July 5, 2024
Updated Puget Sound shrimping seasons
Actions:
- Cancels the previously announced opening for all shrimp species including spot shrimp in Marine Area 6 outside Discovery Bay from July 12 through 14.
- Cancels the previously announced opening for all shrimp species including spot shrimp in Marine Area 7 West from July 12 through 14.
- Opens Marine Area 6 outside Discovery Bay to the harvest of non-spot shrimps only, immediately through Oct. 15, with a maximum fishing depth restriction of 175 feet.
- Opens Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2 to the harvest of non-spot shrimps only, July 11 through Oct. 15, with a maximum fishing depth restriction of 175 feet.
- Opens Marine Area 9 to the harvest of non-spot shrimps only, immediately through Oct. 15, with a maximum fishing depth restriction of 150 feet.
Effective date: July 6 through Oct. 15, 2024
Species affected: All shrimp species, which includes spot shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, dock shrimp, pink shrimp, and sidestripe shrimp.
Season status and open dates by area:
Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line): Open for all shrimp species daily, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 5: Open for all shrimp species daily, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open for non-spot shrimp, immediately, through Oct.15, with a max depth of 175 feet.
Marine Area 7 East: Open for non-spot shrimp, immediately, through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 200 feet.
Marine Area 7 South: Closed for all shrimp species.
Marine Area 7 West: Closed for all shrimp species.
Marine Area 8-1: Open for all shrimp species on July 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.
Open for non-spot shrimp, July 11 through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 175 feet.
Marine Area 8-2: Open for all shrimp species on July 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.
Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight July 10.
Open for non-spot shrimp, July 11 through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 175 feet.
Marine Area 9: Open for non-spot shrimp, immediately, through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 150 feet.
Marine Area 10 (Waters of Elliott Bay east of a line drawn from West Point to Alki Point only): Open for all shrimp species on July 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.
Marine Area 10 (Waters west of a line drawn from West Point to Alki Point only): Closed for all shrimp species.
Marine Area 11: Open for non-spot shrimp, immediately, through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 150 feet.
Marine Area 12: Closed for all shrimp species.
Marine Area 13: Open for non-spot shrimp, from immediately, through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 200 feet.
Reason for action: To harvest recreational shrimp consistent with State/Tribal management agreements.
Additional information:
In all areas of Puget Sound open for all shrimp species, the daily limit per fisher is 80 spot shrimp; with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) of all species of shrimp combined.
In areas open only for non-spot shrimp the daily limit is 10 lbs. (whole shrimp) of all species combined. Maximum depth limits mean that it is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters deeper than the max. limit. If an area is open for non-spot shrimp only, all spot shrimp must be released immediately.
If retaining any non-spot shrimp, all shrimp heads (spot and non-spot) must be retained in the field until ashore and finished fishing for the day. All traps must be removed from the water during periods when fishing is closed.
Information contact: Donald Velasquez, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, (425) 725-3038.