Spot shrimping reopens in some Puget Sound marine areas for final harvest opportunity beginning Aug. 11

OLYMPIA – Recreational spot shrimp will reopen in four Puget Sound marine areas for a final time this season beginning Aug. 11, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

Following review of recreational shrimping catch and effort data in Puget Sound to date, WDFW shellfish managers determined that enough of the quota remains to offer additional harvest opportunity in Marine Areas 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District), 7-South, 8-1 and 8-2.

Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2 will be open only on Aug. 11 with an additional harvest restriction: shrimpers harvesting in these areas may only have two spot shrimp pots aboard their vessel or deployed targeting spot shrimp during this opening.

“We implemented a two-pot limit in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2 for our last opening, which was effective at keeping us within our conservation guidelines,” said Katelyn Bosley, WDFW Puget Sound crustacean biologist. “By keeping these measures in place, we can offer a final day of shrimping in this popular area.”

Those looking to spend more days shrimping can take advantage of longer openings and fish the standard four pots per boat in marine areas 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) and 7-South, which will be open for additional days in August as listed below.

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): August 11 through 14 and Aug. 26 through Aug. 28. Daylight hours. Only 1-inch mesh pots may be used on days when spot shrimp is open.
• Marine Area 7 South (Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank): Aug. 11 through Aug. 14. Daylight hours. Only 1-inch mesh pots may be used on days when spot shrimp is open.
• Marine Areas 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass) and 8-2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner, Everett): Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 11.  Pot limit of 2 pots per boat. Only 1-inch mesh pots may be used on days when spot shrimp is open.

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. Using pots with a minimum 1/2-inch mesh size to target non-spot shrimp will be suspended temporarily on Aug. 11 in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2.

“Daylight hours” means that traps can be set one hour before official sunrise during any open period in the marine areas without other 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.

A valid 2021-22 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery.

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 works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.