OLYMPIA — Recreational shrimp fishing will reopen in some Puget Sound marine areas, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.
Following review of recreational shrimping catch and effort data in Puget Sound to date, WDFW shellfish managers determined that enough of the quota remains in multiple marine areas to offer additional harvest opportunities.
“We typically set initial seasons based on fishery performance in recent years,” said Don Velasquez, lead WDFW Puget Sound recreational crustacean biologist. “Although the spot shrimp fishery this year has seen average participation in most areas, enough quota remains to allow some late-season shrimping.”
Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) will be open from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset from Friday to July 25 for all shrimp species, including spot shrimp. The Discovery Bay Shrimp District will be open for all shrimp species on July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.
Marine Area 6 runs from Low Point near the Lyre River to Point Wilson in Port Townsend.
Shrimp fisheries already underway include:
Marine Area 4 (East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line): Open for all shrimp species daily from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu to Low Point): Open for all shrimp species daily from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet): Open for non-spot shrimp through Oct. 15, with a maximum depth of 150 feet.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) has met its quota for the year and will not reopen in 2023.
In all areas of Puget Sound open for all shrimp species, the daily limit per angler is 80 spot shrimp, with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) of all species of shrimp combined. In areas open only for non-spot shrimp, the daily limit is 10 pounds (whole shrimp) of all species combined.
If anglers retain any non-spot shrimp, all shrimp heads (spot and non-spot) must be retained in the field until ashore. All traps must be removed from the water during periods when fishing is closed.
