Winter Crab to re-open October 1st

[Ellensburg]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/sep2515a/

Most areas of Puget Sound reopen
Oct. 1 for late-season crab fishing


OLYMPIA – Most marine areas of Puget Sound will reopen for recreational crab fishing Oct. 1, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The openings were approved by fishery managers after summer catch assessments by WDFW indicated more crab are available for harvest, said Rich Childers, shellfish manager for the department.

Waters reopening to sport crabbing Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. include marine areas 4 (Neah Bay, east of the Tatoosh-Bonilla line), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (South Puget Sound).

In each area, crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through Dec. 31.

Sport crabbing will not reopen at this time in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton).

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. In addition, fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. Additional information is available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/.

All Dungeness crab caught in the late-season fishery must be recorded on winter catch cards, which are valid through Dec. 31. Winter cards – free to those with crab endorsements – are available at license vendors across the state.

Winter catch reports are due to WDFW by Feb. 1, 2016. For more information on catch record cards, visit WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/crc.html.

[CP]

Sweet! 

[Stein]

Anyone know where to find red rocks in the 8-1/2 or 9 area?  I haven't had much luck finding them in the sound.

[CP]

They are still there -

Tribes are also out crabbing in 8-2 again today.

[Ellensburg]

2 limits in 8-1 yesterday between 100s of tribal pots.

[kball4]

Anyone know where to find red rocks in the 8-1/2 or 9 area?  I haven't had much luck finding them in the sound.

Go into shallow water.

[Stein]

I'll hit it in the morning, yesterday didn't work out.  I'll drop them by Muk and then either fish Muk to shipwreck or head to the bar, I haven't decided yet.  The bar is guaranteed, but a lot longer ride.  I haven't heard any good reports from Shipwreck yet.

[singleshot12]

Tribes and Rec.s out in full force at the same time for winter crab What were they thinking? Is there that many crab out there? Crabs are thriving,starfish and jellyfish are dieing,what's up with that?
Where are all these crab coming from?

[CP]

Tribes and Rec.s out in full force at the same time for winter crab What were they thinking? Is there that many crab out there? Crabs are thriving,starfish and jellyfish are dieing,what's up with that?
Where are all these crab coming from?

I don’t know where they are coming from but they are going into my refrigerator.

By the way there are plenty of jellyfish, it get gets old cleaning them off the downrigger cable.

[singleshot12]

Are you sure the crab are healthy to eat? And are you sure the jellyfish are alive when they hit your dr cable?

[CP]

Well if post next week you’ll know that the crabs didn’t kill me.  As for the jelly fish, I see many swimming.  Look over the side of a boat just about anywhere in Puget Sound and you’ll see the same.

[Ellensburg]

I'll hit it in the morning, yesterday didn't work out.  I'll drop them by Muk and then either fish Muk to shipwreck or head to the bar, I haven't decided yet.  The bar is guaranteed, but a lot longer ride.  I haven't heard any good reports from Shipwreck yet.

We marked fish all over today. Had the best luck going east/west from shipwreck to the bar. We got 3 in the boat today. WDFW lady at the ramp said 1.3 per boat average today, so not the best fishing.

[lokidog]

Tribes and Rec.s out in full force at the same time for winter crab What were they thinking? Is there that many crab out there? Crabs are thriving,starfish and jellyfish are dieing,what's up with that?
Where are all these crab coming from?

There's been plenty of crab for everyone.      Area 7 has had the winter season open for the last four or so years.  Tribes haven't been in the water here all summer, commercials opened here now as well.  My only complaint is that I can't buy a 10 pot license from the state.....

[Stein]

Went out Sunday - fishing & crabbing both stunk.  I had an electrical glitch that took out my gps and sonar for the day so that certainly didn't help.  We set pots north of the Muk ferry and they soaked for about 4 hours - 15 or so in each pot but no keepers.  We were shallower than I wanted but with no sonar I wasn't going to push it (probably about 100' or so).

We trolled the heck out of the south and west side of the bar and picked up only a few shakers and one jack coho we released.  Saw a few fish caught but nothing to write home about.  There were tons of birds and bait, but without sonar I didn't have confidence in my depth.  We fished 40-120' and couldn't put it together.

Now, I just need to find the electrical problem and regroup for maybe one more shot before they are all in the river.

[NRA4LIFE]

What are all the black buoys out there?  Are those tribal or commercial?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Nice crabs!

[h20hunter]

Had a decent soak today out of Everett...4 pots, one long soak...the keeper count was 7, 1, 1, 0. The deeper pot did the best. Good size, the majority bring at or over 7 inches. Rockfish and humpy carcasses for bait.

[trophyelk6x6]