August 18, 2023
Recreational crab to open in Marine Area 7 North on Sunday, August 20
Action: Opens recreational crab seasons.
Effective date: Aug. 20 through Sept. 30, 2023; open Thursday through Monday each week.
Species affected: Dungeness crab, red rock crab, tanner crab.
Location: Marine Area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 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)
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers agreed to delay their fishery openings to provide additional time for more of the legal size male crab to reach hard shell condition. The latest sampling indicates those criteria have now been met.
Additional information: Once open, the daily limit is 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 through Labor Day must be recorded on a summer catch record card. Crabs that are retained after Labor Day in open areas must be recorded on a winter catch record card.
All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days.