Shrimp?

[Stein]

Anyone hear any rumors on quota and re-openers?  I have a pile of gear I have been tripping over since May and it would sure be nice if WDFW could let us know if it's time to put it away or keep it out.

They used to announce it right away but now for some reason they stay silent for who knows how long.

[knighttime25]

I was thinking the same thing, the shrimp pots definitely take up some room. It would be nice to know sooner than later...

[HntnFsh]

They already announced a few of them and those extensions are over.

[fishngamereaper]

We hit that canal last week for easy limit's and for mid week there was a ton of pressure...I would bet we are done ..

[Stein]

I'm sure some are done, no way places like 7W are done.  7S wasn't even that busy compared to last year.

[washingtonmuley]

Loving those spot prawns!!

[fishngamereaper]

I'm sure some are done, no way places like 7W are done.  7S wasn't even that busy compared to last year.

Have you seen how wdfw does math....

[Stein]

I actually almost sent in a FOI request one year when it seemed pretty crazy.  It would be interesting at least to see what they do with the actual count to get to the overall projected harvest.  I'm sure it doesn't help when guys get busted with 300-400 each....

[Shrimper]

WDFW LogoWDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501
wdfw.wa.gov
 
July 1, 2022

Extra days added for spot shrimp in Marine Area 7 South; non-spot shrimp fisheries opening in marine areas 7 East, 8-1, and 8-2

Actions: 

Opens Marine Area 7 South (Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank) for an additional 3 days of recreational spot shrimp harvest from July 7 through July 9.
Opens recreational non-spot shrimp fishery in Marine Area 7 East (Northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia Islands, Strait of Georgia) on July 2 through Oct. 15, 2022 with a 200-foot maximum fishing depth restriction.
Opens recreational non-spot shrimp fishery in Marine Areas 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass) and 8-2 (Port Susan, Gardner, Everett) on July 2 through Oct. 15, 2022 with a 175-foot maximum fishing depth restriction.
Effective dates: July 2, 2022; July 7-July 9, 2022

Species affected: All shrimp species including spot shrimp.

Locations: Marine areas 7 South, 7 East, 8-1, 8-2.

Reason for action: The target shares for recreational spot shrimp in Marine Area 7 South have not been taken with dates previously announced. Three days are being added to take the remaining state share of spot shrimp in this area.

Additionally, recreational non-spot shrimp fisheries will open in marine areas 7 East, 8-1, and 8-2 on July 2 now that spot shrimp fisheries have concluded.

Additional information: Some marine areas including 4, 5, 6 (outside the Discovery Bay Shrimp District), 7 West, and 12 have remaining dates in their spot shrimp seasons.  Marine Area 13 opened on June 1 for recreational non-spot (coonstripe, dock, and pink) shrimp fishing and Marine Areas 9 and 11 opened for recreational non-spot shrimp fishing on June 15. Shrimp pots with a minimum mesh size of 1/2-inch are allowed in those areas open only for non-spot shrimp fishing. Check WDFW’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/shrimp/  for more information.

Information contact: Don Velasquez, Puget Sound shellfish biologist, 425-775-1311 ext. 112

[Angry Perch]

I have a rookie shrimp question. Tides next weekend look really nice in the evening, and that also works out better with our plans. It generally seems to be an early morning game. Any input on afternoon shrimping?

[washingtonmuley]

We have had luck regardless of what time it is as long as current isn't dragging your pots. I caught them last week in the morning,afternoon and evening.

[Stein]

Time of day doesn't matter (except overnight when they come up very shallow to feed).

From my experience, you need enough current to broadcast your bait but not too much.  Generally, if two float stick thing is pulled under and I only have the LD-2 buoy up it won't fish well, but you can scratch a limit.  My pots weigh 30 pounds not including the mini anchor.

Dead calm usually means few, if any in the pot.  That said, it's rarely dead calm except for a few spots.

[RB]

We have had luck regardless of what time it is as long as current isn't dragging your pots. I caught them last week in the morning,afternoon and evening.

 

Know guys that wait till the tide change in the evening and limit just as fast as the guys in the morning, as Muley stated as long as your pots are not being dragged they get in the pot any time of day.

[Angry Perch]

Thanks all. I'm in the Straight, so a complete lack of current is pretty rare. Now off to windy.com to see of the wind is gonna cooperate.

[washingtonmuley]

Thanks all. I'm in the Straight, so a complete lack of current is pretty rare. No off to windy.com to see of the wind is gonna cooperate.

Been good out there!!

[washingtonmuley]

Love the big prawns!!

[Angry Perch]

Love the big prawns!!

Nice!

[washingtonmuley]

Tides for the next opener look pretty mellow in the afternoon. Feel free to Hit me in a message if you have any questions.

[Afraiman]

Does anybody have any hot tips for the non-spot shrimp? going to give it a try for first time this weekend.

