CRAB FISHING BASICS
Deadliest Catch follows boats during two crab seasons: red king crab and opilio crab.
- Red king crabs are the largest species, weighing an average of 2.7kg to 4.5kg. The largest king crab on record weighed 10.9kg and had a leg span of almost 1.5m. Opilio crabs weigh an average of 0.5kg to 1.5kg.
- At about US$3.90 per pound ($8.60/kg), fishermen can make between $23 and $39 for each red king crab they catch. At about $1.50 per pound, an average opilio crab can fetch $1.50 to $4.50.
- The king crab season kicks off on the same date each year: 15 October. While boats are also legally allowed to catch opilio in October, due to biological issues and market demand, most crews wait until January to fill their quota.
- This season, 81 boats headed out to sea, down from more than 250 two years ago (prior to rationalisation).
- This year, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was 15.5 million pounds (7 million kg) for Bering Sea red king crab, and 36.5 million pounds (16.6 million kg) for opilio crab. As per rationalisation guidelines, each boat in the fleet was given a predetermined quota.
- The crab boats range in size from 17.7m to 50m. Each crew consists of a captain and three to nine deckhands.
- The crabs are caught in 360kg metal pots that are baited with minced herring, sardines or cod, before being dropped 120m below the surface.
- Since crabs do not appear on radar or migrate in the same pattern each year, captains must rely on their experience and intuition to find the best locations to fish.
- Adult king crabs are seldom found coexisting with the opposite sex, even though their habitats may overlap.
- Fishermen are only allowed to harvest adult male crabs. All females and juveniles must be thrown back.
- If a crab dies in the boat's holding tank, it emits toxins that can poison the others. One dead crab has the potential to wipe out the entire catch.
- Fresh water, warm water or bad water circulation in the boat's holding tank all have the potential to kill crabs. In fact, stagnant water will kill crabs faster than leaving them out of the water.
