Outdoors | Plenty of Dungeness crab are up for grabs this season

The early Dungeness crab pot season in southern Puget Sound is off to one of its best starts ever, and many other areas will open for crabbing on Wednesday.

"We are doing pretty good in South Sound, and it's as good as I've seen in over 50 years in the sport," said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for Northwest Marine Trade Association. "The Nisqually area is the best place, and it is not uncommon to pull in a pot with 20 keeper-sized crab.

"It was very slow last year compared to this year. I've had limits of crab on eight of nine trips I made since it opened [June 18]."

For those who can't wait, one option is the far western Strait of Juan de Fuca from Sekiu to Neah Bay, which currently is open all day, every day.

Fisheries managers allowed the earlier opening in the far western Strait and South Sound due to lower effort and catch rates. Fishing is open through Jan. 2, 2009.

The crab season in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca clear into south central Puget Sound, and Hood Canal, opens at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

In those areas, crabbing is allowed Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, and will close the night of Sept. 1. These areas could reopen in the fall and winter depending on the catch quota.

"In general, crab abundance is similar to last year and somewhat better in certain places," said Rich Childers, a state Fish and Wildlife shellfish policy coordinator. "We hear a lot of whining about crabbing not being good, and it definitely has been slower in the past couple of years. But people still manage to get their limits. It just means it may take a bit longer to have success.

"Some say all the crab are gone in Puget Sound, but then our commercial fishery doesn't basically start until after the recreational crabbers get their chance and they end up doing quite well," Childers said. "So we know the crabs are out there, for sure."

Some areas north of Anacortes won't open until later this summer.

Bellingham Bay and Samish Bay (Area 7 East) will open Wednesdays through Saturdays only starting July 16, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, and will close the evening of Sept. 30.

The Lummi Island and Blaine areas (Area 7 North) will open Wednesdays through Saturdays only starting Aug. 13, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, and will close the evening of Sept. 30.

Anglers are required to record their Dungeness crab catch on two separate catch record cards — one for the summer season and one for the fall/winter season. Reports can be done on the Internet or by mail.

"Catch reports are an important tool in managing the Puget Sound crab fishery," Childers said. "We need to hear from everyone — including those who didn't catch any crab — because more data provides greater accuracy in estimating the catch and developing future fishing seasons."

As an incentive, sport crabbers who submit their catch reports by Sept. 15 will be entered in a raffle to win one of 10 free 2009 combination licenses, which allow the holder to fish for a variety of freshwater and saltwater species.

The catch record cards are not required to fish for Dungeness crab on the coast (Areas 1 to 4).

The daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 ¼ inches. Anglers may also keep six red rock crab of either sex daily, provided they measure at least 5 inches across.

Notes

• Alaska fishing guide Dick Lange is hosting a fly-fishing class for salmon and trout for Woodinville Parks and Recreation July 10-Aug. 14. Classes are every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents, $44.85 for nonresidents. Course manual is $10. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The Sportsman's Warehouse in Fife is hosting "Fundamentals of Fly Casting" classes from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 13. Instructors are Darrel Martin and Michael Martin. Cost is $50. Details: 253-835-4100.

• The Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 4-7 at Lake Union Park. The event includes more than 150 classic wooden, sail, steam and human-powered watercraft, food, music, a boating contest for kids, and educational boating activities. Cost is $5 donation or $10 per family. Details: www.cwb.org.

• Children with disabilities will get a chance to wet a fishing line during a special fishing event July 19 at Merwin Fish Hatchery, east of Woodland.

The Merwin Special Kids' Day is expected to draw more than 100 participants and their families. The wheelchair-accessible hatchery waters will be planted with up to 6,000 trout ranging from 1 to 9 pounds.

Rods, reels, tackle and T-shirts will be provided for the young fishermen to use and keep. A free barbecue lunch will be served, followed by fish painting, storytelling and other activities.

Deadline to register is July 14. Volunteers are welcome. Details: 800-899-4421.

• The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is celebrating its 100th anniversary by inviting the public to visit several forest offices Tuesday to enjoy historic displays, tours, presentations and to view historic photos from the forest from the past century.

The Mount Adams Ranger District in Trout Lake is hosting historic walking tours from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the ranger station; the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District will have a centennial celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, including a barbecue lunch for the visiting public; and the Forest Headquarters, 10600 N.E. 51st Circle in Vancouver will have historic displays, photographs, commemorative items and cupcakes on Tuesday. Details: 360-891-5007 or www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com

This story, published June 29, 2008 was corrected on July 16, 2008. A previous version of the story incorrectly reported the opening day. The crab season in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, south-central Puget Sound and Hood Canal opens at 7 a.m. Wednesday.