[Brushcrawler]

Does anybody have any hot tips for the non-spot shrimp? going to give it a try for first time this weekend.

Be ready to spend some time prospecting. They definitely aren’t everywhere. I haven’t found a good spot after quite a bit of trying.

[Jake Dogfish]

Does anybody have any hot tips for the non-spot shrimp? going to give it a try for first time this weekend.

Be ready to spend some time prospecting. They definitely aren’t everywhere. I haven’t found a good spot after quite a bit of trying.

I made a couple feeble attempts in area 11.  Dragged the pot out to 145 feet before dark and checked it in the morning. No sign of a shrimp.  A guy I know does really well in area 13 but fishes deeper.  Area 11 has 150 foot depth restriction.  Might need to find a spot on the fish finder first. 

[KP-Skagit]

Tides for the next opener look pretty mellow in the afternoon. Feel free to Hit me in a message if you have any questions.

As a kid I used to get coonstripes out of the eelgrass on very low tides. Might have some luck on the deep side of a grass bed. I have never dropped pots for them.

[Stein]

I assume you are using the smaller mesh pots?

I get them with the 1" pots in 7, back in the day when you had to measure shrimp but could use the small mesh I would get them wherever I got spots - Discovery Bay, 6, 8-2, 7..

My guess is the depth restriction is more of a limiting factor more than the spot.

I don't know the regs, but if you could leave them out overnight that should help a bunch.

[Jake Dogfish]

I assume you are using the smaller mesh pots?

I get them with the 1" pots in 7, back in the day when you had to measure shrimp but could use the small mesh I would get them wherever I got spots - Discovery Bay, 6, 8-2, 7..

My guess is the depth restriction is more of a limiting factor more than the spot.

I don't know the regs, but if you could leave them out overnight that should help a bunch.

I have a small mesh pot, it just takes up space in the closet.
 It probably is a depth issue.
 I have never heard of people getting coonstripe in area 11 though so I don’t have anything to go on.

[fishngamereaper]

In case you missed it spots re opens in 12 and parts of 7 on Wednesday.

[birddogdad]

I actually almost sent in a FOI request one year when it seemed pretty crazy.  It would be interesting at least to see what they do with the actual count to get to the overall projected harvest.  I'm sure it doesn't help when guys get busted with 300-400 each....

it really is a funny and frankly sad thing the way they manage these things.. was in south carolina for years.. the limits were a 48 quart cooler a night.. cast nets, on incoming tides on the base in Charleston SC. Hardware stores sold fish meal to make bait patties, we would cast net off the boat ramp edge. Was quite easy to fill a cooler.  plenty of shrimp. No way we (boaters) can impact the population so drastically here to need to count 80 shrimp and get a 3 hour window to fish them but it all sounds wonderful in olympia!

[Tbar]

I actually almost sent in a FOI request one year when it seemed pretty crazy.  It would be interesting at least to see what they do with the actual count to get to the overall projected harvest.  I'm sure it doesn't help when guys get busted with 300-400 each....

it really is a funny and frankly sad thing the way they manage these things.. was in south carolina for years.. the limits were a 48 quart cooler a night.. cast nets, on incoming tides on the base in Charleston SC. Hardware stores sold fish meal to make bait patties, we would cast net off the boat ramp edge. Was quite easy to fill a cooler.  plenty of shrimp. No way we (boaters) can impact the population so drastically here to need to count 80 shrimp and get a 3 hour window to fish them but it all sounds wonderful in olympia!

Have you seen how popular the shrimp fishery is? It absolutely can and will be fished to msy 80 (-500) at a time.

[birddogdad]

I actually almost sent in a FOI request one year when it seemed pretty crazy.  It would be interesting at least to see what they do with the actual count to get to the overall projected harvest.  I'm sure it doesn't help when guys get busted with 300-400 each....

it really is a funny and frankly sad thing the way they manage these things.. was in south carolina for years.. the limits were a 48 quart cooler a night.. cast nets, on incoming tides on the base in Charleston SC. Hardware stores sold fish meal to make bait patties, we would cast net off the boat ramp edge. Was quite easy to fill a cooler.  plenty of shrimp. No way we (boaters) can impact the population so drastically here to need to count 80 shrimp and get a 3 hour window to fish them but it all sounds wonderful in olympia!

Have you seen how popular the shrimp fishery is? It absolutely can and will be fished to msy 80 (-500) at a time.

never will convince me of this with 30 or so  the bubba gump boats off Bangor sub base at night with the big nets.. i am certain that one net would cover the entire 3 hour period of all boats in seabeck fishery for that day.. have you ever seen the night shrimp commercial fishing? yes i have seen the public 80 shrimp 3 hour process there... we the non commercial get the scraps of the process... this is just one location and one situation... kind of like this picture and me being limited to on fish and area closures for contacts.... not buying it

[Tbar]

There are only 18 commercial shrimp permits in puget sound.