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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/fish-measure-inside-points

When measuring a Dungeness crab, where do you measure the shell width?

Inside the points, not to their tips.

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  1. Across the shell, inside the outer points ✔
  2. Tip to tip of the outer points
  3. From claw tip to claw tip

Why: WDFW says to measure the distance inside the points, not to the tips of the points. Use a crab caliper for an accurate reading.

Huh, didn't know that: When releasing crab from a pier, WDFW suggests lowering them back to the water in a bucket on a line.

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References

Answer: Across the shell, inside the outer points. WDFW says to measure the distance inside the points, not to the tips of the points. Use a crab caliper for an accurate reading.

  1. WDFW Recreational crabbing in Puget Sound wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/recreational-crabbing-puget-sound
    Measure the distance inside the points as shown. Do not measure to the tips of the points.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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