Rough ocean conditions will likely spoil the opener

Crab season is just around the corner! Three happy crabbers show off a nice haul of Dungeness crab from last season, but this year’s Nov. 7 opener comes with trap restrictions, a North Coast closure and plenty of new rules to know before setting your gear. Photo courtesy of Steve Huber/Crescent City Fishing

Barring any last minute domoic acid test failure, the recreational Dungeness crab season is set to open this Saturday, Nov. 7. But it won’t be business as usual for crabbers. Trap restrictions will be in place along the entire California coast due to whale entanglement concerns, while a portion of the North Coast (Shelter Cove) will remain closed because of elevated domoic acid levels.

Following recommendations from state health agencies, CDFW Director Meghan Hertel has delayed the recreational season in ocean waters from Cape Mendocino (40° 10′ N) south to the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (39° 33.3′ N). Testing found unhealthy levels of domoic acid in crabs collected north of Fort Bragg. The closure prohibits both the recreational take and possession of Dungeness crab within the affected area.

Recreational crab traps will also be restricted from the California-Oregon border south to Point Conception through at least Jan. 1, 2027. The restrictions are in response to confirmed whale entanglements this year and a high abundance of humpback whales along the coast. CDFW has also issued a fleet advisory for all fishing zones, urging crabbers to avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present.

Hoop nets remain an option
The good news for those looking to get out and crab is that the trap restrictions do not apply to hoop nets or crab snares (loop traps). Anglers using hoop nets are reminded that gear must be pulled and checked at least once every two hours and cannot be left unattended for longer periods.

The recreational season runs from Saturday, Nov. 7 through July 30, 2027. The minimum size is 5¾ inches, measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of, and excluding, the lateral spines. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 crabs, and a valid California sport fishing license is required.

An annual crab trap validation is not required when taking crabs with hoop nets or crab loop traps.

California Dungeness crab hoop net regulations
North of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County

1. Legal hoop net types
Only Type A and Type B hoop nets are allowed.

• Type A: One to three rigid rings, each between 10 and 36 inches in inside diameter. Must have a non-metallic soft mesh bottom and collapse flat on the ocean floor. Maximum suspended height is 36 inches.
• Type B: Two rigid rings (plus an optional bait ring). Bottom ring cannot exceed 36 inches; top ring must be at least 15 inches. Maximum frame height is 10 inches, and maximum suspended net height is 30 inches. No entrances are allowed below the top ring.

2. Checking hoop nets

• Hoop nets must be pulled to the surface and inspected at least once every 2 hours.
• Leaving a hoop net unchecked for more than 2 hours is considered abandonment.
• Abandoned nets may be seized by enforcement officers.

3. Number of hoop nets allowed
North of Point Arguello

• No limit on the number of hoop nets a person may possess or deploy.
• Important exception: Public piers. You cannot use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps, or other legal devices (including hoop nets) to take crabs.

4. Main buoy requirements

• A main surface buoy is required for offshore hoop nets. This requirement does not apply to nets deployed from piers or jetties.
• Main buoys cannot exceed 6 inches in diameter or 14 inches in length.
• Buoys must be marked with the appropriate identification number:
  • Commercial passenger fishing vessel: Vessel registration number.
  • Licensed guide: Guide license number.
  • All other recreational operators: Operator’s 10-digit GO ID number.

New regulation requirements effective January 1, 2026

Additional orange marker buoy
An optional second marker buoy is now allowed.

• Must be solid orange.
• Cannot exceed 6 inches in diameter or 14 inches in length.
• Must display the letter H on two opposing sides.
• The letter H must be at least 2 inches tall, with a line thickness of at least ¼ inch.
• Must be attached within 12 feet of the main buoy.

Surface line marking requirements
When the line connecting the main buoy and optional orange marker buoy exceeds 6 feet, it must be marked as follows:

• One solid orange section measuring 24–26 inches.
• One adjacent solid purple section measuring 24–26 inches.
• No unmarked line between the two colored sections.

The maximum distance between the main buoy and marker buoy is 12 feet.

Statewide prohibition against tampering with hoop nets

• It is unlawful to move, damage or destroy another person’s hoop net.
• When aboard a vessel, another person may use a hoop net only if the owner or operator of that hoop net is present.

More information on hoop nets can be found here.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will be delayed from the California/Oregon border to Point Conception until at least Jan. 1, 2027. The commercial season delay and recreational trap restriction is required due to the number of humpback whale entanglements during the 2026 calendar year.

