Puget Sound King Crab
Lopholithodes mandtii
Also known as: King Crab; Box Crab
Size & Weight
Average Length
6.0"
Max Length
10.0"
Average Weight
2.0 lbs
Max Weight
5.0 lbs
Lifespan
15 years
Habitat
Depth Range
30 - 500 ft
Water Temp
42-50°F
Deep rocky reefs; kelp forests; pier pilings; Puget Sound
Behavior
Spawning Season
Spring-Summer
Migration: Minimal
Diet: Clams; mussels; sea urchins; dead fish
Fishing Tips
PNW Season
Year-round (rarely targeted)
Techniques: Diving; incidental in crab pots
Best Bait: N/A - mostly caught by divers
Eating Quality
Edibility
Good
Sweet; rich; similar to Alaska king crab
Fun Facts
Covered with wart-like tubercles and spines; bright red/orange; resembles a rough box when legs folded; not the commercial Alaska king crab; up to 10 inches wide
How to Identify
Covered with tubercles and spines; bright red/orange color; box-like when legs folded; no foramen (opening) between claws unlike box crab; up to 10 inches
Official Resources
Sources: WDFW
Change History (Last updated Feb 02, 2026 at 11:49 AM)
| Date | Change | Old Value | New Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 02, 2026 11:49 AM | Added image | — | species-111-ab79e1ddcc10bbc1.jpg | Source: Wikipedia |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Depth Max Ft | — | 500 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Depth Min Ft | — | 30 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Lifespan Years | — | 15 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Max Weight | — | 5.0 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Avg Weight | — | 2.0 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Max Length | — | 10.0 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Avg Length | — | 6.0 |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Identification Tips | — | Covered with tubercles and spines; bright red/orange color; box-like when legs folded; no foramen (opening) between claws unlike box crab; up to 10 in... |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Sources | — | WDFW |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Fun Facts | — | Covered with wart-like tubercles and spines; bright red/orange; resembles a rough box when legs folded; not the commercial Alaska king crab; up to 10 ... |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Conservation Status | — | Not assessed |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Flavor Profile | — | Sweet; rich; similar to Alaska king crab |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Edibility Rating | — | Good |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated PNW Season | — | Year-round (rarely targeted) |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Best Bait | — | N/A - mostly caught by divers |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Fishing Techniques | — | Diving; incidental in crab pots |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Diet | — | Clams; mussels; sea urchins; dead fish |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Migration Pattern | — | Minimal |
| Feb 02, 2026 10:59 AM | Updated Spawning Season | — | Spring-Summer |