Shrimp closures this year

[Stein]

I just noticed that 7 West closed July 5!  It's usually open through August and sometimes has bonus limits of 120.  The times I have been out there I saw one or two other boats.

8-2 closed after one weekday, it always goes one Saturday and one weekday.

Supposedly the quota is the same this year compared with last year.

I can somewhat wrap my head around twice or three times the pressure in 8-2, but I can't get how 7 west would close so early.

Has anyone heard anything or see any information WDFW puts out regarding harvest calculations, boat numbers or anything?  It would be nice if they had more information out there.

[lokidog]

There are a couple of spots (no pun intended) that get hit pretty hard in 7W, but where I have gone it is at least eight square miles of potential area and I have only ever seen a few other boats. I have not been there on a weekend though. I'm not sure how they can get any real estimate for this area since it is so spread out with other non-shrimping vessels mixed in unlike off the south end of Lopez where if you are there in a boat, you are probably shrimping.

I was quite disappointed at the early closure as well since the season off of Iceberg seemed to be quite a bit shorter.

[Mfowl]

My guess is the state does not want mainlanders travelling to the Islands unnecessarily. Kinda like how they did not provide any weekend days in Puget Sound to try to keep the crowds down. Only speculation though.

[lokidog]

My guess is the state does not want mainlanders travelling to the Islands unnecessarily. Kinda like how they did not provide any weekend days in Puget Sound to try to keep the crowds down. Only speculation though.

I don't think anyone takes their boat on a ferry to launch out of the islands and very few shrimpers are going into Friday Harbor for an afternoon of sightseeing and day drinking....   

[Stein]

I will say that the crab and salmon effort in the MA9 area is probably at least double if not triple from last year.  It's insane to the point where we are probably done with weekends out of Everett.

Personally, I can't hordes making their way out to 7W, must have been more local pressure.  You would need a big boat and bigger fuel budget to hit it from Anacortes or Deception.  I do know trailering an 18' on the ferry is a $325 proposition and it goes up considerably if you are longer.

[lokidog]

I will say that the crab and salmon effort in the MA9 area is probably at least double if not triple from last year.  It's insane to the point where we are probably done with weekends out of Everett.

Personally, I can't hordes making their way out to 7W, must have been more local pressure.  You would need a big boat and bigger fuel budget to hit it from Anacortes or Deception.  I do know trailering an 18' on the ferry is a $325 proposition and it goes up considerably if you are longer.

Anything you would cross Rosario in you can use to fish 7W, IMO. It's a bit of a run, but cheaper than the ferry with a trailer.

[Stein]

Yeah, maybe some people go to the east side of San Juan.  Lime Kiln is 52 miles roundtrip from Deception bridge, I could run that on paper, but wouldn't consider it.  If the weather turns, that could be a 2 hour unprotected pounding to get home.  I would think those runs would be pretty much limited to 22'+ hard tops or heavy glass boats for the most part - and crazy dudes.

[lokidog]

I don't think anyone shrimps on the West side of San Juan. Anywhere I have seen pots would be a run up the middle of the islands. Not too many unpredicted big blows June-September.