NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Northern California Dungeness crab season will open at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, north of the Mendocino County line.

Prior to the season opening, commercial fishermen are allowed a 64-hour gear setting period when crab trap gear can be set no earlier than 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.

Quality tests conducted in northern California in November indicate that California Dungeness crabs are ready for harvest.

For the results from the preseason quality tests, please visit www.psmfc.org/crab/ .

Oregon and Washington Dungeness crab seasons will also open on Dec. 1.

The central California Dungeness crab season – Sonoma County to Mexico border – opened on Nov. 15.

For more information on Dungeness crab, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/management_com.asp#crab .