Crab Molts Shellfish biologists on the north and south coast report early molting of male Dungeness crab. Crabs tend to molt all at once, so great numbers of their old shells can show up on the beach at one time. It can look like a major disaster occurred to the crab population, but it’s as natural as kids outgrowing their old shoes. You can tell the difference between a shell from a molt and a dead crab by looking at the molt line. If you are lucky, you may find a whole exuvia or crab molt. During the molt, the crab leaves even its old gills, antennae, and mouthparts behind. Every detail is there except the crab.
BOTTOM FISHING Fishing for rockfish continues to be good with the average rockfish catch at about five or six fish per angler. Lingcod catches are good at all ports surveyed at better than one fish per angler. Bottom fishing is closed offshore of the 30-fathom line defined by latitude and longitude.
BOTTOM FISHING Fishing for rockfish continues to be good with the average rockfish catch at about five or six fish per angler. Lingcod catches are good at all ports surveyed at better than one fish per angler. Bottom fishing is closed offshore of the 30-fathom line defined by latitude and longitude. Cabezon retention is prohibited by all anglers until July 1. Retention of cabezon is allowed July 1 through Sept. 30. Under the federal cabezon quota, there is only enough cabezon to be open for two to three months during the busy summer period. When ODFW asked for public input in the fall, many people said they preferred a later season (July-September) over an earlier season. The daily bag and size limits remain the same (one-fish sublimit, 16-inch minimum length).
