The 2011-2012 commercial Dungeness crab fishing season began Monday, two weeks late, because California crab fishermen balked at seafood merchants' demand that crab sell for only $2 a pound.

Crabbers went on strike across the state, demanding $2.50 per pound; an increase of about 60 cents from the average price last season. Crab fishermen and merchants eventually negotiated a price of $2.25, which was enough to send some boats out.

Others are hoping that prices will rise later in the season, which stretches to June 30.

The Santa Cruz Harbor was calm and quiet Monday night. Few berths were empty, and anglers motored home ahead of the setting sun. A thin haze lay on the orange water, and the bay was empty of vessels as far as the eye could see.

A solitary commercial crab boat, the Patricia Ann, was docked beneath a large yellow crane adjacent to Jonny's Harborside restaurant. She was loaded down with crab pots; mesh and metal frame boxes, stacked chest high in her stern.

Her skipper, Brett, was intent on his work, lowering the heavy pots by crane to a crew member on the boat below. He was too busy to be interviewed and declined to release his last name, but one of his hired hands, Jacob Schomaker, 36, was happy to speak with Patch about the delay.

“The season opened, what, two weeks ago, fourteen days ago?” Schomaker said. “Fourteen days without crab. This is our livelihood, this is what we do for a living,” he said.

Schomaker said that he did not consider himself a professional crabber, compared to Patricia Ann's skipper, Brett.

“He's been crabbing his whole life,” Schomaker said.

“He's a commercial crabber. He doesn't catch halibut or anything else, this is what he does for the season and he's fourteen days down,” Schomaker said.

“I just love Brett, and I'm trying to support him and get him out there,” He said.

Schomaker acknowledged that the two-week delay meant lost time and lost profit for commercial crabbers, but expressed optimism for the season to come.

“It was a good loss, but, god willing we'll have crab,” he said.

A large catch of Dungenous crab is expected statewide this season, according to the Associated Press. Last year's Dungenous crab catch in Central California was more than 19 million pounds; statewide more than 27 million pounds of crab were caught. The 2010-2011 season had the highest catch since record keeping began in California in 1915, according to the California Department of Fish and Game.