Extra shrimping day added for several Puget Sound marine areas

OLYMPIA – With quota remaining in the recreational spot shrimp fishery, state shellfish managers have added an extra day to catch spot shrimp in several Puget Sound marine areas.

“Cool, wet weather led to lower-than-expected catch in the early part of the shrimping season, which means there are enough shrimp remaining in the quota to support some additional opportunities,” said Don Velasquez, crustacean biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Those additional opportunities include:

• Marine Areas 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass) and 8-2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner, Everett) will open for an additional day of recreational spot shrimp harvest on June 23, 2022 from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.
• Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) will open for an additional day of recreational spot shrimp harvest on July 6, 2022 from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.

In addition, the non-spot shrimp fishery will open in Marine Area 9 (Edmonds, Port Townsend Bay, Admiralty Inlet) and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) beginning June 17, 2022 and run through Oct. 15, 2022 with a 150-foot maximum fishing depth restriction.

Several other marine areas still have previously scheduled spot shrimp fishing days coming up, while Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound, Carr Inlet) opened for non-spot shrimp on June 1. See a full breakdown of upcoming shrimping opportunities at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/shrimp/areas.

In all areas open for spot shrimp, the daily limit is 80 spot shrimp with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) all species combined. Starting this season, shrimpers who retain only spot shrimp may remove and discard the heads while in the field and before returning to shore – previously all shrimp heads were required to be retained after June 1. Shrimpers retaining any shrimp species other than spot shrimp must continue to retain the heads of all species (including spot shrimp) until finished and on shore to verify compliance with the 10-pound daily limit.

All shrimp -- including spot, dock, coonstripe, and pink shrimp -- can be kept as part of the daily limit. However, because only larger-mesh (1-inch) traps are allowed during spot shrimp seasons, most harvest will be spot shrimp.

Shrimp pots with a minimum mesh size of 1/2-inch are allowed in those areas which open for non-spot shrimp only fishing.

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.