This is one powerful crab. However, it can be picked up but you should be alert as to how you pick it up as it can give you a pretty fair pinch!

Edit- Please note, the file name incorrectly classifies this species. It is a specimen of Cancer antennarius, but the common names used for it are the Brown Rock Crab, the California Rock Crab, or the Pacific Rock Crab. However, this species has been reclassified as Romaleon antennarium. The Red Rock Crab, which is not the crab in this picture, is known as Cancer productus. The two are distinguished by the antero-lateral teeth - which are the knobs on the sides of the carapace. Excluding the orbital tooth, C. productus has 9 teeth on the side, with the 9th being the widest, while R. antennarium has 10 teeth and is widest at the 8th.

Hiebert, T.C. 2015. Cancer productus. In: Oregon Estuarine Invertebrates: Rudys' Illustrated Guide to Common Species, 3rd ed. T.C. Hiebert, B.A. Butler and A.L. Shanks (eds.). University of Oregon Libraries and Oregon Institute of Marine