Recreational crabbing reopens in Puget Sound marine areas

Photo byJim PetkiewiczonUnsplash

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced several Puget Sound marine areas will reopen for recreational crab fishing starting in October.

Waters reopening to sport crabbing on Tuesday, Oct. 1 include the following areas, according to the WDFW.

• 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)
• Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) portion north of Ayock Point only

Crabbing will be permitted seven days a week through Dec. 31 in the areas above, the WDFW reports further.

However, crabbing will not immediately reopen for winter in Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area) and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) due to limited share remaining following the summer recreational fishery, according to the WDFW.

The portion of Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) south of Ayock Point and Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) will stay closed for the winter due to the ongoing conservation closure of all crab harvests.

Fishery managers will reevaluate the harvest estimates from Marine Areas 10 and 11 after the reporting period closes, the department reports further.

According to the WDFW, the daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crabs, males only, in hard-shell condition with a carapace at least 6.25 inches wide.

Additionally, crabbers may keep six red rock crabs of any sex per day with a carapace of at least five inches in width and six Tanner crabs of any sex with a minimum carapace of 4.25 inches, the WDFW reports.

Crabbers can report summer CRCs until Oct. 1 by submitting online or by mail.