Golden King Crab Season Has Kicked Off in Alaska

The commercial Golden King crab season is officially underway, marking the start of fishing efforts for one of Alaska’s most prized crab species. At the end of June, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) released the 2025/2026 Golden King crab total allowable catch (TAC) and season dates. The total allowable catch is divided into two designated fishing regions—east and west of 174° W longitude—both with its own harvest limits. These harvest limits are then split between Individual Fishing Quota, Community Development Quota, and the Adak Community Allocation. See the breakdown below.

Golden King Crab TAC Breakdown

Eastern Aleutian Golden King Quota                                              

Western Aleutian Golden King Quota

Longlining for Golden King Crab

Unlike Red King crab, Golden King crab live along the rocky, volcanic slopes of the Aleutian Islands. Because of their habitat, traditional single pot fishing methods aren’t effective. The Aleutian Islands see fast moving currents and the bottom is steep mountainous terrain. By dropping singular pots, a boat runs the risk of losing their gear to swift currents. Instead, boats fishing Golden King crab longline, stringing 30-50 pots on a single line and draping it across the bottom. This helps anchor the pots to the uneven terrain, and prevents them from moving around in strong currents and tide changes.

Where to Buy Golden King Crab

Keyport is America’s leading supplier and processor of Alaska Golden King crab. The first of the 2025/26 harvest will be available soon, if you’re interested in securing inventory, speak with a Keyport representative today. Purchasing wholesale crab for the first time? Keyport’s Alaska Crab Buying Guide is a one-stop-shop to learn about sizing and placing wholesale orders. Our crab experts are available to walk you through the process and ensure your crab needs are met.

Want to learn more about the Golden King crab? Visit our Deep Dive Blogs!