July 17, 2023
Actions:
- Opens 1 day (limited hours) of spot shrimp fishing in Discovery Bay
- Opens additional dates for spot shrimp harvest in a portion of Marine Area 7 South (see map)
- Opens additional dates for spot shrimp harvest in Marine Area 7 West
- Opens 1 day (limited hours) of spot shrimp fishing in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2, as well as an addition harvest period for divers in 8-2
- Opens the non-spot shrimp only fishery in 8-1 and 8-2 on July 26
- Opens 1 day (limited hours) of spot shrimp fishing in Elliott Bay
Species affected: All shrimp species, which includes spot shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, dock shrimp, pink shrimp, and sidestripe shrimp.
Effective open dates by area:
Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line): Open for all shrimp species daily, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 5: Open for all shrimp species daily, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset, until further notice.
Marine Area 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open for all shrimp species, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset July 21 through 25.
Marine Area 6 (Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open for all shrimp species July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.
Marine Area 7 East: Open for non-spot shrimp through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 200 feet.
Marine Area 7 South (Only that portion of Marine Area 7 South that is west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island and east of a line projected due south from Cattle Point on San Juan Island): Open for all shrimp species, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset August 7 through 14.
Marine Area 7 West: Open for all shrimp species, from 1 hour before official sunrise to 1 hour after official sunset August 7 through 14.
Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2: Open for all shrimp species July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a reduced pot limit of 2 pots total per boat. Opens the non-spot shrimp only fishery starting on July 26 through October 15, with a max depth of 175 feet.
Marine Area 8-2: Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight July 25.
Marine Area 9: Open for non-spot shrimp through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 150 feet.
Marine Area 10 (Waters of Elliott Bay east of a line drawn from West Point to Alki Point only): Open for all shrimp species July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a reduced pot limit of 2 pots total per boat.
Marine Area 11: Open for non-spot shrimp through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 150 feet.
Marine Area 13: Open for non-spot shrimp, immediately through Oct. 15, with a max depth of 200 feet.
Reason for action: To harvest recreational shrimp consistent with State/Tribal management agreements.
Additional information: Shrimpers should take note of the reduced pot limit for the opening in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, and Elliott Bay on July 25.
In all areas of Puget Sound open for all shrimp species, the daily limit per fisher is 80 spot shrimp; with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) of all species of shrimp combined.
In areas open only for non-spot shrimp the daily limit is 10 lbs. (whole shrimp) of all species combined. Maximum depth limits mean that it is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters deeper than the max. limit.
If retaining any non-spot shrimp, all shrimp heads (spot and non-spot) must be retained in the field until ashore and finished fishing for the day. All traps must be removed from the water during periods when fishing is closed.
Information contact: Donald Velasquez, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, (425) 775-1311 Ext. 112.