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How to Identify Dungeness Crabs

Dungeness crabs are located on the Pacific west coast of North America and are found as far north as Alaska or as far south as Mexico. When you go crabbing for Dungeness crabs, it is important to know how to recognize the crab you are looking for, if the crab is a juvenile or an adult, as well as the difference between a male and a female Dungeness crab.

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the claws on the end of the Dungeness crab legs; Dungeness crab claws have white tips at the end. Count the number of legs on the crab. It should have five legs on each side.
- 2
  Examine the shell of the crab to see the color. Dungeness crabs range from a reddish-brown to dark purple in color.
- 3
  Measure the size of the Dungeness crab to determine if you have a juvenile or an adult crab. An adult crab measures around 7-inches wide. Examine the color of the shell. If the shell has a greenish hue, it is a juvenile and must be returned to the water.
- 4
  Flip the Dungeness crab over on its back so that its underside of the shell is exposed. Examine the crab. Females have a wide underside of the shell area shaped like a lemon while males have a narrow underside of the shell area. Release any female crabs you catch so that they can reproduce; the Oregon Dungeness Crab association states that this is the law.

Nature