Continuing the shrimping tradition in Puget Sound, Hood Canal, San Juan Islands and Straits.
Some exciting news just came through… the announcement of the 2023 Spot Shrimp season openers. We just received an official news release with the shrimping dates for Puget Sound, Hood Canal, San Juan Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I am already thinking about who I’m inviting on my boat this year, gear preparation and planning time to pick up ingredients to make shrimp bait. Gotta get ready!
Many of you old salts remember that the Spot Shrimp openings always occurred in early May, but the state has pushed the openings back to the end of May where the weather is historically calmer and the tide series more favorable for us shrimpers. Anyways, I pulled this post together as an overview of what we can expect for a Washington shrimp season as well as a few favorite spots in each area. Non-Spot Prawn seasons will occur later in 2023 and will be announced once all the buzz around Spot Shrimp has cooled off.
Jump to Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season 2023
Jump to Hood Canal Spot Shrimp Season 2023
Jump to Strait of Juan de Fuca Spot Shrimp Season 2023
Jump to San Juan Islands Spot Shrimp Season 2023
What to expect of the Washington 2023 Spot Shrimp Season
Spot Shrimp season is one of the most popular harvesting events we have in Puget Sound, Hood Canal and the San Juan Islands. It draws out thousands of boats per area per opener, and you will notice that some of these openers are a mere 4 hours long. If your bait is good, your gear is prepped and ready, and you are dropping your shrimp pots in the right area, 4 hours is more than enough time. Areas with an abundance of Spot Shrimp and smaller crowds have longer openers.
Understanding the regulations is an important first step to preparing for a day of shrimping. My suggestion is to use this post as a general reference and guide, but always prefer WDFW Shrimp Seasons and Regulations pages for the official word. The dates listed on this post are from the initial season announcement and may be subject to change, especially later dates in areas that have multiple openers. Occasionally we get a bonus day or two here or there, and those will be announced mid-season.
I wrote a few other posts that you may find interesting, check out How to Catch Spot Shrimp and Puget Sound Spot Shrimping. Each of these posts has some good information if you want to hone your craft, or if this is your first year shrimping in Washington waters.
Washington’s Marine Areas
Shrimping in Puget Sound – 2023 Spot Shrimp Season
Marine Area 8-1 – Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass, East of Whidbey Island Shrimping 2023
This area between Whidbey Island and Camano Island, as well as Skagit Bay is easily accessible from Oak Harbor, Langley and Camano. Plenty of areas that are good to soak pots along both islands at 200′ to 325′ depths. It will be open May 25 and June 9 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 8-2 – Port Susan, Port Gardner, Everett Shrimping 2023
One of my favorite areas to go shrimping. Steep dropoffs around Hat Island, Mukilteo-Port Gardner and the shoreline between Sandy Point and Clinton Ferry Terminal are great places to find Spot Shrimp. It will be open May 25 and June 9 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet
Edmonds and Browns Bay are always very busy during the brief Spot Prawn opener, but the area is large, and Possession Bar, Eglon and around Marrowstone Island are also productive. It will be open May 25 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 10 – Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton (Everything but Elliott Bay)
Lots of Spot Shrimp limits are pulled from this area. Some shrimpers head to Meadow Point or Alki Point near Seattle, others head across to the other side of the Puget Sound. Shrimping for Spots can be good on the steep contours off the eastside of Bainbridge Island. Think Point Monroe, Skiff Point, Yeomalt. It will be open May 25 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 10 – Seattle’s Elliott Bay
Seattle’s inner harbor, Elliott Bay, is a really productive place to go shrimping. One of the benefits of shrimping here is that Spot Shrimp are usually pretty abundant in a small area (if they give us a season… which they did this year!). The harbor is much more protected than Puget Sound itself and is usually a safe place for small craft to get in on the fun. It will be open May 25 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 11 – Tacoma, Vashon Island
Lots of great places to catch Spot Shrimp in Marine Area 11. My suggestion is to look at a detailed nautical chart like Navionics Platinum Plus for the steepest gradient dropoffs, a quick scan of the area will show that most of Vashon Island has such areas. By the way, any area in Washington that has decent currents and a steep gradient can be great for finding Spot Shrimp. It will be open May 25 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 13 – Deep South Sound, Fox Island, Olympia
It is with great sadness that I must report…. Marine Area 13 will not be open this year. Biologists have sampled the area and have determined that there is not enough Spot Shrimp to allow for an opener this year. Fingers crossed for next year.
