Dungeness Crab Fishing in BC

Dungeness Crab fishing in British Columbia

Dungeness is the classic BC trap crab, worked from a boat or a dock with baited traps over sand and mud. Three rules govern it almost everywhere: a minimum carapace width (measured across the shell), males only, and immediate release of soft-shell crabs. Sanitary and biotoxin closures do happen, so check the status below before you drop a trap.

Dungeness Crab closures in effect today (September 16, 2026)

47 closures affecting Dungeness Crab are in effect. A closure overrides the area-wide limit wherever the two overlap.

Area 1 — G̱aw Ḵáahlii (Masset Inlet) Marine Refuge (no end date given)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - Burnaby Narrows (year round)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - Cape Saint James (year round)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - Flamingo Estuary (year round)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - Gowgaia Estuary (year round)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - Louscoone Estuary (year round)
Area 2 — Gwaii Haanas - SGang Gwaay (year round)
Area 2 — X̲aana K̲aahlii (Skidegate Inlet) Marine Refuge (no end date given)
Area 7 — Bottleneck Inlet (year round)
Area 7 — Bullock Channel (Jun 1 – Sep 30)

… and 37 more — see the area pages linked below.

Dungeness Crab limits and size by DFO area

Recreational tidal-water limits for Dungeness Crab, by DFO Pacific area. An area can list more than one row where the rules split by species group or subarea — read the Species column so a 0 (non-retention) is never mistaken for the neighbouring row. Confirm on the DFO page before fishing.
Area	Species	Subareas	Min size	Daily limit	Status
Area 1	Crab - Dungeness	1,101	165mm	6	Open
Area 2	Crab - Dungeness	2,102,130,142	165mm	6	Open
Area 4	Crab - Dungeness	4,104	165mm	6	Open
Area 7	Crab - Dungeness	7,107	165mm	6	Open
Area 8	Crab - Dungeness	8,108	165mm	6	Open
Area 13	Crab - Dungeness	13-1 to 13-4 and 13-6 to 13-43	165mm	4	Open
	Crab - Dungeness	13-5	—	0	Closed
Area 14	Crab - Dungeness	14	165mm	4	Open
Area 15	Crab - Dungeness	15	165mm	4	Open
Area 16	Crab - Dungeness	16	165mm	4	Open
Area 17	Crab - Dungeness	17	165mm	4	Open
Area 18	Crab - Dungeness	18	165mm	4	Open
Area 19	Crab - Dungeness	19	165mm	4	Open
Area 20	Crab - Dungeness	20	165mm	4	Open
Area 23	Crab - Dungeness	23,123	165mm	6	Open
Area 24	Crab - Dungeness	24,124	165mm	6	Open
Area 28	Crab - Dungeness	28-1 to 28-7,28-9 and 28-11 to 28-14	165mm	4	Open
	Crab - Dungeness	28-8,28-10	—	0	Closed
Area 29	Crab - Dungeness	29	165mm	4	Open

Read from DFO’s per-area recreational fishing pages and refreshed daily. Openings change in-season and subarea boundaries are set by coordinates, so this is a reading of DFO’s pages, not a substitute for them. Check the Fishery Notices for changes newer than the update dates, and always confirm on DFO before fishing.

Plan a Dungeness Crab trip

Pick calm water first: see which areas are fishable tomorrow or this weekend, or open any fishing area for its live wind, waves, tides and hourly fishing score. The full rules for a place are on its area regulations page.

Dungeness Crab fishing in British Columbia

Dungeness Crab closures in effect today (September 16, 2026)

Dungeness Crab limits and size by DFO area

Plan a Dungeness Crab trip

Other species