TACOMA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday that several Puget Sound marine areas will reopen for late-season spot shrimp fishing. But shrimpers will only have limited time.
The agency states in a news release that it’s reopening recreational fishing at four locations after determining those areas had enough of the harvest quota remaining.
Several marine areas around the state still allow anglers and boaters to catch all species of the crustacean. Various regions are currently open only to non-spot prawn fishing.
Reopened marine areas
Here are the areas reopening for spot shrimp fishing, per the WDFW news release:
- Marine Area 6 — Not including Discovery Bay Shrimp District
All shrimp species are available July 21-25 from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Marine Area 6 — Discovery Bay Shrimp District
All shrimp species are available July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Marine Area 7 South — Portion west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island and east of a lime projected due south from Cattle Point on San Juan Island
All shrimp species are available Aug. 7-14 from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Marine Area 7 West — Portion west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island and east of a lime projected due south from Cattle Point on San Juan Island
All shrimp species are available Aug. 7-14 from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Marine Area 8-1 — Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay
All shrimp species are available July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Divers may take shrimp by hand from 7 p.m. to midnight. Each boat is limited to two pots. The area will reopen for non-spot shrimp fishing July 26 and last through Oct. 15, with a maximum depth of 175 feet.
- Marine Area 8-2 — Port Susan and Port Gardner
All shrimp species are available July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Divers may take shrimp by hand from 7 p.m. to midnight. Each boat is limited to two pots. The area will reopen for non-spot shrimp fishing July 26 and last through Oct. 15, with a maximum depth of 175 feet.
- Marine Area 10 — Waters of Elliott Bay east of a line drawn from West Point to Alki Point
All shrimp species are available July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each boat is limited to two pots.
Fisheries currently open
The following marine areas are still active for shrimp fishing:
- Marine Area 4 — East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line
All shrimp species are available daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset for the foreseeable future.
- Marine Area 5 — Western Strait of Juan de Fuca
All shrimp species are available daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset for the foreseeable future.
Non-spot shrimp is available through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth of 150 feet. The daily catch limit is 10 pounds of all species of whole shrimp combined.
- Marine Area 9 — Edmonds, Port Townsend Bay and Admiralty Inlet
Non-spot shrimp is available through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth of 150 feet.
- Marine Area 11 — Tacoma-Vashon Island
Non-spot shrimp is available through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth of 150 feet.
- Marine Area 13 — South Puget Sound and Carr Inlet
Non-spot shrimp fishing is available through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth of 200 feet.
- Marine Area 12 has met its quota for the season and won’t reopen for any shrimp harvesting.
The daily catch limit for areas allowing all species is 80 spot shrimp total, as well as 10 pounds of whole shrimp combined. The limit for non-spot shrimp areas is 10 pounds of whole shrimp combined.
