Puget Sound winter crab catch record cards due Feb. 1

OLYMPIA – With Puget Sound now closed to recreational crab fishing, sport crabbers who were issued a winter Catch Record Card (CRC) have until Feb. 1 to submit their catch reports.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requires all recreational crabbers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound and Hood Canal to report their winter harvest, even if they didn’t fish for or keep any crab between Sept. 3 and Dec. 31, 2024. Crabbers who obtained only the summer CRC do not need to submit a winter report.

“Reporting your winter crab catch is a vital part of keeping this fishery healthy and well-managed,” said Don Velasquez, a WDFW shellfish manager. “Even if you didn’t catch or keep any crab, your report helps us accurately track harvest numbers and set fair fishing seasons.” 

Online catch reporting is available through the WILD System. New crabbers reporting online should plan for a few extra minutes to set up an account by creating a username, password, and providing an email address. Crabbers may also mail their cards to WDFW CRC Unit, PO Box 43142, Olympia, WA 98504. For questions about returning a CRC, email WDFW's Licensing Division or call 360-902-2464. 

Crabbers who fail to report their CRC must pay a $10 fee before buying a 2025 Puget Sound crab endorsement as part of their license.

WDFW issued 33,733 winter CRCs and 198,488 Puget Sound crab endorsements in the 2024 season. 

Since 2007, the Puget Sound recreational crab fishery has relied on CRCs to estimate the number of Dungeness crab caught and kept. Estimates from CRCs contribute to determining catch quotas and seasons for marine areas of Puget Sound.

To learn more about crabbing in Puget Sound, take our Crabber Knowledge Quiz and visit WDFW’s website.