Weekend marine forecast
According to Eureka’s National Weather service, “Northerly winds are expected to weaken Friday and into the weekend as a weather system turns them southerly Saturday night into Sunday. The strength of these winds is still uncertain, but some moderate to near-gale force south winds are possible depending how far south this trough reaches. Behind this there is the potential for an even larger swell. The most recent model run is showing this building to around 13 to 15 feet at 15 seconds.”

As of Thursday afternoon, out 10 nautical miles, Saturday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the south 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 11 feet at 15 seconds. Sunday, winds will be out of the northeast 5 to 10 knots with west waves 11 feet at 13 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or https://www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Dungeness crab testing continues
Domoic acid testing in Dungeness crabs is continuing on the California coast. To date, samples from Monterey, Pillar Point, Pigeon Point, Crescent City, Fort Bragg, and Half Moon Bay have been sampled. Only the collection site of Usal north of Fort Bragg has come back with samples exceeding action level. More information regarding Domoic Acid and the latest test results can be found here.

The Oceans:
Eureka
“Eureka remains pretty quiet, but the rockfish have been biting at Cape Mendocino when boats can get down there,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “I haven’t heard much about Pacific halibut as the effort has really slowed down. Dungeness crab season is supposed to open Saturday, but the ocean conditions look horrible.”

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, rock fishing has been solid. “We’re getting quick limits most days we’re able to get out,” said Mitchell. We’ve been spending most of our time around the Old Man.” The Dungeness crab season has been delayed out of Shelter Cove due to unhealthy levels of domoic acid.

Brookings
“Rough weather has limited the window to fish for lingcod and rockfish out of Brookings,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Sport crabbing is closed until Dec. 1.”

North Coast river closures
Currently, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen are closed. Sections of rivers that are open include the main stem Smith River from its mouth to the mouth of Rowdy Creek.
The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures in real time online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.
Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2027.

Lower Trinity weir counts
The last couple of weeks of Oct. saw a decline in adult salmon coming into the lower Trinity River. For the week ending Oct. 28, a total of 71 adult kings were counted at the Hoopa weir. The jack count for the week was 11. For the season to date, 3,903 (adults and jacks) have been counted, including both hatchery and wild in 41 trap days. In 2025, the season total was 1,957 in 36 trap days.

Upper Trinity River adult salmon quota met as of Oct 29
As a reminder, the Upper Trinity River recreational adult fall-run Chinook salmon quota was met after Wednesday, Oct. 28. The adult retention closure is from the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West Bridge at Cedar Flat. This section will remain open to the harvest of jack (2-year-old) Chinook salmon (less than or equal to 23 inches).

The quota for adult Chinook on the upper Trinity this season was 536 adult fish. Anglers can monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling CDFW’s information hotline at (800) 564-6479.

Chetco/Rogue
According to Martin, salmon fishing has slowed in the Chetco estuary, with fish quickly moving through the lower river into the tidewater pools. “Bobber gear restrictions have been extended until significant rains arrive. Salmon are biting sand shrimp and anchovies fished below bobbers in the upper tidewater.
Fishing is slow on the Rogue, as salmon are spawning near Grants Pass. A few summer steelhead are being caught near Agness.”

Gear restrictions extended on Chetco, Winchuck rivers
Due to low water levels, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended recreational angling gear restrictions for the Chetco and Winchuck rivers through Dec. 31 according to a press release issued on Nov. 2.

ODFW Statement:
“Angling is restricted in both rivers to bobber fishing or fly fishing with a strike indicator until Dec. 31. The Chetco restriction applies from River Mile 2.2 to Nook Creek, and in the Winchuck the restriction is from the mouth to Wheeler Creek.

Based on historical flow regimes, gear restrictions are typically in place Sept. 1 – Nov. 3 each year. As in 2022, this year is an exception with abnormally low flows and no significant rain expected. The gear restriction will be lifted once flows have increased and are forecasted to remain high enough to allow Chinook to distribute throughout the river.

Extending the gear restriction allows anglers the continued opportunity to fish for salmon while reducing the incidence of snagging and poaching. Illegal fishing techniques are problematic when low water levels keep fish within the lower reaches of the rivers. The salmon become a target for snagging and other methods of poaching.

ODFW biologists are already seeing good numbers of Chinook returning to the Chetco. Maintaining a fishing opportunity for anglers is important and this is also a good time of year to harvest returning hatchery fish.

Anglers are reminded that the daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish per day and no more than five adult wild Chinook can be retained for the season.” For more information, visit the ODFW Regulation Update Page.