Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season 2018
Puget Sound, Hood Canal and the San Juan Islands 2018 Spot Shrimp season has been announced! The Spot Shrimp is the largest shrimp specie in our region. These tasty deep water shrimp are a North Pacific delicacy and there is no question in my mind that there will be more than a couple boatloads of us out trying to catch them in May! The Spot Shrimp’s abundance and popularity throughout the waters of the Salish Sea is so massive, that the season just so happens to be one of the largest boating events on the West Coast. Between 180′ and 300′ is the best depth for Spot Shrimp. Here they will swarm in masses so large you can mark them on your sonar screen.
The 2018 Puget Sound Spot Shrimp season is a little different than years’ past, and it is important to keep up on the current regulations.
Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season 2018
Area 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.
Open May 9 Wednesday from 8:00am to 2:00pm
Area 8-2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner, Everett):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.
Open May 9 Wednesday from 8:00am to 2:00pm
Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 11:00am.
Open May 9 Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 11:00am.
Area 10 (Inside Elliott Bay):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 1:00pm
(East of a line from West Point to Alki Point)
Area 11 (Tacoma, Vashon Island):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 11:00am
Area 13 (South Puget Sound, Carr Inlet):
Open May 5 Saturday from 7:00am to 11:00am.
Open May 9 Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Click Here for the Official WDFW Spot Shrimp Seasons and Regulations.
Hood Canal Spot Shrimp Season 2018
Area 12 (Hood Canal):
Open May 5 Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Open May 9 Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Open May 12 Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Open May 23 Wednesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Click Here for the Official WDFW Spot Shrimp Seasons and Regulations.
San Juan Islands Spot Shrimp Season 2018
Area 7 South (Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank):
Open May 5 Saturday.
Open May 9-12 Wednesday-Saturday.
Open May 23-26 Wednesday-Saturday.
Area 7 East (Northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia Islands, Strait of Georgia):
Open May 5 Saturday.
May 9-12 Wednesday-Saturday.
May 23-26 Wednesday-Saturday.
Area 7 West (San Juan Channel, Spieden Channel, Stuart and Waldron Islands):
Open May 5 Saturday and open daily until quota is reached.
Click Here for the Official WDFW Spot Shrimp Seasons and Regulations.
Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Regulations
This page is designed to be a rough guide and a quick reference, but I would highly recommend checking out the WDFW Spot Shrimp Page for current regulations and seasons. Everyone should refresh themselves on the Puget Sound Spot Shrimp season regulations and rules, here are a few…
- Daily limit of 80 shrimp in the month of May
- You need a shellfish license unless you are under the age of 15.
- Minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1″ mesh) WDFW Shrimp Gear Rules
- Shrimp heads may be removed in the field prior to coming ashore in the month of May.
- Each harvester must have separate container for their shrimp.
- No minimum size for spot shrimp.
- Maximum of two pots per person and ONLY four total pots per boat.
Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season Tips
The first couple times we went shrimping, our day was full of anxiety. It takes major effort to go shrimping but the rewards are high so do not get discouraged! It is a great opportunity to get the family out on the boat and work as a team to harvest your spot shrimp limits.
Here are a few tips for Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season that I want to share with you, keep in mind most of these I learned the hard way!
Prepare the night before.
This includes all bait prep, lines rigged, gear gone over, boat fueled and test ran (you don’t want to be that guy at the boat ramp!). As you can see above our seasons are a mere few hours and you should… no you must capitalize on every moment on the water!
Get to your shrimping spot early.
You may be trailering your boat, if so plan for long lines at the launch. It is better to be out at your spot even hours before you can drop pots, than just getting to your turn to launch as the opening bell rings. That is one sure fire way to ruin your day. You have a little less early morning stress if you are moored in a marina. Make sure you plan ample time to get everyone settled, time to cruise out to your spot and time to bait pots and ready yourself for the opener.
Be ready to drop your pots the minute it opens.
As you can see, most areas are only open for a mere 4 hours. This means that you will have to manage your time very effectively. You want to soak and pull your pots as many times as possible in this time span. Bait your pots. The minute it opens, drop your first pot.
Stagger your depths on the first drop.
This is important on the first day of the season, and any new area you don’t have experience at. You may drop your pots at say 180′, 230′, 250′ and 280′ to see what depth the shrimp in the area will be at. Then you can key in on that magic depth on your second drop.
Stay clear of other buoys.
Each pot has about 400′ of line (leaded is preferred). The buoy is always down-current from the pot it is attached too. Remember this, and do your best to keep from tangling your equipment with others. This is a surefire way to waste your time and theirs.
Look for shrimp on your sonar.
If you tune up the sensitivity on your sonar, you can sometimes find what looks like schools of bait fish along the bottom, these are often clouds of spot shrimp. These thin clouds might be as high as 5 or 10 feet off the bottom. This is where you want to drop!
Obey the rules and don’t cheat.
It isn’t worth the stress, let alone any fines. Bag and count your limits separately. Every shrimp pot has to be out of the water by the deadline. Nothing is worse than getting a ticket on your day on the water.
Helpful Spot Shrimping Resources
Riptidefish Spot Shrimp Articles
How To Catch Spot Shrimp
WDFW Spot Shrimp Page
WDFW Shrimp Daily Limits & Rules
WDFW Report Lost or Stolen Gear
WDFW Shrimp Identification Guide
WDFW How to Harvest Shrimp
Final Thoughts on Shrimping
Catching Spot Shrimp in Puget Sound is one of my favorite pass times during the spring fishing season. Preparations equals success. Manage your time well and work well with your boat team. As always, make sure you are well read on the current rules and stay safe out there!
Fly Fishing at Lake Lenice
