Final Third of Oregon Coast Given Okay to Start Commercial Crabbing

Published 12/21/25 at 5:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) - The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will finally open Dec. 31 from Cape Falcon to the Washington border, with fishermen allowed to begin the presoak period - setting baited pots - on Dec. 28. (Photo Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium)

ODFW postponed the north Oregon coast opener until Long Beach, Washington crab met the required 23 percent meat fill. Preseason testing on Dec. 13 showed crab well above that threshold.

Oregon’s ocean commercial season, originally targeted for a Dec. 1 start, is often delayed or opened in phases to ensure high-quality product and avoid waste. Most of the coast from Cape Falcon south to California opened Dec. 16, a timing ODFW said would help supply holiday markets.

In recent years, biotoxins have frequently pushed back the season, but both Oregon and Washington were lucky and avoided closures this year.

The 2025–26 season is operating under a fleet advisory urging vessels to avoid areas where whales are feeding or migrating, following four whale entanglements off Oregon’s coast. One involved a juvenile humpback whale that washed ashore near Yachats last month, with crabbing gear suspected as a contributing factor.

Sport crabbing remains open along the entire Oregon coast from Washington to California, giving recreational crabbers plenty of opportunity to launch from ports such as Garibaldi, Astoria, or Depoe Bay.

Oregon Coast's Crabbing Fleet Heads Out with Whale Entanglement Advisory - Environmental groups petition ODFW for greater whale safety measures

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