Puget Sound recreational crab fishing to reopen in several areas

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced the reopening of several Puget Sound marine areas for recreational crab fishing, effective October 1 through December 31.

Reopened areas include Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait, Port Angeles Harbor, and Discovery Bay), Marine Area 7 North and South (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), and a portion of Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) north of Ayock Point.

Certain areas will remain closed. Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton) and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island) are closed due to limited remaining catch quotas. Marine Area 8-1 and 8-2 are closed due to softshell crab concerns, while Marine Area 13 and southern portions of Marine Area 12 remain closed due to poor abundance.

Regulations for the season include a daily limit of five male Dungeness crabs with a minimum carapace width of 6 1/4 inches, six red rock crabs, and six Tanner crabs.