Area 10 Crabbing To Reopen; Coho Limits Boosted On 3 SW WA Rivers
THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE AND RULE CHANGE NOTICES FROM WDFW
Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will reopen to daily recreational crab fishing on Nov. 22 and remain open through the end of the year, shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
The decision to reopen the area comes after final summer catch assessments by WDFW indicated that the summer season did not fully take the state share, leaving catch available for winter crabbing opportunity. The area is expected to remain open for recreational crabbing seven days a week from Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, 2021.
Recreational crab fishing is also open seven days a week through Dec. 31 in Marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass), 8-2 (Port Susan/Everett), 9 (Port Gamble and Admiralty Inlet), and the portion of 12 (Hood Canal) north of a line projected true east from Ayock Point.
Recreational crabbing will not reopen during the remainder of 2021 in Marine areas 11 (Tacoma/Vashon Island), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the portion of 12 (Hood Canal) south of a line projected true east from Ayock Point, said Katelyn Bosley, WDFW Puget Sound crustacean lead.
All crab caught in the Puget Sound recreational fishery from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 should be recorded on winter catch cards, which are available at no charge from license dealers for those who already have a crab endorsement. Winter catch reports are due to WDFW by Feb. 1, 2022. For more information on catch record cards, visit WDFW’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing/catch-record-card/dungeness.
“It’s important that people submit their winter CRC reports after the season concludes on Dec. 31, even if they didn’t catch any crab,” Bosley said. “Reports showing no crab caught are just as important in calculating the catch as those that show lots of crab caught.”
The daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 1/4 inches. Crabbers may also keep six red rock crabs of either sex per day with a minimum carapace width of 5 inches, and six Tanner crabs of either sex with a minimum carapace of 4 1/2 inches. Additional information is available on the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/.
Adult coho daily limit increased on the Lewis River
Action: Increases the adult coho portion of the salmon daily limit to six hatchery fish.
Species affected: Hatcherycohosalmon.
Effective dates and locations:
- Lewis River, from the mouth to Colvin Creek: Nov. 11 throughDec.31, 2021.
- Lewis River, from Colvin Creek to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam: Dec. 16 through Dec. 31, 2021.
Rule: Salmon: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six; up to six adults may be retained, of which no more than two may be Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
Reason for action: Coho salmon returns to the Lewis Hatchery are projected to exceed broodstock collection goals for the Lewis Hatchery programs. Modifying coho fisheries will provide additional fishing opportunities while still meeting program and reintroduction goals.
Additional information: All other permanent rules published in the 2021-2022 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet remain in effect, including the closed waters area shoreward of the cable and corkline at the outlet of Lewis River fish hatchery ladder and the salmon and steelhead closure from Nov.1 through Dec. 15 from Colvin Creek to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam.
Adult coho daily limit increased on the Kalama River
Action: Increases the adult coho portion of the salmon daily limit to six hatchery fish.
Effective date: Nov. 11 through Dec. 31, 2021
Species affected: Hatchery coho salmon.
Location: Kalama River, from the mouth to 1,000 feet below the fishway at Kalama Falls Hatchery.
Rule: Salmon: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to six adults may be retained, of which up to three may be Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
Reason for action: The current return of hatchery coho salmon to the Kalama River has exceeded preseason expectations. Broodstock collection goals for Kalama River programs are on track to be met and additional fish are available for harvest.
Additional information: All other permanent rules published in the 2021-2022 Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet remain in effect.
Adult coho daily limit increased on the Washougal River
Action: Increases the adult coho portion of the salmon daily limit to six hatchery fish.
Effective date: Nov. 11 through Dec. 31, 2021
Species affected: Hatchery coho.
Location: Washougal River – from the mouth to the bridge at Salmon Falls.
Rule: Salmon: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to six adults may be retained, of which one may be Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
Reason for action: The current return of hatchery coho salmon to the Washougal River has exceeded preseason expectations. Broodstock collection goals for Washougal River programs are on track to be met and additional fish are available for harvest.
Additional information: Anglers are reminded that the salmon daily limit for Camas Slough follows the most liberal rule of the adjacent Washougal River or mainstem Columbia River when either area is open for salmon angling. At this time, it is expected that the rule defined above will be the most liberal of the two areas, during the effective dates. All other permanent rules published in the 2021-2022 Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet remain in effect.
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