to try: The Marina Jetty at Bodega Bay’s Spud Point Marina (on the marina’s south end).

Go Crabbing on a Boat Charter

Bodega Bay’s legendary Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center will take you to the crab action. For more options, check our Fishing and Boating listings. 

Go enjoy some freshly-caught crab

Head to the Bodega Bay marina, where you can buy it straight off the dock (you’ll have to rise early to meet the fisherman), or enjoy a variety of crab delicacies Sonoma County style at these restaurants. Or check out our article about the Top Seafood Restaurants in Bodega Bay.

For More Ideas 

Check out Unique Parks for Fishing in Sonoma County, River Beaches and Fishing Spots in Sonoma County, and Whale Watching Along the Sonoma Coast.