[2] Golden king crabs are primarily found in the Aleutian Islands and waters nearer to Alaska and British Columbia; their range also extends to the Russian far east and Japan, albeit with a less dense population.

[6] The primary range of the golden king crab is around the Aleutian Islands and waters surrounding southern Alaska and British Columbia, as well as the Russian far east and Japan to a lesser degree.

Adult golden king crabs exhibit an annual deep and back migratory pattern during which they travel to shallow waters in the late winter to molt and mate.

Offspring eventually settle at the bottom of the ocean in waters with a usual minimum depth of 300 ft.[2] Golden king crabs are typically classified as juveniles in their first few years.

Due to reproductive necessity, females molt more often than their male counterparts, which can keep their shells for one to two years at a time.

[2] Throughout their lives, golden king crabs exhibit an annual offshore “deep and back” migrational pattern, which involves male and female crabs arriving in shallow water in late winter and early spring to molt their shells and mate.

Golden king crabs are also preyed on by various fishes such as Pacific cod, halibut, and yellowfin sole, as well as sea otters.

Crab fishermen may only catch and harvest males of a legal size, that being 7 cm or larger laterally across the carapace.

As of 2015, in coordination with the industry, the state has conducted numerous surveys of golden king crab stock.