Crab catch below expectations - 12/18/06

The first catch of crab was hauled into Crescent City Harbor on Monday, 12/18. The numbers don't come anywhere near last year's record season. The first-day catch was 25% of last year's first-day catch.

The fleet of 120 boats hauled in 11.5 million pounds of crab worth $18 million last year--the third highest on record for our harbor.

Buyers are paying $1.60 a pound, but fishermen expect that price to rise do to supply and demand.