Puget Sound's recreational crab fishing season set to begin

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Five areas of the Puget Sound are opening in June for recreational crab fishing.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says the south Puget Sound will be open through Sept. 5 on every day except Tuesdays and Wednesday.

Neah Bay, Sekiu and Hood Canal open June 16. The northern section of Admiralty Inlet also opens on June 16.

Most other areas of the Sound will open for recreational crab fishing in July and August. State officials say they will be doing some test fishing in coming weeks to determine whether those fisheries can open sooner.

The daily limit for crab fishers throughout Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may keep six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across.