Species profile
Dungeness Crab
Metacarcinus magister
Identify Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 6 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is a crustacean regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 2 (British Columbia); the most generous is 20 (Alaska).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 6.0 in.
Confirmed by 12,626 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named after Dungeness Spit, Washington, where commercial harvest began in the mid-1800s.
- Adults can reach 10 inches across the carapace and weigh over 3 pounds.
- Females can carry up to 2.5 million eggs beneath their folded abdomens.
- They molt once a year, shedding and regrowing their entire shell in order to grow.
- Dungeness is the largest commercially harvested crab on the U.S. West Coast by volume.
Where Dungeness Crab are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Dungeness Crab
Background
The Dungeness crab, Metacarcinus magister (the naming convention recognized by WoRMS) or Cancer magister (the naming convention recognized by ITIS), is a species of crab that inhabits eelgrass beds and water bottoms on the west coast of North America. It typically grows to 20 cm (7.9 in) across the carapace and is a popular seafood prized for its sweet and tender flesh. Its common name comes from…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Dungeness Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Dungeness Crab?
Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is a crustacean regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Dungeness Crab?
Dungeness Crab is Metacarcinus magister.
Is Dungeness Crab regulated for fishing?
Yes — Dungeness Crab has fishing regulations in 6 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Dungeness Crab?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Dungeness Crab along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.