Doug's Got Crabs

Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not so much. Doug's catch of the Shield Backed Kelp Crab was biologically interesting but not of culinary interest. His next venture was better. A hearty pull showed a savory bounty with large crabs. The required size in Washington is 6 1/4 inches while British Columbia's size translates to 6 1/2 inches. In this pull Doug got his record breaking crabs with two over 8 inches with a giant 8 5/8 inch crab.

Crab Facts:

Dungeness Crabs are found from Alaska to Baja Mexico.

Dungenss Crabs are named after Dungeness Spit located in Port Angeles, WA

Dungenss Crabs mate in the late winter and early spring.

Males only mate with females that have recently molted (shed their hard shell)

In the fall the female lays about 2.5 million eggs.

In about one year the eggs begin to resemble a crab rather than an amorphous egg.

In 2 to 3 years they mature to reach minimum harvesting size.

Crabs are estimated to live 8 to 13 years.

The largest Dungeness male crabs an reach 10 inches.

DOUG'S QUEST FOR THE GIANT CRAB CONTINUES!