Why does the Alaskan crab fishing season occur only during the winter?

Question

Why does the Alaskan crab fishing season occur only during the winter?

Answer 1

In Alaska they base this primarily on the migration of the crab. After migrating to shallow water in the late winter to mate, by spring the female's embryos hatch. They then start their offshore feeding migration back to deeper waters in the fall.

They are actively on the move searching for food (not mates) in the winter and this makes them easier to catch.  Adult male red king crabs have been known to migrate up to 100 miles round-trip annually, moving at times as fast as a mile per day!

*Also, only male King Crab >6.5" are kept; females and juveniles have to be tossed back to help preserve the species.