June 14, 2023
Updated 9/1/2023 to update Area 7 North seasons For more information see Marine Area 7 North Fishing Rule Change.
Action: Opens Puget Sound summer crab seasons.
Species affected: Dungeness, Red Rock, and Tanner crab.
Effective Dates and Locations:
- Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 8-1, 8-2, and 9:
Open Thursday through Monday each week, from 12:01 a.m. July 1, through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 4, 2023.
- Sub-area 7 South (Those waters of Marine Area 7 south and west of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island, through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island, thence to the buoy at Clements Reef, thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, thence running along the northern shore of Patos Island to the westernmost point of Patos Island, thence true west to the international boundary and south of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island):
Open Thursday through Monday each week, from 12:01 a.m. July 15, through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30, 2023.
- Sub-area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island):
Immediately, through Sept. 13 – Open Thurs. through Mon. each week.
Sept. 14 through Sept. 30. – Open daily (7 days/wk).
- Marine Area 10:
Open Sunday and Monday each week, from 12:01 a.m. July 2, through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 4, 2023.
- Marine Area 11:
Open Sunday and Monday each week, from 12:01 a.m. July 2, through 11:59 p.m. August 28, 2023.
- Marine Area 12 north of a line projected due east from Ayock Point:
Open Thursday through Monday each week, from 12:01 a.m. July 1, through 11:59 p.m. September 4, 2023.
- Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point and Marine Area 13: Closed until further notice.
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed that legal size Dungeness crabs will have reached the hardshell criteria for harvest by these dates in the areas being fished. These start dates will aid in achieving 50/50 harvest goal with the Treaty Tribes.
Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point, and Marine Area 13 will be kept closed to promote recovery of Dungeness crab populations in these areas.
Additional information: The daily limits for crabs in all open Marine Areas will be 5 Dungeness, 6 Red Rock, and 6 Tanner.
All Dungeness crabs retained during this time must be recorded immediately on a summer catch record card.
Information contact: Don Velasquez, Mill Creek Regional Office, (425) 725-3038.