P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please?

Posted by: RUNnGUN

P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 10:43 AM

Saw a comment on another board about leaving crab pots in over night during the open days. It quoted,
"No fisher may set, FISH, or pull shellfish gear from a vessel, one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise. All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days.
The key word was "FISH". Stating that it was illegal to "FISH" from one hr after sunset to one hr before sunrise? I have fished for crab for years and we always left our pots in overnight.
Have I been illegal all these years?
Posted by: NickD90

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 10:57 AM

Yes - its illegal. Overnight sporty soaks from vessels is not allowed. Vessel being key - the rule does not affect dock & pier crabbers.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 11:13 AM

I looked all over the regs and that rule applied only to a small part of Padilla bay...

here is the rule I found in the regs that allows for soaking over night:

Quote:
Every shellfish pot, ring net, or star trap left unattended in Washington waters must have its own buoy line and a separate buoy that is permanently and legibly marked with the operator’s first name, last name, and permanent address (telephone number is voluntary). It is ILLEGAL to set or pull unattended shellfish gear with a buoy that does not have your name on it, and only one name and address may appear on each buoy. Any angler may assist the person whose name is on the buoy while he or she is pulling the pot. No fisher may set, or pull shellfish gear from a vessel, in Catch Record Card Areas 1-13, from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise. All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days.


you just can't set or pull them when its dark...
Posted by: RUNnGUN

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 12:27 PM

Found it. Thanks Piper.
Posted by: MPM

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 01:19 PM

The website says:

"No fisher may set or pull shellfish gear from a vessel, in Catch Record Card Areas 1-13, from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise. All shellfish gear must be removed from the water on closed days."

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/gear_rules.html

I remember that it used to say "fish", but apparently doesn't anymore. That, in conjunction with the explicit prohibition on leaving gear in the water on *closed* days (but not open days/nights), seems to indicate you can leave them overnight on open days.
Posted by: NickD90

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 01:45 PM

I looked it up too and the absence of "fish" does make it seem legal now.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 06/30/15 02:17 PM

Originally Posted By: NickD90

Question in theory: does "set" mean "fish" in legal terms? To me, once you "set" your pots, you are "fishing". Could a fella still get busted by having "set" pots over night?



no!!!!!!

and you might want to delete that post because WDFW staff are looking for ways to generate new revenue... wink
Posted by: slabhunter

Re: P.S. Rec Crab Rule Clarification Please? - 07/01/15 07:03 PM

You are allowed to soak the pots overnight between open days. Have to be removed near sunset mondays.