Puget Sound recreational summer crab seasons to open

June 16, 2017

Action: Marine Areas 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5, and 11 will open June 16 through Sept. 4. Crabbing will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

A portion of Marine Area 9 - and the portion north of the Hood Canal Bridge to a line connecting Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point - and all of Marine Area 12 will open June 24 through Sept. 4. Crabbing will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

All of Marine Areas 6, 8-1, 8-2, 10, 13, and the remainder of Marine Area 9 not described above will open July 1 through Sept. 4. Crabbing will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

A portion of Marine Area 7 - the portion south and west of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island, through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island, thence to the buoy at Clements Reef, thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, thence running along the northern shore of Patos Island to the westernmost point of Patos Island, thence true west to the international boundary and south of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island - will open July 15 through Sept. 30. Crabbing will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

A portion of Marine Area 7 - the portion north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island - will open Aug. 17 through Sept. 30. Crabbing will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Effective dates: See above.

Species affected: Dungeness crab, red rock crab, tanner crab.

Locations: Puget Sound, including Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.




Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed that legal size Dungeness crabs will have reached the hardshell criteria for harvest by these dates. These start dates will aid in achieving 50/50 harvest goal with the Treaty Tribes.

Other information: The daily limits in all Marine Areas will be five crabs per day for Dungeness crabs, six crabs per day for Red Rock crabs, and six crabs per day for Tanner crabs. All Dungeness crabs retained during this time must be recorded on a summer catch record card.

Crabbing opens at 12:01 a.m. However, when fishing from a vessel, shellfish gear may not be set or pulled from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise. All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days.

Contact: Don Velasquez, Mill Creek Regional Office, (425) 775-1311 ext. 112.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at 360-902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call toll free 866-880-5431.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.