Dungeness Crab

How good is Dungeness? Let’s just say that it’s Julia Child’s favorite crab. Named after Dungeness Bay in Washington state on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Dungeness is a seafood staple on the West Coast. These days, though, the secret’s out and sweet-tasting Dungeness can be found on menus from New York to Shanghai.
Dungeness are found only in the eastern North Pacific, ranging from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to Southern California.
Dungeness are in greatest abundance off the coasts of northern California, Oregon and Washington. The ocean fishery off these states produces about 70% of the North American Dungeness harvest each year.
Most Dungeness are landed from December through February, when the crabs are actively feeding after molting. Generally, meat yields will improve as the season progresses.
Typically, Dungeness prices are at their lowest point of the year in December, when landings are at their peak shortly after the season opens.
Other significant Dungeness fisheries take place in Puget Sound in the inside waters of Washington state, Southeast Alaska and British Columbia.
Dungeness harvests normally follow a 7-year cycle of abundance, ranging from a low of about 15,000 tons to a high of almost 30,000 tons.