Shrimping in Hood Canal – 2023 Spot Shrimp Season
Marine Area 12 – Hood Canal Shrimping 2023
Hood Canal is well known as a shrimping destination, and as a bonus the views of the Olympic Mountains from the water add points to this shrimpery. The entire canal will be busy during the five openers this year. I’ve had great luck on the north end near the Hood Canal Bridge, mid-canal near Pleasant Harbor and Seabeck, and further south near Lilliwaup and Hoodsport. It will be open on May 26, June 9, June 11, June 24 and June 28. WDFW link here.
Shrimping in Strait of Juan De Fuca – 2023 Spot Shrimp Season
Marine Area 5- Western Straits, Sekiu Shrimping 2023
I come out here to fish for Salmon, Halibut and Lingcod as much as I can, but Shrimp?! I have sneaking suspisions that there are a few very quiet individuals that know where to go and do well here… but I have not met them. It will be open daily starting on May 25 until quota is reached. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 6 – Port Angeles, Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca outside of Discovery Bay Shrimp District Shrimping 2023
The eastern area of the Strait of Juan de Fuca is vast, with many large underwater banks that host great shrimping. Spot Prawns can be found on most of these banks like Dallas Bank, Eastern Bank, Hein Bank, and others. Currents can be heavy and a little heavier pot and even a small anchor attached can save the day. It will be open May 25-28, June 8-10, June 22-24, July 7-10 and July 21-23. Shrimping only allowed during daylight hours. As with all areas, check WDFW official season prior to heading out. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 6 – Discovery Bay Shrimp District Shrimping 2023
A shrimper’s life is easy in the protected waters of Discovery Bay. Very popular and because it offers refuge from the unprotected waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, it is only open one day to preserve healthy stocks of Spot Shrimp. It will be open May 26 from 9am to 1pm. WDFW link here.
Shrimping in the San Juan Islands – 2023 Spot Shrimp Season
Marine Area 7 South – Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank Shrimping 2023
This area encompasses the southern edge of the San Juan Island archipelago and the northeastern extend of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Shrimping can be great at Iceberg Point and Salmon Bank on the south sides of Lopez and San Juan Island respectively, but other areas will produce great hauls as well. The area will be open during daylight hours only on May 25-28 and June 8-10. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 7 East – Northern Rosario Straight, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia Islands, Strait of Georgia Shrimping 2023
The eastern San Juan Islands, Anacortes, Bellingham, Blaine and Point Roberts have too many great areas for Spot Prawns to mention. dozens of major islands, large underwater banks and steep gradient drop offs make this a great place to plan a shrimping trip. Just look at a nautical chart and you will find your own secret spot. It will be open during daylight hours only on May 25-28 and June 8-10. WDFW link here.
Marine Area 7 West – San Juan Channel, Spieden Channel, Stuart and Waldron Islands Shrimping 2023
The extreme west and northwest side of the San Juans is remote to most, but easily accessible from Friday Harbor, Orcas and Lopez Islands. Great shrimping around Waldron, Spieden and Stuart Islands. Also consider checking out the outside of Henry Island near Roche Harbor and the San Juan Island coastline just to the south. It will be open during daylight hours only on May 25-28, June 8-10, June 22-24 and July 7-10. WDFW link here.
Wishing you a safe and successful Spot Shrimp season
I find it very exciting to think about our upcoming days on the water during shrimping season. All the hard work to prepare gear and bait, getting everyone loaded on the boat and cruising out to our spot, hopeful for a smooth operation and a good harvest. To all that will be heading out for the 2023 shrimping season, I want to wish you good luck, be safe, be courteous, and most of all have fun out there.