Fishing the San Juan’s is always fun. Catching provides the bonus of a great dinner.
2020-2021 Sport Fishing Rules
- Download and read the annual fishing pamphlet, which details rules and regulations statewide.
- Check for any emergency rule changes affecting the species or location you’re fishing.
- Download the Fish Washington app, which provides up-to-date fishing regulations on your mobile device.
Area 7 Salmon
SALMON – AREA 7 July 1-July 31 Chinook – min. size 22″. Other salmon species – no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum
and wild Chinook.
Aug. 1-Aug. 15 No min. size. Daily limit 2. Release Chinook and chum.
Aug. 16-Aug. 31 Chinook min. size 22″. Other salmon species – no min. size. Daily limit 2. Only 1 hatchery Chinook may be retained. Release
chum and wild Chinook. Season may close earlier if Chinook guideline is attained.
Sept. 1-Sept. 30 No min. size. Daily limit 2. Release Chinook and chum. See Southern Rosario Strait/ Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca
Closure below. See Bellingham Bay Closure and Fishery, Samish Bay Closure, Lummi Reservation and Bay
See Southern Rosario Strait/ Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Closure Light Blue area
Area 7 Crab
San Juan Islands – Marine Area 7 Scheduled to open Thursday July 16. Will be open Thursdays through Mondays only through September 28.
Statewide gear rules (crab, shrimp, crawfish)
Report derelict fishing gear
NOTE: All crab fishing gear must be removed from the water by one hour after sunset on the last day of any fishing period. Crab fishing gear may not remain in the water on closed days.
Area 7 West Prawn
July 7 WDFW’s Katelyn Bosely, Lead Crustacean biologist, sent an email out this morning to members of the crab and shrimp advisory group putting members on notice of the imminent closure of 7W. That email included the following: ” buoy count data indicate that effort this year has far exceeded what we have seen in Marine Areas 6 and 7 in past years – up to a 900% increase in average buoy counts. This level of increased effort was entirely unexpected and ultimately has led to early closures of the shrimp fishery in Discovery Bay, Marine Area 6 and now MA 7W, which will remain closed starting this week.”
WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501
https://wdfw.wa.gov/
July 7, 2020
Shrimp fishery closes in Marine Area 7 West
Action: This action closes the recreational shrimp fishery in Marine Area 7 West.
Effective date: July 7, 2020
Species affected: Spot shrimp and non-spot shrimp.
Location: Marine Area 7 West.
Reason for action: Preliminary catch estimates indicate the State harvest target has been met for spot shrimp in this area.
Additional information: This closes Marine Area 7 West to recreational harvest of both spot shrimp and non-spot shrimps. Marine Areas 7 South and 10 are also closed to recreational harvest of both spot shrimp and non-spot shrimps. Marine Areas 6 (excluding the Dungeness Bay Shrimp District), 7 East, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 11, and 13 are open for the recreational harvest of non-spot shrimp. Please check regulations for depth and gear restrictions. Marine Area 12 will open July 15 and 28 from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. each day for all shrimp species.
Information contact: Don Velasquez, Fish and Wildlife Biologist. (425) 775-1311 ext. 112.
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility.
This message has been sent to the WDFW All Information mailing list.
Visit the Emergency Fishing Rule Website at: https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists/unsubscribe
Marine Area 7 – West – San Juan Channel, Spieden Channel, Stuart and Waldron Islands
All-shrimp season: Open on dates listed below only
Season/Open Days and Times:
Open to harvest of all shrimp species (including spot shrimp) May 28, June 1-13 (daily), and then Thursdays through Sundays each week beginning June 18 until quota is met. Daylight hours.
Non-spot shrimp only season: Closed
A non-spot shrimp only season is not planned for this area.
Marine Area 7 – Boundaries for South, East and West
~ John Zaborsky
2020 LIYC Vice Commodore
Lopez Island Yacht Club ● P O Box 22 ● Lopez Island, WA 98261.
Great fishing article. Good job! I might have to take the cobwebs off of my fishing reel.
Update WDFW Just added some Halibut days for Area 7 Great Fish and Chips (-:
Puget Sound halibut season:
Marine Areas 5 – 10 (Puget Sound): Open Thursday, August 6. The fishery in this area will be open three days per week, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, August 6 through September 30 or until the remaining quota is taken.
In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess a maximum of two halibut in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW halibut catch record card.
There is an annual limit of four halibut. Recreational fishery samplers will be available to collect catch information at fishing access sites throughout Puget Sound and the coast while practicing physical distancing guidelines.
Because halibut fisheries are managed to a quota, closures could happen quickly and anglers should check the WDFW website to ensure a specific area is open prior to fishing. Complete information on recreational halibut regulations and seasons is available online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut.
I updated the Salmon section looks like we have some Coho fishing the first couple weeks of August then wild chinook Aug 16-31 always check the WDFW site never believe me (-;
——————————————————————————–
Aug. 1-Aug. 15 No min. size. Daily limit 2. Release Chinook and chum.
Aug. 16-Aug. 31 Chinook min. size 22″. Other salmon species – no min. size. Daily limit 2. Only 1 hatchery Chinook may be retained. Release
chum and wild Chinook. Season may close earlier if Chinook guideline is attained.
Marine Area 7 Chinook opener delayed
Action: Closes Chinook retention.
Effective date: Aug. 16 through Aug. 21, 2020
Species affected: Chinook salmon
Location: Marine Area 7
Rule: Salmon; No min. size. Daily limit two. Release chum, wild coho, and all Chinook.
Reason for action: With 206 Chinook remaining of the Marine Area 7 quota of 1,562, it is unlikely the fishery could endure the entirety of the scheduled season. This closure is intended to maximize opportunity and participation while ensuring fisheries remain within allowed Endangered Species Act impacts. The decision for this closure and its timing were made in consultation with the citizens’ board of the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group.
Additional information: Beginning Aug. 22 and through Aug. 31, anglers will be allowed to retain up to one hatchery Chinook as part of the salmon daily limit as listed in the 2020/2021 Washington Sportfishing Rules pamphlet.
Anglers are reminded to check for fishery updates at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/.
The Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet can be found at http://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/.
Information contact: Fish Program 360-902-2700.