New Hoop Net Regulations in Effect

Type A hoop nets, set (R) and being pulled to the surface (L).
CDFW illustration

Hoop net users statewide will want to review new hoop net regulations that went into effect on October 31, 2022, especially since the recreational Dungeness crab season opened during a trap restriction this past Saturday.

Hoop nets may be used for Dungeness crab instead of traps during a trap restriction. Crabbers may also use crab snares

New Regulations for Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Opening November 6, Shellfish Safety Notification for Sonoma/Mendocino County Line to Point Reyes

click to enlarge

Recreational crabbers can use crab traps, hoop nets, and snares (loop traps) to take Dungeness crab in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (from the Oregon state line to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line) and in Fishing Zones 5 and 6 (the area south of Lopez Point, Monterey County) when the season opens tomorrow, Nov. 6, 2021.

New Trap Regulations for Recreational Crabbing in California

New trap buoy configuration
CDFW photo by P. Ward

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted new regulations for the recreational crab fishery in late 2020. The revised regulations include the following new requirements when fishing with crab traps:

Upcoming Regulation Changes for Commercial Dungeness Crab and Other Trap Fisheries

Dungeness crab
CDFW photo by C. Juhasz

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is developing several important regulation changes that will affect the commercial Dungeness crab fleet and other trap fisheries in 2020 and beyond.

California Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Will Close Statewide April 15, 2019

Commercial crabber hauls in a crab pot.
CDFW photo

The California commercial Dungeness crab fishery will close statewide on April 15, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a Declaration today to close the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in all commercial fishery management zones. The closure is needed due to a greater risk of whales becoming entangled in commercial Dungeness crab pots, lines, and buoys during the spring and summer months.

All commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear must be removed from ocean waters and landings must be completed by April 15, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.

This closure only applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery.