Hobbies And Interests
Seasonal Fishing
Washington has 13 different recreational crabbing regions along the Puget Sound and Pacific Ocean. Six of these locations allow crab pot fishing between Dec. 1 and Sept. 15, and crab fishing with other tools year round. Six other locations allow crab fishing Thursday through Monday, between July 1and Sept. 5. Washington law requires all fishing equipment be out of the water one hour before sunset on the final day of the season. Crab fishing is allowed all year along the Columbia River between Tongue Point and Rocky Point for Oregon and Washington residents.
Licensing
Washington requires all crabbers 15 years and older to carry a license while fishing. Crabbers have the option of obtaining a annual shellfish/seaweed license or an all purpose fishing license for either a single day or for the season. Crabbing in the Puget Sound requires a licensing endorsement that requires paying an additional fee. Licenses can be obtained online or by mailing the WDFW licensing department. Washington also requires crabbers to record and report the number of crabs caught during the season by filling out and mailing in a catch record card. Crabbers who fail to report their seasonal catch will be assessed a $10 fine when applying for their next license.
Catch Limits
Crabbers are required to release all female, soft shell or undersized Dungeness crabs caught while crabbing. For red rock crab, crabbers must release all soft shell crab caught and any that don't possess a back shell. Catch limits vary between five and six males for Dungeness crabs depending on the region in which you are crabbing, while a limit of six red rock crabs of either sex exists in all regions. Minimum size for Dungeness crab ranges between 5.75 inches and 6.25 inches depending on the region, while red rock crab have a 5 inch minimum. Oregon and Washington residents crabbing in the Columbia river can catch up to 12 Dungeness crabs of either sex and six red rock crabs.
Equipment
The easiest way to catch a crab is through the use of a crab pot. Generally made from chicken wire, crab pots have two chambers, one allows the crab to swim in after the bait, and the second traps the crab inside the pot. Crabbing requires the use of bait, with diced eel, chicken necks and bull lip being some of the most commonly used. Crabbers should also carry a dip net for scooping stray crabs in the water, a crab storage device such as a bushel basket and a pair of thick gloves. Crabbers can either rent this equipment from a Washington based company or purchase their own.