After Short Wait, Bay Area Crab Fishing Underway

HALF MOON BAY (AP) - Dungeness crab season is finally under way, after a two-day delay to test the quality of this season's catch.

Crab fishermen were given the OK to set their pots in the waters off California's central coast Tuesday, meaning the tasty crustaceans could make it to markets by the end of the day.

Even though the crab season officially opened Sunday, fishermen were asked to wait until quality tests were conducted. Early catch found immature crabs with too little meat.

Michael Lucas, president of North Coast Fisheries, told the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa that the crabs collected throughout the area Monday afternoon were found to be of "decent" quality.

Fishermen say they expect another strong crab season this year.

Commercial crabbing runs through June 30.

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