Shrimp Rules

Shrimp: Spot (Pandalus platyceros), Coonstripe (P. danae and P. hypsinotus), Pink (P. eous and P. jordani).

Shrimp Daily Limits and General Rules:

See gear rules

PUGET SOUND
(Marine Areas 5-13 and Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).

1st Saturday in May through May 31
(opening date may occur later depending on tide conditions):

• DAILY LIMIT OF 80 SHRIMP (if the area is open for shrimp).
• Shrimp heads may be removed while in the field, prior to coming ashore.
• The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh (see gear rules).

June 1 through October 15:

• DAILY LIMIT OF 10 POUNDS, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum 80 spot shrimp - if open for spot shrimp).
• Shrimp heads may be removed, but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
• The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh, unless the area is closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, then the minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1/2" mesh (see gear rules).
• In areas closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, all spot shrimp caught must be returned to the water immediately.

PACIFIC OCEAN
(Marine Areas 5-13 and Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).

• DAILY LIMIT OF 25 POUNDS, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum 200 spot shrimp - if open for spot shrimp).
• Shrimp heads may be removed, but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
• The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh (see gear rules).

ALL AREAS

• Each harvester must have a separate container for their catch, either in their possession or identified with their name.
• No minimum carapace size.
• Maximum of two shrimp pots per person, and no more than four shrimp pots per boat.

Prior to harvesting, check the Shellfish Rule Change toll-free hotline, (866) 880-5431, or http://wdfw.wa.gov for season closures and restrictions.

Statewide Gear Rules - Crab, Shrimp and Crawfish

CAUTION
The requirements below are he minimum established by law. At some locations currents may require the addition of weights to traps and the use of additional buoys to prevent the equipment from being lost. Refere to the individual species listings (crab, shrimp, and crawfish) for seasons and other harvest rules.

Not all shellfish gear sold in Washington meet the specifications shown. Verify that your pot meets these requirements prior to use.

GENERAL GEAR RULES

May be harvested by hand or dipnet. Hand operated instruments may not penetrate the shell. One star trap, one ring net, or one pot is considered one unit of gear. The maximum number of units of gear that may be fished per person is:

Puget Sound (Marine Area 4, east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and in Marine Areas 5-13).

Shrimp: Two pots per person, and no more than 4 shrimp pots may be onboard or fished by any one boat at a time.
Crab: Two units of crab gear per person, and no limit on the number of units of crab gear per boat.

Coastal Waters: (Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line). Two units of crab and/or shrimp gear per person. Exception: Columbia River - three units of crab gear per person.

Freshwater: Crawfish: Five units of gear per person.

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 mame 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.

Buoys must be constructed of durable material (no bleach, antifreeze, detergent bottles, paint cans, etc.) and must be visible on the surface at all times except during extreme tidal conditions. Personal flags and staff, if attached to buoys, can be of any color. Buoy lines must be weighted sufficiently to prevent them from floating on the surface.

All crab, shrimp, and crawfish pots must be equipped with a biodegradable device (rot/escape cord) and shall include one or more of the following:
(1) securing the pot lid hook or tie down strap with a single loop of cord; or
(2) sewing a 3" by 5" escape panel in the upper half of pot closed with cord; or
(3) attaching the pot lid or one pot side (serving as a pot lid) with no more than three single loops of cord.

Cord used my be untreated 100% cotton or other natural fiber no larger than thread size 120 (1/8"). this cord, when attached as described above, must be able to rot away and allow crab, shrimp, crawfish, and fish to escape freely if the pot is lost. A derelict crab pot without proper escape cord can attract and kill crabs for years after the pot has been lost.

CRAB GEAR:

• The minimum mesh size for crab pots is 1 1/2", and all post must have two 4 1/4" minimum inside diameter escape rings in the upper half of the pot, except in the Columbia River where the minimum ring size is 4" diameter.
• All parts of ring nets and star traps must lie flat on the sea bottom and may not restrict free movement of crab until lifted. Shellfish post must be covered by water at all times while being fished.
• Crab pots must not exceed 13 cubic feet.
• All crab gear buoys must be half red and half white in color, and both colors need to be visible when fishing.

SHRIMP GEAR:

Pots must be constructed of either flexible or rigid mesh material (no liners allowed).

Entrance tunnels can be made of any size mesh material but must be located on the sides of the pot. The sum of the maximum tunnel widths must not exceed one-half the perimeter of the bottom of the pot.

Shrimp pots must not exceed 10 feet in perimeter and 18" in height.

All shrimp pot buoys must be yellow in color.

SHRIMP POT MESH SIZE:

1" Minimum Mesh Size

A 7/8" square peg must be able to pass through each mesh opening - see diagram, except for flexible (web) mesh pots, where the opening must be a minimum, of 1 3/4" stretch measure.
Puget Sound:
Required for all shrimp pots during the month of May. Required in all areas open for spot shrimp after June 1st.
Pacific Ocean:
Required year-round.

1/2" Minimum Mesh Size

A 3/8" square peg must be able to pass through each mesh opening, except for flexible (web) mesh pots, where the opening must be a minimum, of 1 1/8" stretch measure. Puget Sound:
Allowed after June 1st in any area closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp.

LOST GEAR:

Do not attempt to retrieve your lost shellfish gear without first getting permission from the WDFW Enforcement Program (360) 902-2936. Permission may be granted verbally or by a permit to retrieve your gear. Salvaging gear belonging to others requires a permit. To report lost shellfish gear, use the Online Reporting Tool http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/lost_gear/ or call WDFW at 1-855-542-3935. If we can recover your gear and it is properly identified, we will attempt to return it.