Winter crabbing season to open Nov. 4 in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island)

OLYMPIA – Beginning Nov. 4, recreational crab fishing will open in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

WDFW approved the opening based catch record card harvest estimates from the summer season and expected catch during the winter season. Crabbing is scheduled to remain open daily in Marine Area 11 through Dec. 31.

“We used the latest version of summer recreational catch estimates to decide whether crabbing could reopen for partial winter seasons in Marine Areas 10 and 11,” said Don Velasquez, WDFW crustacean biologist. “Marine Area 11 has enough pounds remaining to open a partial winter recreational crabbing season; however, Marine Area 10 will not reopen.”

Much of Puget Sound has been open to recreational crabbing since Oct. 1, including Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay, east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line); Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point); Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait); Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands); Marine Area 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay); Marine Area 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner); Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet); and Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) portion north of Ayock Point only.

In each area, crabbing is allowed seven days a week through Dec. 31. Recreational crabbers setting or pulling traps from a vessel is only allowed from one hour before official sunrise through one hour after official sunset.

Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), a portion of Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) south of Ayock Point, and Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) will remain closed.

The daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crabs, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 1/4 inches. Crabbers may also keep six red rock crabs of either sex per day with a minimum carapace width of five inches, and six Tanner crabs of either sex with a minimum carapace of 4 1/2 inches.

All recreational crabbers 15 years or older must carry a current Washington fishing license. Options range from an annual shellfish/seaweed license to combination fishing licenses, valid for a single day or up to a year.

Crabbers must have a Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement to harvest Dungeness crab from Puget Sound. All Dungeness crab caught in the late-season recreational fishery must be recorded immediately on winter catch record cards, which are valid through Dec. 31. Winter catch record cards are free to those with crab endorsements and are available at license vendors across the state. Winter catch reports are due to WDFW by Feb.1, 2025. Refer to the WDFW website for more information about CRCs.

Crabbers can test their skills at identifying different types of crab in Puget Sound and their understanding of regulations and best practices by taking the crabber knowledge quiz. Visit the WDFW recreational crabbing seasons and areas page to learn more.

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.