New crab rules
Published 2:38 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Washington Fish and Wildliffe Commission approved new Puget Sound crab fishing seasons for 2011 during a meeting in Olympia Feb. 4-5. The new regs reflect the policy adopted last October to expand sport fishing opportunities for Puget Sound crabbers.
Recreational crabbing will be open in the Sound five days a week — Thursday through Monday — with a five-crab daily limit. Most of the Sound will be open from July through Labor Day.
The exception is Marine Area 7, the San Juan Islands, where seasons will open later in the year to protect soft-shelled crab. Sport crabbing in the southern portion of Area 7 will run from July 15 through Sept. 30, while the northern and eastern portions will be open from Aug. 15 through Sept. 30.
Winter crabbing opportunities in Puget Sound will vary depending on the number of crab still available for harvest after summer catch numbers are analyzed.
