Fishermen Launch Dungeness Crab Season in San Francisco with Dockside Sales at Fisherman's Wharf

The much-anticipated Dungeness crab season is now upon San Francisco, as fishermen are set to sell their catch directly off the boat at Fisherman’s Wharf, aimed at providing locals with the freshest possible seafood. After a number of delays designed to prevent entanglement of migrating whales, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife has given the green light for the season to commence, with crab-hungry customers already lining up at Piers 45 and 47 since yesterday, as SFist reports.

Fishing enthusiasts and seafood lovers can expect Piers 45 and 47 to be bustling points of commerce throughout the newly opened season, cash, PayPal, and Venom are accepted, yet in a statement obtained by SFist, the Port of San Francisco urges buyers "to purchase fresh whole crab and fish directly from local fishers," aligning with Health Code regulations and setting a price of $10 per pound; these crabs, available from sun-up to sundown most weekends, will likely still be snapping away in your cooler.

With the official announcement of the crab season's start echoed by the Port of San Francisco on Twitter, there's an expected spike in excitement amongst locals, many of whom follow the social media pages of 'San Francisco off the boat sales Pier 45 and Pier 47' and utilize the FishLine app to track the availability and schedules of the fishermen. Eager to cater to both novices and seasoned crab buyers, the port's announcement carries a significant note: bring durable containers as "crab claws are no match for plastic bags."

Meanwhile, beyond the Wharf's direct seafood sales, city restaurants and Eater SF's "Highly Opinionated" editors have curated their favorite spots for those preferring a prepared dining experience, sharing insights in a series dedicated to Dungeness crab, these recommendations can be found in their latest edition, as per a tweet by Eater SF.

In parallel with the season's festivities, the esteem of Dungeness crab is set to potentially reach an official level, with Assembly Bill 1797 introduced by Assemblymember Jim Wood to designate it as the "official state crustacean" of California, the legislative move underscores not just the creature's ecological and economical importance to the state evidenced through bustling ports and rich food traditions yet has been met with both humor and support, with Wood himself lobbing crab-related puns in his social media campaign, reported Hoodline.