Recreational crab fishing days added in Gulf of Georgia (Marine Area 7 North) on Sept. 6-7

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Photo by David Whitmer

OLYMPIA – The recreational crab fishery in the Gulf of Georgia (Marine Area 7 North) in northern San Juan Islands will be open two additional days on Sept. 6-7, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed today.

“We are happy to offer some additional opportunity for recreational crabbers in Marine Area 7 North after seasons have been shortened due to delayed openings in the last couple of years,” said Aaron Dufault, a WDFW Puget Sound shellfish manager.

The recreational crabbing season in the Gulf of Georgia (Marine Area 7 North) and San Juan Islands/Bellingham (Marine Area 7 South) are already open Thursday through Monday of each week through Sept. 30.

Several other inner-Puget Sound marine areas are open through Labor Day (Sept. 5), except for Marine Area 10, which is open on Sept. 4-5 only. Marine Areas 11, 13, and the portion of Marine Area 12 south of Ayock Point are closed. The daily limit in open Puget Sound areas are five Dungeness crabs, six red rock crabs, and six tanner crabs.

All Dungeness crabs retained through Labor Day must be immediately recorded on a summer catch record card (CRC). Dungeness crabs retained after Labor Day must be recorded on a winter CRC. Red rock and tanner crabs don’t need to be reported on a CRC. For details, go to wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/crab.

If you purchased a Puget Sound crab endorsement as part of your 2022-2023 fishing license, you must submit report your summer catch soon. All summer CRCs must be reported beginning Sept. 5 on the WDFW’s licensing system at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login, or mailed to the address printed on the CRC.

All summer CRCs are due by Oct. 1, even if you didn’t go crabbing or catch any crab but had a crab endorsement. Reporting your crab catch is required and helps WDFW shellfish managers better manage Puget Sound crab populations. Failure to submit will result in a $10 administrative fee before purchasing another Puget Sound crab endorsement as part of a Washington fishing or shellfishing license.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.