Recreational spot shrimp fishery to open May 21 in many Puget Sound marine areas

OLYMPIA – The recreational spot shrimp fishery will open May 21 in many Puget Sound marine areas, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers announced today, with additional dates scheduled in several areas into early July.
 
Marine areas 10 (Seattle/Bremerton area) outside Elliott Bay, 11 (Tacoma/Vashon area), and 13 (South Puget Sound) will remain closed to spot shrimp fishing in 2025 due to low estimated spot shrimp abundance.

Details are listed below. Refer to WDFW’s recreational shrimp fishing webpage for the latest regulations. Additional dates and times may be announced if quota remains after the initial shrimp fishing days.

“Spot shrimping is one of Washington’s signature recreational fisheries and the shrimp harvested are one of the finest things you can eat,” said Don Velasquez, a WDFW Puget Sound shellfish biologist. “However, with increasing shrimping effort we must be cautious not to overharvest this important resource. The 2025 season will provide increased opportunities in Hood Canal and Discovery Bay but fewer openings in central and south-central Puget Sound.”

WDFW fishery managers selected the shrimp fishing dates to offer opportunities to harvest spot shrimp while distributing participants and reducing the chance of exceeding recreational quotas. Due to high expected turnout, some areas cannot support weekend openings while remaining within their current quota.

Shrimpers should monitor weather conditions and avoid launching or leaving the dock if their vessel can’t safely participate. Check with local access ramps and marinas ahead of time to stay informed on potential closures or fee changes. Also allow extra time for launching boats, show courtesy to others at the boat ramps, and respect others’ gear while on the water.

All shrimp — including spot, dock, coonstripe, sidestripe, and pink shrimp — can be kept as part of the daily limit. However, because only larger-mesh (one-inch) traps are allowed during these announced seasons, most harvest will be spot shrimp. Also known as prawns, spot shrimp are the largest shrimp in Puget Sound and may grow up to nine inches in length. A shrimp species identification guide is available on WDFW’s webpage (PDF).

2025 Puget Sound area recreational spot shrimp seasons 

Proposed state ferry terminal closure zones

A proposed rule prohibiting deploying shrimp fishing gear in state ferry terminal closure zones could take effect when the 2025 spot shrimp season opens. Shrimpers should refer to the WDFW emergency fishing rules webpage for any updates.

If implemented, the proposed rule will prohibit commercial or recreational crabbing, shrimping, and fishing with purse seine or gillnets near 19 Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)-managed ferry terminals in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

These types of fishing and shellfishing equipment can cause significant and costly damage to Washington State Ferries. The closure would prohibit using these types of fishing gear within 400 yards from the end of the ferry terminal dock and 100 yards on each side.

The rule would not apply to trolling or other methods of recreational salmon, lingcod, and finfish fishing. To view the proposed rule, refer to the WDFW current rule making webpage.

Recreational shrimp fishing regulations

In all areas of Puget Sound, the daily limit per shrimper is 80 spot shrimp with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) for all shrimp species combined. Shrimpers who retain only spot shrimp may remove and discard the heads while in the field and before returning to shore. Shrimpers retaining any shrimp species other than spot shrimp must continue to retain the heads until finished and on shore to verify compliance with the 10-pound daily limit. More information on recreational shrimp fishing rules, seasons, and marine areas is available on WDFW’s webpage, including a webpage on shellfishing gear rules.

Shrimpers are reminded that traps can be set one hour before official sunrise during any open period in the marine areas without specified harvest hours. These include Marine Areas 4, 5, 6 (except for the Discovery Bay Shrimp District), Marine Area 7 East, Marine Area 7 South, and Marine Area 7 West. The pots must be removed from the water in these same areas by one hour after sunset at the end of an open period. The start and end times for all other areas are listed above.

Seasons for non-spot shrimping (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe, and pink shrimp only) will begin later this year and will be announced separately. During non-spot shrimp seasons 1/2-inch mesh pots are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately.

Now that spring has arrived, Washingtonians must have a valid 2025-26 recreational fishing or shellfishing license. Licenses can be purchased from WDFW’s licensing website, WDFW regional offices, and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. All participants 15-years-old or older must have an applicable license.

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