Spot shrimp
Description and Range
Physical description
Spot shrimp have a deep pink/red or pink/orange body with white lines on the head and two pairs of white spots on the tail end.
Regulations
Licenses and permits
Shrimpers age 15 and older must have an annual shellfish/seaweed, combination or Fish Washington license. Licenses can be purchased online, by telephone at 866-246-9453, or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.
Rules and seasons
Shrimp Daily Limits and Rules
- Spot (Pandalus platyceros)
- Coonstripe (P. danae and P. hypsinotus)
- Pink (P. eous and P. jordani)
Puget Sound and Hood Canal
(Marine Areas 5-13 and Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).
Please see the regulations by marine area page for additional harvest dates and specific details.
Daily limit of 10 pounds, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum of 80 spot shrimp, if open for spot shrimp).
If retaining only spot shrimp, then shrimp heads may be removed and discarded in the field.
If retaining any shrimp species other than spot shrimp, then shrimp heads may be removed but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh unless the area is closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, then the minimum size for shrimp pots is 1/2" mesh (see current gear rules).
In areas closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, all spot shrimp caught must be returned to the water immediately.
Pacific Ocean
(Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line)
Pacific Ocean shrimp grounds are located a considerable distance from shore (30 miles or more) and as a result are generally inaccessible by the casual sport fisher.
DAILY LIMIT OF 25 POUNDS, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum of 200 spot shrimp).
Shrimp heads may be removed, but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh (see current gear rules).
All areas
Each harvester must have a separate container for their catch, either in their possession or identified with their name.
No minimum carapace size.
Maximum of two shrimp pots per person and no more than four shrimp pots per boat.
Prior to harvesting, check the Shellfish Rule Change free Hotline 866-880-5431 or check the online Emergency fishing and shellfishing rules page for season closures and restrictions.
Locations
Spot shrimp are the largest shrimp in Puget Sound, and may reach a length of more than nine inches (23 cm), excluding the antennae. Spot shrimp are most common in Hood Canal, the San Juan Islands, and northern and central Puget Sound. This is one of the most important shrimp species for both sport and commercial harvesters.