2020 Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season

What is it about shrimping that captures so much of the passion and energy of the Puget Sound outdoor enthusiast?

Is it that these are the best-tasting critters in our local waters? Or is it the “closet deadliest catch persona” we all have buried deep within us somewhere?

Whatever it is, it is clear, that we love our spot shrimp and the process of catching them. The much anticipated 2020 Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season has been announced, let’s get to the details!

Please head over to Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Season 2021 blog post for this years season info.

This just in, there’s going to be a late August Season!

2020 Puget Sound recreational spot shrimp seasons are as follows:

• Marine Area 4 remains closed
• Marine Area 5 (western Strait of Juan de Fuca): Open daily beginning May 28, daylight hours. The recreational spot shrimp season closes when the quota is met.
• Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles Harbor, eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open May 28, June 1-13 (daily), and then Thursdays through Sundays each week beginning June 18 until quota is met. Daylight hours.
• Marine Area 6 (Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 11, 15 and 28.
• Marine Area 7 South (Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank): Open May 28 and June 1, 11, 15, 26, 28 and 30. Daylight hours.
• Marine Area 7 East (northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia islands, Strait of Georgia): Open May 28 and June 1, 11, 15, 26, 28 and 30. Daylight hours.
• Marine Area 7 West (San Juan Channel, Speiden Channel, Stuart and Waldron islands): Open May 28, June 1-13 (daily), and then Thursdays through Sundays each week beginning June 18 until quota is met. Daylight hours.
• Marine Areas 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass) and 8-2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner, Everett): Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 11.
• Marine Area 9 (Edmonds, Port Townsend Bay, Admiralty Inlet): Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 11.
• Marine Area 10 (Elliott Bay): Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 11 (this is the portion of Marine Area 10 east of a line from West Point to Alki Point).
• Marine Area 10 (outside Elliott Bay): Open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 11 (this is the portion of Marine Area 10 west of a line from West Point to Alki Point, which includes the Bainbridge Island shrimp fishing grounds).
• Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island): Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 11.
• Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal Shrimp District): Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 11, 15, 26, 28 and July 15, 28.
• Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound, Carr Inlet): Closed for spot shrimp harvest this season due to low abundance.

Additional dates and times may be announced if enough quota remains after the initial fishing days listed above.

In all areas of Puget Sound fishers are limited to 80 shrimp a day (if open) during the month of May. Beginning June 1, the daily limit is 10 pounds of all shrimp with a maximum of 80 spot shrimp.

A valid 2020-21 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery.

WDFW 2020 Spot Shrimp Announcement

New to Puget Sound Spot Shrimp or maybe just looking for a refresher? After all, it’s been a whole year since you last fished for em’ right? Check out our comprehensive guide to Puget Sound spot shrimp fishing which we will continue to update to provide the resources you need.

Curious about what it’s like to go shrimping on the puget sound? We’ve got multiple YouTube videos that take you inside the spot shrimp action on puget sound and hood canal.

Some of the biggest questions each year are when and where to go. June 11 is the big opener for most of the Marine Areas, however, don’t overlook opportunities to get on the water earlier in places like Marine Area 6.

One thing to keep in mind is that the big 4 hour openers that WDFW schedules in most of the Puget Sound like on June 11, are selected for their ideal tides. If you plan to take advantage of shrimping on May 28th in Marine Area 6 for example, you need to some more details planning to be successful.

For starters, you need to take a close look at the tides. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is big water with big big currents. Pick the wrong tide and not only will you not have much success shrimping, you may lose your pots as well.

Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible

W   27      Low   2:33 AM     6.5   5:20 AM     Set 12:55 AM      16
    27     High   4:28 AM     6.6   9:00 PM    Rise  9:39 AM
    27      Low   1:49 PM    -1.5
    27     High   9:50 PM     8.3

Th  28      Low   2:41 PM    -1.0   5:19 AM     Set  1:34 AM      25
    28     High  10:35 PM     8.2   9:01 PM    Rise 10:52 AM

The above tides are for the Sequim Bay entrance. Notice the huge gap in time between the High on the 27th and the low on the 28th. On the surface, these look like big tide swings (9 ft!), but it’s over 16 hours, and there’s a dead current period in there in the early morning. If you are itching to get out, there’s a low current window between about 5 am and 9 am that morning that’s likely your best bet.

I may be getting out on June 1st and 2nd if I can make it happen with other time commitments. If you cannot get out until June 11th or later, don’t fret. There are going to be many many shrimping opportunities this summer. Even if you just hit the 6 Hood Canal dates, you would be doing pretty good.

Good luck and see you out there!