Alaska · Southeast Alaska
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN JUNEAU
Juneau is a solid destination for dungeness crab fishing, with peak season in August and good catches in July, September. Book a charter and target dungeness crab with local experts.
About Dungeness Crab Fishing in Juneau
The Dungeness crab is the signature crustacean of the Pacific Northwest, found in bays and estuaries from Central California to Alaska. Named after Dungeness, Washington, these sweet-flavored crabs are the backbone of the West Coast crab fishery and are caught recreationally using ring nets and crab pots from shore and boat.
Dungeness Crab are the signature crustacean of the Pacific Northwest, named after the small fishing village of Dungeness on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. These sweet-flavored crabs are found in sandy bays, estuaries, and nearshore waters from Central California to Alaska, where they are caught commercially and recreationally in enormous numbers. Dungeness have a wide, fan-shaped carapace that is purplish-brown on top and cream-yellow underneath. They are considered the finest-eating crab species in North America, with sweet, tender white meat that requires minimal seasoning.
Scientific name: Metacarcinus magister
Dungeness Crab Seasonal Calendar — Juneau
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in Juneau, AK.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in Juneau
Techniques & Bait
Recreational crabbing with ring nets or collapsible crab pots baited with chicken, fish carcasses, or turkey legs is the most popular method. Deploy pots in sandy bays, eelgrass beds, and channels in 10-60 feet of water. Check pots every 20-30 minutes for ring nets or every few hours for enclosed pots. Pier and dock crabbing with hoop nets is accessible from shore in many bays. Some anglers catch Dungeness by hand while snorkeling or wading at low tide. Kayak crabbing is growing in popularity.
Recommended Tackle
Crab ring nets, hoop nets, or collapsible crab pots with proper state tags. Heavy line (80-200 lb) for retrieving pots from depth. Crab gauge for measuring legal-size crabs (minimum 5.75-6.25 inches across the carapace depending on state). Bait: chicken legs, fish carcasses, clams. Rubber bands for handling — Dungeness have powerful pinching claws.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Juneau
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Auke Bay
Auke Bay north of downtown Juneau is the primary harbor for the area's sportfishing fleet, and its protected waters hold king salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, and halibut. The bay's calm conditions and easy access make it the launching point for fishing the productive waters of Stephens Passage and Lynn Canal.
Fritz Cove
Fritz Cove adjacent to Auke Bay provides sheltered inshore fishing where king salmon and coho salmon stage before entering the area's creek systems. The cove's shallow flats and deeper channel hold salmon, halibut, and rockfish in fishable concentrations.
Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel runs along Juneau's downtown waterfront and holds king salmon, pink salmon, and coho salmon during summer migrations. Shore anglers fish from the downtown docks and Juneau-Douglas Bridge area for accessible urban salmon fishing.
Fish Creek (Douglas)
Fish Creek on Douglas Island near Juneau hosts runs of pink salmon, coho salmon, and Dolly Varden, with a fish viewing platform providing a unique fishing and wildlife experience. The creek's easy road access makes it one of the most popular shore-fishing destinations near the state capital.
Other Species in Juneau
More fish you can target while visiting Juneau.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in Juneau — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in Juneau are August. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the Juneau area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in Juneau are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Recreational crabbing with ring nets or collapsible crab pots baited with chicken, fish carcasses, or turkey legs is the most popular method. Deploy pots in sandy bays, eelgrass beds, and channels in 10-60 feet of water. Check pots every 20-30 minutes for ring nets or every few hours for enclosed pots. Pier and dock crabbing with hoop nets is accessible from shore in many bays. Some anglers catch Dungeness by hand while snorkeling or wading at low tide. Kayak crabbing is growing in popularity.
No — when you book a charter in Juneau, your captain provides all required Alaska fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Dungeness Crab regulations in Alaska include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Dungeness Crab in Juneau, you may also catch Rockfish, Pacific Halibut, Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Sockeye Salmon. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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