All-shrimp species, including spot shrimp, recreational fishery will reopen in Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) July 30 only
The all-shrimp, including spot shrimp, recreational fishery in Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) will reopen July 30 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers determined enough spot shrimp remained available in the catch quota.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) will reopen for all shrimp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on July 30. All classified shrimp species includes spot shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, dock shrimp, pink shrimp, and sidestripe shrimp.
In Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal), the daily limit per shrimper is 80 spot shrimp with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) for all species of shrimp combined. Shrimpers who retain only spot shrimp may remove and discard the heads while in the field and before returning to shore. Shrimpers retaining any shrimp species other than spot shrimp must continue to retain the heads until finished and on shore to verify compliance with the 10-pound daily limit.
Other Puget Sound shrimp fisheries currently open:
· Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) and Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) are open daily through Sept. 15 for all shrimp species from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset.
· Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) is open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 175 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
· Marine Area 7 East (San Juan Islands) is open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 200 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
· Marine Areas 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay) and Marine Area 8–2 (Ports Susan and Gardner) are open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 175 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
· Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 150 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
· Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) is open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 150 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
· Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) is open daily through Oct. 15 for shrimp species other than spot shrimp. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 200 feet deep. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
During non-spot shrimp seasons 1/2-inch mesh traps are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately. In the non-spot shrimp fisheries, the daily limit is 10 pounds, includes heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined.
A shrimp species identification guide is available on the WDFW webpage. More info on recreational shrimp fishing rules, seasons and marine areas is available on WDFW’s website and for gear rules refer to the WDFW statewide gear rules webpage. Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing.
