Puget Sound’s Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, 11 To Open June 2 For More Shrimping

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

The quota count is in and more shrimp fishing is on the way for many marine areas in northern and southern Puget Sound in early June. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced additional opportunities to harvest spot shrimp from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2 in the following marine areas: 

·       Marine area 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass),  

·       Marine area 8-2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner and Everett),  

·       Marine area 9 (Edmonds, Port Townsend Bay, Admiralty Inlet), and  

·       Marine area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island)  

These new shrimp fishing opportunities are in addition to previously announced shrimp fishing dates and times still underway in June. 

“In some areas, such as areas around major urban hubs, there is a large demand on shrimp, requiring us to closely monitor and sometime limit fishing to conserve shrimp fishing opportunities for the future,” said Katelyn Bosley, Puget Sound crustacean biologist.  “Now that we’ve had a chance to close and count, we are happy to find that in some areas recreational shrimp quota remains, which will allow more people to get out and have another go at catching spot shrimp in early June.” 

The exception are areas near Elliot Bay and Bainbridge, Marine Area 10, where shrimp fishing will remain closed.  “We saw a strong turnout and catch for the spot shrimp opening in both parts of Marine Area 10 last week and will not be able to offer additional opportunity there,” said Bosley.  

Beginning June 1 in Puget Sound, the daily limit for shrimp is 10 pounds of all shrimp types, with a maximum of 80 spot shrimp if an area is open to spot shrimp harvest. Only pots with a minimum 1-inch mesh are allowed when retaining spot shrimp. In areas where additional spot shrimp fishing is allowed, pots may only be set or pulled between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. 
 
In other marine areas without designated hours, WDFW managers remind shrimpers that traps can be set one hour before official sunrise during any open period. The pots must be removed from the water in these same areas by one hour after sunset at the end of an open period. 

A valid 2021-22 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery. 

More information on recreational shrimp seasons, and a description of the marine areas, is available on WDFW’s recreational shrimp fishing section of the website.