Most of Puget Sound closing to crabbing; summer catch reports due by Oct. 1

OLYMPIA - Most areas of Puget Sound will close to recreational crab fishing at sunset on Labor Day, with summer catch reports due by Oct. 1.

The only two areas of the Sound that will remain open to crab fishing after Labor Day are marine areas 7-North and 7-South near the San Juan Islands. Sport fishers who crab in those two areas from Sept. 5-30 must record their catch on winter catch record cards.

All sport fishers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab anywhere in Puget Sound are required to submit summer catch reports to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) by Oct. 1.
"Catch reports play a major role in determining how much crab is still available for harvest during the winter season," said Rich Childers, WDFW’s shellfish policy lead. "It’s important that we receive reports from everyone licensed to fish for crab in Puget Sound - whether or not they caught crab this year."

Childers said WDFW will announce winter crab seasons for Puget Sound in early October, after completing its assessment of the summer fishery.

Crabbers can submit catch record cards to WDFW by mail at CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. They can also report their catch online at http://bit.ly/WkXeA from Sept. 5 through Oct. 1.

Crabbers who fail to file their catch reports on time will face a $10 fine when they purchase a 2012 Puget Sound crab endorsement.
Sport crabbers who fish for Dungeness crab in any area of Puget Sound after Sept. 5 should record their catches on winter catch record cards, Childers said. Winter cards are now available at sporting good stores and other license vendors across the state.
For more information about recreational crabbing in Puget Sound, see WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/

ttt

Just a suggestion, make photo copies of your cards just in case they say you didn't send them in. Easier to prove if you have a copy. I think someone said or I was told my fisheries in Olympia that you can check your return status online somewhere.

Does Rico have to report the crab that the Tribal crabber stole from his pots?

Just askin...

Off subject a bit but any word yet on possible changes to Mr. Childers' initial plan to have non-tribal commercials start on 1 October BEFORE the results of the summer recreational season are tabulated?

That plan also has the winter recreational season starting on the second Saturday of October AFTER the results of the summer recreational season are tabulated and it is confirmed that there are sufficient quantities in the respective management areas for the winter recreational season and how much, if any, will be available for the commercials.

THE ISSUE: What happens if the results of that final tabulation confirms that there is insufficient quantity left in any one management area for a full winter season let alone a commercial season? That concern was expressed by the responsible shellfish bio for MA 8-1, 8-2 and 9 at the last Shellfish Advisory Group meeting who stated that the commercials commonly take half of their allocation in the first couple weeks of their season meaning they could take all of the recreational winter crab and possibly be into the tribal share before the summer count is complete. And if that were to occur the "make it right" choices would probably be (1) increase the total allowable catch so any affected tribe(s)'s share would increase or (2) make it up next year out of the recreational share.

I distinctly remember the Commission and Staff both saying they were going to approach this first year of the new policy in a conservative manner. If they haven't already made a change they have only three weeks left to do so.....

Thats a good one!


Fishy

How come WDFW doesn't send out a email reminder? I get an email just about every day from WDFW for some rule change. You would think it would be pretty easy to send out a reminder to turn your summer crab catch card in?????????????????????

Because they like 10$. Don't you like 10$?

Me thinks so.

https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/WA/Crabreport/Thankyou.

Report sent...

I do believe the individuals who had the crab in their possession should/ did punch their cards... I mean come on, it is the right thing to do... Rico should not be on the hook for this....

Last call for all sportfishers.