JUST A CRAB

Next 4 Open Days at

Full tide list

Date Slack Tide (+/- 30 min)Slack High TideHigh Low TideLow

Recreational crab rules by marine area

Crab fishing seasons and regulations and Dungeness crab reporting requirements may vary by area. Click a crab area for daily limits, minimum size, and other details. Snapshot as of 2026-10-09. Puget Sound seasons are typically announced each June and September, so check WDFW for the latest.

Zone Status Days open Season dates
Marine Area 1 - South Coast/Pacific Ocean Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Dec. 1 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Marine Area 1 - Columbia River Open Everyday Year-round
Marine Area 2 - Westport/Ocean Shores Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Dec. 1 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Willapa Bay - Area 2-1 Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Nov. 15 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Grays Harbor - Area 2-2 Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Dec. 1 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Marine Area 3 - LaPush Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Dec. 1 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Marine Area 4 - Neah Bay - East of Tatoosh-Bonilla line Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 4 - Neah Bay - West of Tatoosh-Bonilla line Open Everyday Crab pots: Open Dec. 1 through Sept. 15. Crab gear other than pots: Open year-round
Marine Area 5 - Sekiu and Pillar Point Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 6 - East Juan de Fuca Strait, Port Angeles Harbor, Discovery Bay Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 7 - South - San Juan Islands/Bellingham Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 7 - North - Gulf of Georgia Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Deception Pass - Area 8-1 Open Everyday Open daily from October 10 through December 31.
Port Susan/Everett - Area 8-2 Open Everyday Open daily from October 10 through December 31.
Marine Area 9 - Admiralty Inlet Open Everyday The portion of Marine Area 9 excluding waters north of the Hood Canal bridge to a line connecting Olele Point and Foulweather Bluff. Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 9 - Port Gamble/Port Ludlow Open Everyday The portion of Marine Area 9 north of the Hood Canal bridge to a line connecting Olele Point and Foulweather Bluff. Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 10 - Seattle/Bremerton Closed None WINTER season has not been announced and may remain closed pending final summer catch estimates.
Marine Area 11 - Tacoma-Vashon Island Closed None WINTER season has not been announced and may remain closed pending final summer catch estimates.
Marine Area 12 - Hood Canal - North of Ayock Point Open Everyday Open daily from October 1 through December 31.
Marine Area 12 - Hood Canal - South of Ayock Point Closed None Closed until further notice.
Marine Area 13 - South Puget Sound Closed None Closed until further notice.

Source: WDFW Crab Fishing Regulations. Catch reporting: WDFW Catch Record Card. Rules change; verify on WDFW before fishing.

WDFW emergency rules

Recent sportfishing rule changes from the WDFW emergency rules feed. Always verify on WDFW before you fish. Snapshot pulled 2026-10-19 16:36 PDT.

Hoh and Quillayute watersheds closing to all fishing

Action: Closes all fishing.

Effective dates: Oct. 19, 2026, until further notice.

Species affected: All species.

Locations (including all tributaries to listed waters):

• Bear Creek (Clallam County) a Bogachiel River Tributary.

• Bear Creek (Clallam County) a Sol Duc River Tributary.

• Beaver Creek (Clallam County).

• Bogachiel River (Clallam County) from the mouth to the Olympic National Park boundary.

• Calawah River (Clallam County) including North and South Forks from the mouth upstream to the Olympic National Park boundary.

• Dickey River (Clallam County) from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream including the East and West forks.

• Hoh River (Jefferson County) from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the Olympic National Park boundary below mouth of South Fork Hoh.

• Hoh River, South Fork (Jefferson County) outside of the Olympic National Park boundary.

• Quillayute River (Clallam County) from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream to confluence of the Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers.

• Sitkum River (Clallam County).

Read full WDFW notice

FAQ

Quick answers for pier crabbing with this dashboard.

What is slack tide?

Slack is the short window around each high or low tide when current slows. This site shows a ±30 minute window around each high and low, which is often the easiest time to feel bites and work pots or rings from a pier.

Why do I only see “next 4 open days”?

Those tiles are the next four calendar days when crabbing is open for the selected pier under current WDFW weekday and season rules, not just the next four days on the calendar.

What do the gold highlighted slack times mean?

Gold slack windows overlap the hours shown on the tide chart. White slack times are still real for that day, but fall outside the chart’s From/To window.

Why does changing piers change the tide times?

Each pier is paired with a nearby NOAA tide station. Water heights and timing differ around Puget Sound, so Edmonds, Mukilteo, Bellingham, and Tacoma each use their own station predictions.

Do I still need a license and the pamphlet rules?

Yes. This site summarizes tides and published season status for convenience. You are responsible for a valid license, size/sex/soft-shell checks, marine-area seasons, and any emergency rule changes from WDFW crab regulations.

Where are knot guides, cooking tips, and WDFW PDFs?

Use the menu links for Rules (official PDFs and maps), Crab Facts (species cards), and Essential Info (gear, knots, and steaming plus ice-brine tips).

What is the Crabdex?

The Crabdex is a private catch log for an invited group of friends. Sign-in is by emailed link and only works for invited addresses. Catches can be private or shared with your group.