Several areas of Puget Sound reopen Oct. 8 for late-season c

[Marc Martyn]

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

October 6, 2011
Contact: Steve Burton, (425) 775-1311 ext. 126

Several areas of Puget Sound reopen Oct. 8
for late-season crab fishing

OLYMPIA - Seven marine areas of Puget Sound will reopen for recreational crab fishing Oct. 8, while two others will reopen Nov. 21, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The openings were approved by fishery managers after summer catch assessments by WDFW indicated more crab are available for harvest, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy coordinator for the department.

Waters reopening to sport crabbing Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. include marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), and a portion of Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) north of a line that extends from Olele Point to Foulweather Bluff.

Marine areas 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) and 13 (South Puget Sound) will reopen for sport crabbing at 8 a.m. on Nov. 21.

In each area, crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through Dec. 31.

Sport crabbing will not reopen this year in marine areas 10 (Seattle/Bremerton Area), 12 (Hood Canal) and the portion of marine area 9 south of line that extends from Olele Point to Foulweather Bluff. The annual quotas in those areas were reached during the summer fishery, said Childers.

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. In addition, fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. Additional information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/ .

All crab caught in the late-season fishery should be recorded on winter catch cards, which are valid until Dec. 31. Winter cards are available at license vendors across the state. Those catch reports are due to WDFW by Feb. 1, 2012. For more information on catch record cards, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/crc.html .

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[G-Man]

Figures, my home area 10 isn't going to be open for the winter season. Guess I'll have to poach someones spot up north!

[Dave]

I'm absolutely shocked to read that areas 8-1 and 8-2 are actually open this winter season. It's a first as far as I can remember. I can't wait to get out there!

[Bodofish]

been open the last couple.......

[knotabassturd]

Just a small question with semantics:
the regs state recording all crab? I think they meant all legal-sized dungeness... Might be worth a call if I can find a salmon or two for bait when it opens up close to home.

[Bodofish]

Well filled a couple days on mine and my wifes winter catch card this weekend. For some reason they seem to be very sweet! I didn't see one soft shell and all were very full. My friends the Sea Gulls were very happy to help with the cleaning.

[knotabassturd]

Well filled a couple days on mine and my wifes winter catch card this weekend. For some reason they seem to be very sweet! I didn't see one soft shell and all were very full. My friends the Sea Gulls were very happy to help with the cleaning.

U have those critters dialed in Bodo!

Man O man I will be praying to the crustacean king for winter in area 11 to be productive for me.
Was pitifully treated to 1 keeper dungie off Dash Pt pier this summer . Rumor was this area was HEAVILY crabbed by a local nat before us sporties got out. So maybe the winter will allow for some repopulation.

[Bodofish]

I just go out in front of our place on Camano. The commercials were shut out of there a few years ago. I think there's a few cheaters but it's been pretty good the last few years.

[knotabassturd]

Having the water as your backyard has to be VERY nice