Alaska · Southeast Alaska
DUNGENESS CRAB FISHING
IN KETCHIKAN
Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan
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 — Ketchikan
Month-by-month availability for dungeness crab in Ketchikan, AK.
How to Catch Dungeness Crab in Ketchikan
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 Ketchikan
Top spots where local captains target dungeness crab and other inshore species.
Tongass Narrows
Tongass Narrows is the waterway running along Ketchikan's downtown waterfront where king salmon, pink salmon, and coho salmon migrate past the city during summer runs. Shore anglers fish from the city docks and creek mouths while boat anglers troll the narrows for accessible salmon fishing within sight of town.
Clover Pass
Clover Pass north of Ketchikan is a protected waterway between Revillagigedo and Betton Islands where king salmon, coho salmon, and halibut hold in the pass's tidal currents and deeper channels. The pass's calm waters and lodge-based access make it a premier inshore fishing destination.
Mountain Point
Mountain Point south of Ketchikan is a rocky headland where king salmon stage during their migration through Tongass Narrows. Shore anglers fish from the point's accessible rocky beach while boat anglers troll the adjacent waters for quality Chinook salmon.
Ketchikan Creek
Ketchikan Creek flows through the heart of downtown Ketchikan and hosts runs of king salmon, coho salmon, and pink salmon throughout the summer. The creek's famous fish ladder at the Deer Mountain Hatchery provides unique urban salmon fishing within walking distance of the cruise ship docks.
Other Species in Ketchikan
More fish you can target while visiting Ketchikan.
Dungeness Crab Fishing in Ketchikan — FAQ
The peak months for Dungeness Crab fishing in Ketchikan are August. During these months, Dungeness Crab are most active and abundant in the Ketchikan area.
Dungeness Crab fishing charters in Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan, you may also catch Rockfish, Pacific Halibut, Lingcod, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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