In honor of the long-awaited arrival of recreational Dungeness crab season in Northern California, crab enthusiasts and their families are invited to partake in the inaugural Crab Catch at Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages on Sunday, November 11, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Throughout the day various crab-centric activities will be available for crustacean-lovers of all ages including a Tomales Bay crab-catching competition and award ceremony hosted by Liam Mayclem of KCBS’ FoodieChap and CBS 5’s Eye on the Bay; a cooking demo with Executive Chef Austin Perkins; a crab-infused cocktail “Crabby Hour;” and a three-course Dungeness crab tasting menu, with a portion of the day’s proceeds benefiting Petaluma Educational Foundation.
“With its 80-year history on the pristine waters of Tomales Bay in Northern California, Nick’s Cove has always been a destination for recreational crab catching. We’re excited to start what we hope will be a festive, annual tradition that’s a perfect, memorable day for the entire family,” said Dena Grunt, general manager of Nick’s Cove.
Competition
The Crab Catch starts at 10 a.m. when participants will take off in their boats from Miller Boat Launch, which is adjacent to Nick’s Cove. Using their own boat, bait, crab pots and buckets, they will have four hours to catch as much Dungeness crab as they can (or their license will allow). When the participants return to the shore, their hauls will be measured and weighed. Those that return by 2 p.m. sharp to the Nick’s Cove patio will be eligible for awards in three categories:
· Heaviest Haul - the most crab caught
· Big Kahuna - the biggest single crab
· Craziest Crabber - the greatest distance traveled from home by a participant
Crab Catch prizes will be awarded by Liam Mayclem at 4 p.m.
The winner of the “Heaviest Haul” category will be considered the day’s Grand Prize winner and crowned the 2012 “Crab King” or “Crab Queen” of Nick’s Cove and receive an array of prizes, including a trophy; their name engraved on a commemorative plaque to be displayed year-round at Nick’s Cove; dinner for two at Nick’s Cove; an overnight stay for two at Nick’s Cove; and unlimited Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese for a year at Nick’s Cove (for winner only). The first place winners of the “Big Kahuna” and “Craziest Crabber” categories will receive dinner for two as well as a one-night stay at Nick’s Cove. The second and third place winners in all three categories will receive a $100 and $50 gift certificate to Nick’s Cove, respectively.
The entry fee for the Inaugural Crab Catch is $40 for licensed participants who register by November 1 and $50 thereafter. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Petaluma Educational Foundation. To register, visit http://crabcatch.eventbrite.com.
Each Crab Catch participant will also receive a commemorative Nick’s Cove Crab Catch t-shirt and a Nick’s Cove metal water bottle. Should registered participants wish to spend the night in one of Nick’s Cove 12 luxurious Cottages, they will receive 30% off the regular rate for a Waterfront or Waterview Cottage on Sunday, November 11, 2025 (based on availability; advance reservations required). The 12 on-site cottages at Nick’s Cove are designed with a rustic, nautical elegance and are ideal for relaxing and unwinding after a long day of crab-catching and feasting. BBQ oysters are delivered to each cottage upon check-in, and a stay also includes complimentary continental breakfast for two delivered in the morning along with the San Francisco Chronicle. Several cottages also offer large soaking claw-foot tubs, wood burning stoves and a fully-stocked honor bar.
Cooking Demonstration
While the participants are out on the bay, land-lubbers are invited to attend a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Austin Perkins who will be preparing his signature Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese starting at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow, featuring the freshly made Mac & Cheese along with a salad and a non-alcoholic beverage. $45 per person, including tax, gratuity and a commemorative apron. To register for the demonstration and lunch, visit http://crabcatch.eventbrite.com.
Crabby Hour and Crab Menu
After the Crab Catch, Nick’s Cove will offer a pre-dinner “Crabby Hour” from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. featuring crab-infused Bloody Mary cocktails and Cucumber Cosmos with crab-crème fraiche foam in the Nick’s Cove Bar. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Chef Austin Perkins will offer a four-course prix fixe Dungeness Crab Menu in the Nick’s Cove Dining Room, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Petaluma Educational Foundation. The menu includes Crab Louie Salad, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Dungeness Crab Risotto and dessert. $55 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 415-663-1033 or visit OpenTable.com.
Petaluma Educational Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit organization whose primary goal is to raise money in the community to benefit education and create equal opportunities for learning in the classrooms of Petaluma schools. Since 1982, PEF has been changing the lives of teachers and students everyday in all 36 public, charter and non-profit private schools in the Petaluma area. Over the past 30 years, PEF has raised more than $5 million to provide over 1,500 grants to Petaluma schools and thousands of scholarships to students graduating from each of the city’s six high schools.
Located just a half-hour west of Petaluma and 50 miles north of San Francisco, Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages is a delicious, relaxing and beautiful destination year-round. A local institution for more than 80 years on the West Marin County coastline, it is surrounded by tranquil waters, sandy ecological beaches, abundant wildlife and views of the rolling hills across the Tomales Bay. Led by Executive Chef Austin Perkins, Nick’s Cove Restaurant serves the finest seasonal, sustainable California cuisine sourced from the area’s abundant Marin and Sonoma County farms as well as fresh seafood and Tomales Bay oysters. Nick’s Cove and Chef Perkins have garnered significant acclaim from local and national press in the past 12 months, including Martha Stewart Living, Details, Men’s Journal, Los Angeles Magazine, 7x7 and the Marin Independent Journal, among many others.
Whether coming for brunch, lunch, dinner or an overnight stay in the property’s luxurious Cottages, Nick’s Cove offers a private, relaxing and welcoming getaway for guests in any season. Nick's Cove is located at 23240 Highway One, Marshall, CA 94940. For reservations and additional information call 415-663-1033 or visit www.nickscove.com.
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