Puget Sound spot shrimp reopens for late season in parts of North Sound and Juan de Fuca Strait

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Photo by WDFW

OLYMPIA – Recreational spot shrimp will reopen in Marine Areas 6, 7 West, 7 East and 9 next week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The Puget Sound spot shrimp fishery, like other fisheries, has seen historically high participation this season. This led to some areas being closed earlier than anticipated. “Our priority is to balance conservation of resources alongside offering recreational opportunity,” said Katelyn Bosley, WDFW Puget Sound crustacean biologist.

Following review of recreational shrimping catch and effort data in Puget Sound to date, WDFW has determined that sufficient quota remains to offer additional harvest opportunity in Marine Areas 6, 7 West, 7 East, and 9.

Areas opening for recreational spot shrimp harvest include:

• Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles Harbor, eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Aug. 12, 13, and then Aug. 15 and 16. Daylight hours. Non-spot shrimp with 1/2 inch mesh pots is closed on days when spot shrimp is open.
• Marine Area 7 East (northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia islands, Strait of Georgia): Aug. 12, 13, and then Aug. 15 and 16. Daylight hours. Non-spot shrimp with 1/2 inch mesh pots is closed on days when spot shrimp is open. 
• Marine Area 7 West (San Juan Channel, Speiden Channel, Stuart and Waldron islands): Aug. 12, 13, and then Aug. 15, 16, and then again Aug. 20, 21, 22, and 23. Daylight hours.  
• Marine Area 9 (Edmonds, Port Townsend Bay, Admiralty Inlet): Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 12.

The daily limit is 10 pounds of all species of shrimp with a maximum of 80 spot shrimp in areas open to spot shrimp harvest. Only pots with a minimum 1-inch mesh are allowed when retaining spot shrimp.

Targeting of non-spot shrimp fishing using pots with minimum 1/2-inch mesh size will be suspended temporarily in Marine Area 9 from 1 p.m. Aug. 12 until official sunrise on Aug. 13. Non-spot shrimp harvest will open normally on Aug. 13.

A valid 2020-21 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery.

WDFW managers remind shrimpers that traps can be set one hour before official sunrise during any open period in the marine areas without specified harvest hours. The pots must be removed from the water in these same areas by one hour after sunset at the end of an open period.

More information on recreational shrimp seasons, and a description of the marine areas, is available on WDFW's recreational shrimp fishing section of the website. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.