California

Commercial Crab Season Begins in Northern California

Dungeness crab season has kicked off on the coast of Northern California, where commercial fishermen say they expect the pickings to be good.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Saturday was the first day that Dungeness crab could be caught legally south of Mendocino County. Hundreds of boats loaded with traps and bait set out from San Francisco on Friday and plan to return with crabs that will be in local markets by Monday.

The Chronicle says that with Dungeness fetching a wholesale price of $3 a pound, consumers hoping to serve crab at their Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts can expect to pay three times that amount.

California Department of Fish and Game environmental scientist Christy Juhasz says that unlike salmon and other species, crab have not been affected by California's drought.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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