WDFW Fishing Rule Change: Recreational spot shrimp fishing in south Marine Area

[jackelope]

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE   
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

June 30, 2011

Recreational spot shrimp fishing in
south Marine Area 7 to reopen

Action: Recreational spot shrimp fishing will reopen for four additional days in south Marine Area 7.

Effective dates: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 through Saturday, July 9, 2011, south Marine Area 7 is open.

Species affected: Spot shrimp.

Location: South Marine Area 7. Please note that only the southern portion of Marine Area 7 is open for spot shrimp. This is the portion of Marine Area 7 south of a line from the Initiative 77 marker on Fidalgo Island (which is the eastern boundary between marine areas 6 and 7) to Point Colville on Lopez Island, then south of a line from Davis Point on Lopez Island to Cattle Point on San Juan Island, then south of a line due west from Lime Kiln Point light on San Juan Island to the international boundary.  This area includes the Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Salmon Bank and McArthur Bank shrimp fishing grounds.  The Biz Point spot shrimp fishing ground, which is just north of the Initiative 77 marker will not be open. 

Reason for action: Sufficient recreational spot shrimp quota remains in this area for more days of fishing. 

Other information: Of all the popular recreational spot shrimp fishing areas in Puget Sound, south Marine Area 7 is the most exposed to rough weather and sea conditions.  South Marine Area 7 has experienced westerly winds and relatively rough seas nearly every open day so far this season, keeping participation down.  Shrimp gear in Marine Area 7 may be pulled from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Contact: Mark O’Toole, La Conner, (360) 466-4345 ext. 241. 

[lokidog]

Oh yeah!!  Three limits last Friday, six limits Saturday, we are going to be eating a lot of shrimp this week with my parents visiting from WI.   

This is amazing that they have reopened it again but the effort seems to be less than half what it was last year.

Also, NOTICE, incoming current predictions on the south end of Lopez Isl. have been WAY Off this year.  Pots drifting away in what was supposed to be a 0.4 knot max current Friday.  My recommendation is to not fish it on the incoming tide, or at least wait until just before the slack, 45 minutes at the most.  Last Sat. was supposed to be about 0.7 knots, two neighbors on seperate boats went in the morning, 0 shrimp for both and one lost both his pots.  I went in the afternoon at the end of the incoming and scored.  I did find both his pots for him luckily.

Good luck all.

[lokidog]

Wed. got three limits and tossed 340 back with four pots and one pull.  First pic is of the first pot with 220 shrimp in it!  Second pic is of today's haul.  Limited with four of us and had enough to sort out some of the smaller ones, 16 pounds of tails in todays batch!  Windy, windy, windy though today.  Good luck for anyone going out tomorrow.

Had some orcas swim by while we were getting the pots put away yesterday, too cool.