October 2, 2026 — Southeast Alaska’s first consecutive commercial red king crab fishery in decades opens Nov. 1.
Expectations for the season are underpinned by knowledge from last year’s fishery.
“I definitely think guys are excited. I think they know what to expect after last year,” said Adam Messmer, regional shellfish biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Messmer said the upcoming fishery will be managed much like last year, with some changes based on what fishermen and state managers saw that season.
“We got a little bit better handle on where crab was coming out of, and where crab wasn’t coming out of, and where there was effort,” Messmer said.