OUTDOORS: Winter crab harvest opens Wednesday
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 1, 2014
OLYMPIA — Most marine areas of the North Olympic Peninsula will reopen for the winter recreational crab season today, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday.
The openings were approved by fishery managers after summer catch assessments by the state indicated more crab are available for harvest, according to state shellfish manager Rich Childers.
Area waters reopening to sport crabbing this morning at 8 a.m. include Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 12 (Hood Canal).
In each area, crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through Dec. 31.
The daily catch limit is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of
6¼ inches.
In addition, harvesters may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across.
Additional information is available on the state’s website at www.tinyurl.com/pdnCrabinfo.
