The commercial crab season off the Oregon Coast got off to a two-week late start this year, and those in the industry still do not have a solid grip on what kind of landings will be produced this year. Fishermen on the South Coast at Brookings, which led the state in landings last year at 5 million lbs., are not optimistic stating the harvest so far has been lackluster and added it is the worst they have seen in 30-years. Newport is normally one of the two top ports each year in landings for the entire Coast. The skipper of one fishing vessel using the Central Coast port says the crab are good size, but not plentiful. Most of the boat’s pots were about a quarter full each pull on the first day, Monday, Dec. 16. On the North Coast, crabbers reportedly “have high hopes” with early reports of Dungeness Crab being “full and hardy.” Commercial crabbing is the No. 1 fishery for the State of Oregon.
