Ocean commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
11-18-2022
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NEWPORT, Ore – The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season opener is delayed until at least Dec. 16 for the entire Oregon coast. Pre-season testing shows crabs are too low in meat yield in some areas. Elevated domoic acid also was detected in some crab viscera (guts).
Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon's ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs are not wasted.
The next round of crab meat yield and biotoxin testing will occur in the coming weeks. Results help determine if the season opens Dec. 16 or is further delayed or split into areas with different opening dates.
ODFW tests crabs out of Oregon's six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and the commercial Dungeness crab industry.
Weekly season opening updates are posted online until the decision to open the season is made.
Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. California and Washington are delaying their commercial seasons until at least Dec. 16. A history of Oregon's commercial crab landings is available online.
Oregon commercial Dungeness crab bay and estuary fishery:
Due to elevated levels of domoic acid detected in crab viscera samples, ODA designated a biotoxin management zone (BMZ) from eight miles north of Winchester Bay (43°47' N) to the California border (42° 00'). All commercial crab harvested from bays in this BMZ must be eviscerated.
Visit the ODA Commercial Crab Biotoxin webpage for more information.
Recreational bay and estuary crabbing is also closed in the BMZ.
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11-18-2022
NEWPORT, Ore – The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and ODFW closed recreational bay and estuary crabbing from eight miles...... Read More
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, November 17th, 2022
• ODFW Recreation Report
Crooked River: Steelhead have begun entering the Crooked River basin
East Lake: Anglers report good fishing
Hosmer Lake: Anglers report that fishing at Hosmer has improved
Lava Lake: Recent reports of good fishing
Paulina Lake: Anglers are reporting good kokanee fishing
Wickiup Reservoir: The reservoir is very low at 18 percent
Breitenbush River: Breitenbush River Report
Quartzville Creek: Flows have dropped considerably and should continue to moderate throughout the week
Santiam River ( North Fork) : This year’s strong coho salmon run is just about done for the year
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Flows are still in excellent shape
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,340 cfs
Walter Wirth Lake: Walter Wirth Lake Report
Alsea River: Fall Chinook fishing picked up last week on the Alsea
Necanicum River: The Necanicum has dropped back to low and clear conditions
Nehalem River: Recent rains have moved the majority of fish up into the rivers
Nehalem River- North Fork: The hatchery coho run is definitely winding down on the North fork
Nestucca River: Nestucca River Report
Salmon River: Fall Chinook fishing has slowed down on the Salmon River
Trask River: The hatchery coho run is mostly done on the Trask
Wilson River: Wilson River Report
Yaquina River: Fall Chinook fishing continues to be slow on the Yaquina
Agate Lake: Agate remains at 13 percent full
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Report
Chetco River: Low and clear
Coquille River: Coquille River Report
Elk River: Low and clear
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant remains at 3 percent full
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is filling with the input of various springs and is now at 31 percent full
Rogue River - Middle: Current flow is around 1,200cfs
Rogue River- Upper: Reservoir releases have dropped to their typical November levels
Sixes River: Low and clear
Ana Reservoir: Ana Reservoir Report
Chewaucan River: As winter approaches and temperatures drop expect fishing to be slow
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Fishing Report
Lake Of The Woods: Water temperatures will be very cold and likely freezing early mornings
Sycan River: Fishing not recommended
Snake River- Below Hells Canyon Reservoir: Sturgeon fishing can be good in the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam