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Dungeness crabbing charters

Puget Sound Dungeness are among the best crab anywhere. The season is short, the rules are strict, and we handle all of it.

The season is short and specific

Puget Sound crabbing is not open whenever you feel like it. WDFW sets it each year, area by area, and it frequently runs only on certain days of the week.

For 2026, Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is open July 2 through September 7, and crabbing is permitted Thursday through Monday only — closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The rules, plainly

Every crabber in the Puget Sound Management Area needs the crab endorsement and a catch record card regardless of age. Completed summer catch record cards must be reported to WDFW by October 1, whether or not you kept a single crab. People forget this and it carries a penalty.

Sexing and measuring a crab correctly takes practice — get it wrong and it is a citation. On our boat, we do it with you, so you learn it properly.

Why go with a charter instead of a public pier

You can absolutely drop a pot off a public dock. But pressure near shore is heavy, and the crab that survive there are often undersized or soft-shell. Getting to grounds with good structure and less traffic is the difference between five keepers and a bucket of crab you have to throw back.

We supply the pots, the bait, the licence guidance, and the boat that gets you to water worth fishing. You supply the cooler.

What Dungeness are worth

A limit of five hard-shell Dungeness is a serious amount of excellent crab meat. At market prices, the trip often pays for a meaningful share of itself — and it is fresher than anything you can buy, because it was in the water that morning.

Common questions

When is crab season in Puget Sound?

It varies by year and marine area. In 2026, Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is open July 2 through September 7, Thursday through Monday only. Always confirm current WDFW rules.

What is the Dungeness crab limit in Puget Sound?

Five crab per day, males only, hard-shell, minimum 6.25 inches across the carapace.

Do I need a special permit to crab in Puget Sound?

Yes. Every crabber, regardless of age, needs a fishing licence, a Puget Sound Crab Endorsement, and a catch record card. Summer catch cards must be reported to WDFW by October 1.

How do you tell a male crab from a female?

By the shape of the abdominal flap on the underside — narrow and pointed on males, broad and rounded on females. We show you how to do it correctly on the boat.