Happy new year: Commercial crab season OK to start

Published 5:56 pm Friday, December 19, 2025

By the Chinook Observer

ILWACO — With Dungeness crab meat testing at 28.1% off the Long Beach Peninsula in Dec. 13 sampling — well above the required 23% — the commercial season is approved to begin, the Tri-State management group announced Friday, Dec. 19.

From Klipsan Beach including Willapa Bay to Cape Falcon, Oregon, the 73-hour presoak (setting gear) begins at 8 a.m. Dec. 28. Hold Inspections start at noon Dec. 30. Start date (pulling gear) is set for 9 a.m. on Dec. 31.

From Klipsan Beach to the Queets River, including Grays Harbor, 73-hour presoak begins 8 a.m. on Jan. 1. Hold Inspections start at noon on Jan. 3. Start date is 9 a.m. on Jan. 4.

The customary Dec. 1 season start was delayed because of low meat yield in Long Beach Peninsula waters.