Why are different areas of Puget Sound open for crabbing at different times?
Crab fishing seasons are structured to accommodate both crab molt cycles and catch rates in various areas of Puget Sound. Since those factors vary from area to area, so do opening dates of the fishery. Since 2005, fisheries in high-effort areas including Marine Areas 6, 7 South, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11 and 12, have been delayed until July 1 to allow fishing in those areas to continue uninterrupted through the Labor Day weekend, without exceeding catch quotas. Management regions with sufficient crab remaining for recreational fishing are then reopened for fall/winter fishing after catch numbers are tallied. Marine areas with slower catch rates open soon after the molt cycle is complete and may remain open until the molt cycle begins again.
