May 20, 2026 — California officials are expanding recreational crab trap restrictions along part of the state’s coast as humpback whales return to state waters, while commercial Dungeness crab fishing opportunities will remain open in some areas under existing management measures.
According to a May 15 announcement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), recreational crab traps will be prohibited in Fishing Zone 3, stretching from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line south to Pigeon Point, beginning at 6 p.m. on May 22. The move is intended to reduce the risk of whale entanglements under California’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP).
CDFW said recreational take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, will still be allowed through the close of the season. Existing recreational crab trap prohibitions in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 will also remain in effect.
Commercial opportunities continue in other portions of the fishery, though restrictions remain in place. In Northern California’s Fishing Zones 1 and 2, the commercial fleet continues operating under a 15% gear reduction and 30-fathom depth constraint. Fishing Zone 3 closed to standard commercial gear on April 30, but approved alternative “pop-up” gear remains authorized.