North Stephens Passage king crab fishing closes Monday, eight days into a rare season

Commercial king crab fishing in North Stephens Passage will close at 6 pm Monday, eight days after Southeast Alaska's season opened.

Boats there are expected to have caught the area's share by then, about 41,000 pounds of red and blue king crab, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said Saturday. That's roughly a fifth of the 213,000 pounds allowed in the region this year.

The department based the closure on fishing effort and its own catch projections. It doesn't survey North Stephens Passage or nine other areas, and it manages them during the season largely with reports that permit holders must phone in daily.

Southeast king crab seasons don't come often. This is only the fourth since 2006, and the regional limit barely cleared the 200,000-pound minimum needed to open one. The state estimated 25% more legal-size male crab by weight than last year, but the limit hardly changed.

In Gambier Bay, the department added time. The area was set to open for 28 hours, then was reopened and extended before closing Thursday evening.

Fishing continues in Eastern Frederick Sound, Icy Strait and the outer coast, Lower Chatham Strait, Lynn Canal, Northern Chatham Strait and the southern part of the region. The department said it may take further action as needed and will give as much notice as it can before any future closures.

Crabbers in North Stephens Passage have until 6 pm Nov. 14 to pull their pots. Until then, any pots left in the water must be unbaited, with the doors secured fully open.