Dungeness Crab Season Is Finally Here— And San Franciscans Can Buy Fresh Crab Directly From Local Fishermen

Dungeness crab has been a San Francisco staple for more than 100 years. Early fishermen would boil the tasty crustaceans in cauldrons at Fisherman’s Wharf. Soon, crab became a staple in San Francisco restaurants and a culinary tradition in the city. The beloved crab is often a holiday tradition, typically served around Christmas, New Year’s, or even at Thanksgiving if crabbing season opens soon enough. In recent years, the commercial crabbing season has been delayed due to whale migrations, pushing the opening day back by months. Finally, on January 5, commercial crabbing opened in the area, meaning now is the perfect time to treat yourself to Dungeness crab. San Francisco is lucky to have fresh crab, and you can even buy it directly from local fishermen at Fisherman’s Wharf. You can expect a fresh batch of crab for sale this Sunday, January 11 , at Piers 45 and 47 on Al Scoma Way (Jones St). The crab will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 6 am to 5 pm. You can find more updates from the fishermen on their Instagram or Facebook. The commercial crabbing season was delayed for a variety of reasons, including entanglement risk for migrating whales and crab meat quality concerns. Elevated domoic acid levels were another reason for the delay. Crabbing on the California Coast is divided into different zones, and the Central Management Area, which is south of the Sonoma/ Mendocino County line, opened on January 5th. On January 15, portions of the crab fishery in Northern California will also open for commercial fishing. If you’re not up for cooking crab yourself, there are also plenty of restaurants in San Francisco that are known for serving Dungeness Crab. The Crab House on Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular spot, but Woodhouse Fish Co., Swan Oyster Depot, and Sotto Mare are all popular restaurants known for their seafood. Source: https://secretsanfrancisco.com/dungeness-crab-season-sf-ca/