Beginning Dec. 31, Cape Foulweather to Cape Falcon opens to commercial Dungeness crab fishing, state officials say

Eugene, OR – According to the state officials, pre-season testing shows crab meat yield remains too low to open commercial crab fishing from Cape Falcon to the Washington border.

The next round of crab meat yield testing will help determine if this area can open Jan. 15, or Feb. 1, 2024, in coordination with southern Washington.  

Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed or partially opened so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs are not wasted.

This year’s season was partially opened from Cape Foulweather to the California border on Dec. 16 after a delay due to low meat yield in some coastal areas. 

ODFW tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the commercial Dungeness crab industry.