The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has re-opened recreational crabbing in Birch Bay for the fall/winter! Currently on their website they show an opening date of October 7th and a closing date of December 31, 2017. If you missed out on the summer crabbing, or you just can’t get enough crab, this is a great opportunity to get back out there and catch some more.
With the fall season comes more wind and waves so if you plan to go boating please be aware that conditions in the fall/winter can be vastly different than those in summer.
Below are details from the WDFW website as of Oct 22, 2017.
Recreational Crab Fishing
Marine Area 7
North – Gulf of Georgia
| Status | Days Open | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPEN | Everyday | October 7, 2017 | December 31, 2017 |
Rules:
Dungeness, Red Rock, and Tanner Crab, all fishing methods.
Seasons:
Opened for a winter season on October 7, 2017. Crabbing will be allowed daily through December 31, 2017.
Crab Limits and Rules
| Species | Min. size | Daily Limit | Season | Additional Rules |
| Dungeness Crab | 6.25″ | 5 Males | see above | Must retain back shell while in the field. Must release all softshell, females and undersized crab. Catch record card required. |
| Red Rock Crab | 5″ | Six crab Either sex |
see above | Must retain back shell while in the field. Must release all softshell crab. |
| Tanner Crab | 4.5″ | Six crab Either sex |
see above | Must retain back shell while in the field. Must release all softshell crab. |