CDFW Officers Bust Dungeness Crab Fishers For Harvesting Out Of Season

San Mateo County Dungeness crab fishers got a little too anxious to get in on the action. Here are details from a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Facebook post:

Nearly two months before the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab fishing season, CDFW wildlife officers received a CALTIP from a concerned citizen reporting a large group of people wading in the surf and using lights to take Dungeness crabs at Thornton State Beach in San Mateo County. While officers were in route to the location, the caller reported another large group arriving at the beach believed to also be unlawfully taking Dungeness crabs.

Once on scene, wildlife officers made observations of the subjects unlawfully taking Dungeness crabs. Wildlife officers contacted several subjects carrying crabs in buckets, bags and backpacks, ultimately issuing 11 citations for the take of Dungeness crabs out of season, take of undersized Dungeness crabs and for taking an overlimit of Dungeness crabs. Officers seized 95 Dungeness crabs as evidence and were all returned to back to the ocean.

If you see a wildlife crime in progress, report it 24/7 to CDFW’s CALTIP line at (888) 334-2258.