10 Things You Should Know About Dungeness Crab, Currently In Season

The Dungeness crab is the undisputed king of the West Coast, found in chilly Pacific Ocean waters and driving fishing town economies throughout California, Oregon and Washington. The six-legged crustacean is a popular foodstuff while in season, a period that begins in early December and generally runs through the spring. While the most basic method of cooking the crabs involves boiling them live in salt water and eating them by cracking the shell and breaking off the legs and claws, more complex and creative preparations have become commonplace in restaurants throughout the country. Here are eight things to keep in mind during Dungeness season.

10 Things You Should Know About Dungeness Crab, Currently In Season

10. The crab was named after a small fishing village in Washington State and has been commercially harvested since the 1880s.

9. It has a slightly sweeter flavor than snow and king crabs, and generally does not possess an ocean scent.

8. The crabs are caught in traps called “pots,” baited with herring, squid and razor clams. The average boat fishes 250-300 pots in depths ranging from 30-300 feet.

7. Seafood Watch has given the crab a sustainable seafood rating of ‘Best Choice.’

6. Citing its importance to the state’s economy, the Oregon State Legislature named the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean in 2009. Only two other states, Maryland (blue crab) and Louisiana (freshwater crayfish), have designated state shellfish.

5. The official Oregon Dungeness crab season opens annually on December 1. This year’s harvest was delayed multiple times, until December 31, due to poor quality control tests. Typically, about one-quarter of the crab’s weight is meat.

4. The 2012-2013 season opened with a record-tying $2.30 per pound pricing. Last year, 14.2 million total pounds were harvested at a record high of $2.95 per pound. Annual harvesting along the entire Pacific Coast ranges from 35-55 million pounds.

3. The San Francisco Giants created an "anti-mascot" in 1984, with fans encouraged to boo and hiss at Crazy Crab, which was based on the Dungeness crab. Fans and players alike got really into it, hurling both insults and objects at the phony mascot, all the way to a miserable 96-loss season.

2. There was a sighting of a Dungeness crab in the Atlantic Ocean in 2006, raising concerns about possible dangers to local wildlife. Scientists hypothesize that it may have been purchased from a live seafood market and released.

Photo: amorimur on Flickr

1. You can buy Dungeness crab right on Amazon or from the Seattle Fish Company. But your best bet is to book a late-winter trip to San Francisco, Porland, Seattle or points in-between. 

Photo: wallyg on Flickr

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