Winter is the most wonderful time of the year, which in Oregon is also one of the tastiest. Commercial crabbing season usually kicks off in December for a festive holiday treat. With more than 400 commercial boats working the waters from Astoria to Brookings, there’s no better time to visit a seafood market for the freshest and heaviest Dungeness crab.
Oregon’s commercial crab fishery is the most valuable single-species fishery in the state. In 2023 crabbers hauled in more than 23.8 million pounds of Dungeness — a crab celebrated for its sweet, succulent meat that’s packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B-12. It’s also rewarding to extract its meat from the shell, yielding satisfying portions with minimal work. One crab alone can often feed two people, especially when served with sides.
Ready to get crabby? Here’s how to make the most of the season with one of Oregon’s favorite shellfish.
When to Buy Dungeness Crab in Oregon
If you’re planning a holiday feast, you’ll want to watch for the commercial opening date. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife posts weekly updates that will keep you informed. The commercial season can begin as early as December 1, but based on several factors it might not open until later that month or even January. The season can last into the summer, but the peak harvest generally tapers off around April.
Exactly when crabs will appear in markets and stores can fluctuate from year to year because the season depends on the crab’s development and its habitat. Dungeness crabs, like all crustaceans, must molt to create larger shells that they can then grow into from the inside out. Crabbers need to wait for the meat to “fill out” to a certain percentage for the commercial market. Domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin created by algae, can also work its way into shellfish and delay the start of the season. Whale migrations and winter storms can also push it back or disrupt it.
Regardless of when the season opens, you needn’t worry about purchasing commercially caught crabs once they hit the market. Pre-season testing ensures it’s safe. “Regulators want to make sure that the product is safe and high quality,” says Kristen Penner, a former commercial crabber who is now the regional food systems value chain coordinator for the Oregon Ocean Cluster, a local seafood project of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.
Purchasing and Preparing Dungeness Crab
Penner says as much as 80% of the entire season’s harvest can happen in the first few months of commercial crabbing. With such an abundant supply, market prices are generally lowest early in the season and climb as it continues and supply wanes, so stock up early for the best deals.
The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission offers tips and instructions on how to clean and prepare live Dungeness properly. It’s also easy to buy ready-to-eat cooked crab meat in containers, and many places that sell crab can do the work for you. Clusters — which are sections of whole, cooked crab cleaned and split in half with the large shell of the body removed — are also a popular choice.
Where to Find Fresh Crab in Coastal Markets
On the North Coast, some fun interactive places to purchase live crab include Astoria’s OleBob’s Seafood Market, where you can see live crab in a giant holding tank and explore historic Pier 39, which for decades hosted a fish-and-crab cannery. Jetty Fishery and Kelly’s Brighton Marina in Rockaway Beach both offer family-friendly crabbing off the dock, if you’d like to go the DIY route, as well as live and cooked crab to enjoy on the spot or take home. The Spot and Captain’s Corner in Garibaldi also sell fresh crab at a picturesque marina with fishing boats and dining options.
Overlooking the water in Newport, order a crab dinner at Local Ocean and take home cooked crab from its market, or head down to the docks to Chelsea Rose Seafood, where you can enjoy a vintage boat converted to a market and buy live crab.
To watch the commercial boats in action, plan a trip to the Port of Port Orford on the South Coast. There you can watch as workers raise and lower both boats and their catch using a unique crane on the dry dock. Ask at the dock about purchasing live crab when the boats come in. Just be sure to respectfully avoid work in progress at the port and watch your step.
Live Dungeness can be shipped almost anywhere in the country overnight, especially early in the season when the quality of the meat is best. Check in with South Beach Fish Market just south of Newport or Fishermen Direct in Gold Beach for shipping options, among others.
For even more crab, see markets all along the Coast, and find more coastal dining inspiration along the North Coast Food Trail, Central Coast Food Trail and Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail.
