crab season | San Francisco on the Bay

Fishing Report 12.6.15

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) updated recreational and Commercial Dungeness Crab fishers on Dec. 1: crab fisheries continue to remain closed due to continued high levels of the neurotoxin domoic acid found in crab samples from California ports. The CDFW updated their website results for domoic acid sampling as of Dec. 3, 2015 with no change in results.

A few stats:

Emeryville Sportfishing’s annual catch for 2015 is 264 Dungeness crab compared with 2014’s catch of 16,420 (i.6%) and 2013’s catch of 19,017 (1.4%).

Emeryville Sportfishing sent out 36 Anglers in three boats on Dec. 5 and brought back a catch of 360 Rockfish, and 47 Lingcod. Their total catch for the month of Nov.: 1,288 Lingcod, 7,985 Rockfish, 543 Pacific Macerel, 1,475 Sandab, 8 Pacific Bonito and 5 Cabezon. That’s a lot of fish for recreational fishermen, though sadly lacking any Dungeness crab.

Emeryville Sportfishing is located in the Emeryville Marina at 3310 Powell Street in Emeryville, CA off Highway 80. For printable driving directions from your location to Emeryville Sportfishing follow this link. You can reserve a boat now at 510-654-6040.

Fishing Report: No Crab for Thanksgiving? Emeryville Sportfishing Chimes In

Sportfishermen are anxiously awaiting the official opening of Dungeness crab season – originally slated for Nov. 7, 2015 – but the opening date has been pushed back. The delay is due to higher than normal levels of domoic acid found in the crab meat and viscera of Dungeness and Rock crabs. Domoic acid is produced by naturally occurring algae (Pseudo-nitschia), which can, if at dangerous levels, be toxic to human beings. This algae floats in the ocean near the surface soaking in sunlight to produce blooms serving as feed for whales and jellyfish, as well as shrimp. The remains fall to the bottom-feeding fish and crustaceans.

The CA State Departments of Fish & Game and Public Health and other agencies warn consumers not to eat any Rock or Dungeness crab caught along the coastline from Oregon to Santa Barbara until further notice. They are monitoring levels of domoic acid in the crabs and as soon as the levels subside, they will lift the warning.

UPDATE: Today, Nov. 5, The California Fish and Game Commission voted to postpone the opening of recreational crab season for up to six months. “The fisherman down at Emeryville Sportfishing are optimistic that the season will open much sooner. The State has the option to open it whenever they decide,” according to Emeryville Sportfishing’s owner Craig Stone.

Commercial Dungeness crab season was slated to open on Nov. 15. If that date gets pushed back too far, does that mean there will be no fresh Dungeness crab for Thanksgiving? No word yet on commercial crabbing opening date, though Stone believes it definitely is delayed. North West crab fisherman are fearful that the warnings against crab toxicity in the SF Bay will drive down prices and demand, though Seattle’s crabs are fine – way below the toxic level. Emeryville on the Bay will keep you posted. Or you can call the CDPH’s biotoxin phone line at (800) 553-4133.

Emeryville Sportfishing sent out two boats on Sun., Nov. 1, with 22 anglers catching 220 Rockfish and 66 Ling cod . (Salmon season closed on Sat., Oct. 31.) Emeryville Sportfishing is located in the Emeryville Marina at 3310 Powell Street in Emeryville, CA off Highway 80. For printable driving directions from your location to Emeryville Sportfishing follow this link. You can reserve a boat now at 510-654-6040.