Time for shrimp, crab fishing in Hood Canal and local waters

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced seasonal crab and shrimp openings.

Recreational crab fishing begins today, July 2, in Hood Canal north of Aycock Point, and on July 12 in Marine Area 11, which includes the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas.

The portion of Hood Canal south of Aycock Point remains closed to promote recovery of the Dungeness crab population in the south canal.

The Marine Area 11 season will run from July 12 to Sept. 7, but is limited to two days a week — Sunday and Monday.

The daily limit throughout Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may also keep six red rock crab of either sex per day in open areas, provided the crab are in hard-shell condition and measure at least 5 inches carapace width.

Crab fishers may not set or pull shellfish gear from a vessel from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.

Puget Sound crabbers are required to record their harvest of Dungeness crab on their catch record cards immediately after retaining the crab and before re-deploying the trap. Separate catch record cards are issued for the summer and winter seasons

Shrimp fishing on Hood Canal will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 15 and 28.

The daily limit is 10 pounds of all shrimp with a maximum of 80 spot shrimp for all areas. Shrimp fishers must have a valid combination or shellfish license.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 4:42 PM.