WDFW News Release: Puget Sound sport crabbing closed; winter harvest reports due

[Pacific NW Ron]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

January 4, 2019
Contact: Donald Velasquez (425) 775-1311, ext. 112

Puget Sound sport crabbing closed; winter harvest reports due by Feb.1 

OLYMPIA – With all Puget Sound marine areas now closed to recreational crab fishing, sport crabbers will have through Feb. 1 to report their results for the winter season.

State fishing rules require that all sport crabbers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in the Sound report the results on their winter Catch Record Card to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"The reports are essential to managing this important fishery," said Don Velasquez, a WDFW shellfish biologist. "They are required for all crabbers with a winter crab Catch Record Card, whether or not they caught any crab during the winter season."

Sport crabbers who fail to submit a winter catch report will receive a $10 fine when they purchase their 2019 crab endorsement.

The department's online reporting system is available through Feb.1 at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Crabbers also may send their catch record cards to WDFW by mail at WDFW CRC Unit, PO Box 43142, Olympia, WA 98504-3142.

Velasquez said that new crabbers who choose to report online should be prepared to take a few extra minutes to set up an online account. To report online, crabbers must establish an online account by creating a user name and password and providing an email address.

Individuals can use their account for a variety of purposes, including crab reporting and purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. Anyone who has a question about the online system can contact WDFW's Licensing Division at (360) 902-2464 or .

[Lipripper]

A $10 fine isn't much. I guess they keep a close watch on the to make sure y'all don't over fish them.