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Crabbing

Crab Limits & Seasons (Oregon & Washington)

Dungeness and red rock crab daily limits, minimum sizes, gear rules, and seasons for Oregon, coastal Washington, and Puget Sound — plus the catch record card and biotoxin closures.

6 min read · Updated June 2026

Crab limits, sizes, and seasons differ more than any other PNW shellfishery — they change between Oregon, the Washington coast, and Puget Sound, and some are set annually. Here’s the current picture, with the big caveat up front:

Always verify before you go. These are the commonly cited current numbers, but limits, sizes, and especially seasons are updated yearly and can change in-season (biotoxin delays). Check ODFW and WDFW before each trip.

Oregon

RuleDetail
Dungeness limit12 per day, males only (bays and ocean)
Dungeness minimum5¾ inches (measured in front of the points)
Red rock crab24 per day, any size or sex
FemalesRelease all female Dungeness
Gear3 rings / lines / pots per person
LicenseShellfish license, everyone 12+
SeasonBays, beaches, estuaries, piers, jetties: open all year, 24 hrs/day. Ocean closed Oct. 16 – Nov. 30.
Catch cardNot required

Washington — Coastal

RuleDetail
Dungeness limit6 per day, male, hard-shell
Dungeness minimum6 inches
Red rock crab6 per day, male or female, hard-shell, 5-inch minimum
Columbia River exception12 male hard-shell Dungeness, 5¾-inch minimum
Catch cardNot required on the coast
SeasonGenerally open year-round (pot-gear closure dates vary by area)

Washington — Puget Sound

Puget Sound is the most regulated, with set seasons and a required card.

RuleDetail
Dungeness limit5 per day, male, hard-shell
Dungeness minimum6¼ inches (measured inside the points)
Red rock crab6 per day, either sex, hard-shell, 5-inch minimum
Females / soft-shellRelease immediately
Gear2 units of gear per person
LicenseWA fishing license (16+) plus Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement plus catch record card
Catch record cardRequired. Separate summer and winter cards; you must report your catch each season (even if you didn’t go) or face a $10 penalty
SeasonSet annually by marine area — typically a summer season (around July–August) and a winter season; check WDFW for current open areas and dates

Puget Sound seasons are announced annually and vary by marine area — there’s no fixed statewide calendar, so always check the current WDFW crab page.

Universal rules

  • Males only for Dungeness, both states. Check the apron: narrow/pointed = male (keep if legal), wide/rounded = female (release).
  • Measure every crab with a gauge before keeping it.
  • Keep the back shell on in the field (Washington) so size, sex, and species can be verified.
  • Invasive European green crab must never be released in Oregon — report and destroy.

Biotoxins and crab

Domoic acid concentrates in the crab’s viscera (“crab butter”), not so much the leg and body meat. Oregon’s best practice — and sometimes the rule during low-level events — is to gut the crab and discard the butter before cooking. Crab seasons are sometimes delayed or closed for elevated domoic acid. Check the biotoxin status before you go: ODA 1-800-448-2474 (Oregon), WA DOH 1-800-562-5632 (Washington). See our safety guide.

New to it? Start with the Dungeness crabbing guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Dungeness crab limit in Oregon?
In Oregon, the daily limit is 12 male Dungeness crab (in bays and ocean), with a 5¾-inch minimum size. Red rock crab is 24 of any size or sex. Everyone 12 and older needs a shellfish license. Always verify current rules with ODFW.
What is the Dungeness crab limit in Washington?
It depends on the area. In Puget Sound it's 5 male Dungeness per day, 6¼-inch minimum, with a required catch record card and Dungeness endorsement. On the coast it's 6 male Dungeness, 6-inch minimum, no card required. Confirm current WDFW rules and seasons.
Do you need a catch record card to crab in Washington?
Only in Puget Sound, where a Dungeness crab endorsement and catch record card are required (separate summer and winter cards, with mandatory reporting). The Washington coast and Oregon do not require a crab card.
Can you keep female crabs?
No — you must release all female Dungeness crab in both Oregon and Washington. You keep legal-size males only. Check the apron on the belly — narrow and pointed is male, wide and rounded is female.

Keep reading

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