Most of Puget Sound closing to crabbing; summer catch reports due by Oct. 1

[Marc Martyn]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

August 29, 2011

Contact: Steve Burton, (425) 775-1311 ext. 126

Most of Puget Sound closing to crabbing;
summer catch reports due by Oct. 1

OLYMPIA - Most areas of Puget Sound will close to recreational crab fishing at sunset on Labor Day, with summer catch reports due by Oct. 1.

The only two areas of the Sound that will remain open to crab fishing after Labor Day are marine areas 7-North and 7-South near the San Juan Islands. Sport fishers who crab in those two areas from Sept. 5-30 must record their catch on winter catch record cards.

All sport fishers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab anywhere in Puget Sound are required to submit summer catch reports to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) by Oct. 1.

"Catch reports play a major role in determining how much crab is still available for harvest during the winter season," said Rich Childers, WDFW’s shellfish policy lead. "It’s important that we receive reports from everyone licensed to fish for crab in Puget Sound - whether or not they caught crab this year."

Childers said WDFW will announce winter crab seasons for Puget Sound in early October, after completing its assessment of the summer fishery.

Crabbers can submit catch record cards to WDFW by mail at CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. They can also report their catch online at http://bit.ly/WkXeA from Sept. 5 through Oct. 1.

Crabbers who fail to file their catch reports on time will face a $10 fine when they purchase a 2012 Puget Sound crab endorsement.

Sport crabbers who fish for Dungeness crab in any area of Puget Sound after Sept. 5 should record their catches on winter catch record cards, Childers said. Winter cards are now available at sporting good stores and other license vendors across the state.

For more information about recreational crabbing in Puget Sound, see WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/

This message has been sent to the WDFW Regulatory Information mailing list.
Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/

[A9]

Thanks for the reminder Marc. I know quite a few people who forgot to return em last year and had that $10 penalty

[G-Man]

Anyone get their winter catch record card yet? When I purchsed my licenses this year, the winter catch record wasn't available. I'm trying to figure out the State intends on getting them out to folks who need them and when.

[natetreat]

I haven't caught a keeper dungie out of puget sound up here yet. A lot of good my ten dollars for the card did. All the places that have access to non-boaters get wiped clean in the first week. I did see a tribal boat going up the stilly with racks and racks of crabs though.

[MarkFromSea]

G-man,,,, from an above post "Sport crabbers who fish for Dungeness crab in any area of Puget Sound after Sept. 5 should record their catches on winter catch record cards, Childers said. Winter cards are now available at sporting good stores and other license vendors across the state."


"Winter cards are now available at sporting good stores and other license vendors across the state."

And, from reading some crab info at WDFW over a week ago, (memory is subject to time), WDFW will announce winter crabbing dates in Oct after they assess the summer catch(count the info on submitted cards). Summer season ends Labor Day for most of the Sound. Hope that helps.

Nate, I haven't made a lot of trips out, but I've done well most trips. Sorta got crabbed out spending 3 days in the San Juans crabbing....... filling 5 licenses each day..... processing each day so that we conformed to the regulations.

If I can get it to post, this is a fun picture from a couple weeks ago:

[Mike Carey]

Mark, not to go off topic, but the heck did you deal with that dog shark??

[natetreat]

That's awesome! I've had that happen to me at my dads house. They're snakey little buggers! And their buddies follow them up! Yea, I've been out to lots of places trying to get crabs, and haven't managed a single keeper. I caught lots and lots of rock crab at my dads place, but all the areas around the north are fished out of keepers. I've caught so many that were 6" or 6 aan 1/8. Kinda gave up these last couple weeks.

[MarkFromSea]

Mark, not to go off topic, but the heck did you deal with that dog shark??

That was a funny one fer sure. Brother in law was pulling the pot,,,, he says "Mark, you'll need to take this" LOL The other 3 people on the boat wouldn't touch it, there was really quite a commotion. LMAO The sand shark almost made it out by the time he made it on board, I can't figure out how he got his head and fins out the little hole. He easily slid the rest of the way out. After a little squeeze he was safely returned to the water as required by law. LOL Their skin is like sand paper so they are very easy to handle. Just watch for the spines in various places near fins as they thrash. I grab them behind the head.

6 1/8" was so frustrating! I read a year old article, John Martinez(sp), John's Sporting Goods, I hit north of Tullalip Bay, 80' of water, did well one trip. Useless Bay lived up to it's name, I think I dropped the pots a little too far south in the bay, I'll try again there next year. Possession actually did ok and the dog fish provided ample entertainment. Keeper crab are out there, think further from where others are crabbing later in the season. Sadly, with pot theft on the rise, I feel that I need to stay close to the pots. It's a shame since crab are more active at night.

And, since I recently learned about "Hijack" the hard way with a "WTF" thrown at me by a new car buyer, putting it back on topic:
Most of Puget Sound closing to crabbing;
summer catch reports due by Oct. 1

OLYMPIA - Most areas of Puget Sound will close to recreational crab fishing at sunset on Labor Day, with summer catch reports due by Oct. 1.

The only two areas of the Sound that will remain open to crab fishing after Labor Day are marine areas 7-North and 7-South near the San Juan Islands. Sport fishers who crab in those two areas from Sept. 5-30 must record their catch on winter catch record cards

[Dave]

Nice dog fish Mark LOL. That's awesome! I will be out one last time for crab this Saturday. Looking forward hopefully to quick limits.

[MarkFromSea]

Tried Possession again today, not so lucky this time, sand shark in a pot again, heavy fog while searching for pots, current was strong just a little outside of the bay(temporarily lost a pot, 2 floats pulled down), lost some fishing time, but what an experience. It worked out fine, didn't lose a pot. I'm glad we tried. GO Get Em Dave! Nate and I left them ALL out there for ya! LOL

[returnofthefish]

I will be turning in a card with zero catches. It's ok though, I was trying something new.