Productive Washington commercial crab season begins to wind down
Published 4:29 pm Thursday, March 6, 2025
- A crab boat works a nearshore area off the peninsula as the delayed 2024-25 harvest begins to wind down. Although commercial harvest will continue, the vast majority of crab are caught in each season’s opening weeks.
PACIFIC COUNTY — Washington commercial crab fishermen are beginning to slow for the season and turn their attention to other fisheries following a productive season buoyed by record processor prices.
As of March 3, a total of 8.33 million pounds of Dungeness has been landed statewide by commercial crab fishermen in Washington.
Local crabbing grounds just west of Long Beach continued to be a focal point for the commercial fishing fleet from Westport and Ilwaco, accounting for 5.03 million pounds caught between the Columbia River north to Westport (designated catch area 60A-2), or 60% of the statewide catch.
Willapa Bay has accounted for 928,000 pounds, or 11% of the statewide catch. Pt. Chehalis north to Pt. Grenvile had 1.02 million pounds, or 12% of the statewide catch.
Historically 75% or more of the catch is caught in the first eight weeks of the season.
This year, the 2024-2025 Washington commercial crab season officially started Jan. 15, following delays due to failing to meet the required meat yield percentage.
The current season (8.33 million pounds) is on pace to be the lowest landing total in since the 2020-2021 season, when roughly 10 million pounds was landed.
Washington crabbers caught 17.56 millions pounds 2023-2024, proceeded by a record 24.06 million pounds in (2022-2023) and 15.22 million pounds in (2021-2022).
Despite the lower landings this year, the total state Fishery ex-vessel value is currently $56,793,504 — $7 million above the five-year average for the fishery ($49 million).
Low catch, high price
Fishermen reported strong currents and steep competition among the opening-day hurdles, leading to lower-than-normal catch volumes. However, the $5.75 opening record price from processors was a huge relief, up from $3.50 last season. The low catch volume buoyed by favorable prices has defined this season, fishermen said.
“The price dropped (to $6) yesterday,” said commercial fisherman Ross Kary.
“It’s slowing down finally, it was good until last week.”
Kary planned to continue crabbing locally in Willapa Bay until the end of the month, before turning his attention to other fisheries, including the Dungeness crab season in Southeast Alaska.
“Overall it’s been low volume but a good price — it’s been nice weather too,” Kary summed.
Other fishermen shared similar thoughts on the season.
“It’s been slow but the prices keep me going,” said commercial fisherman Jerry Matzen III.
