Poulsbo, WA Fishing, Crabbing Suggestions, Regs Translations

Hey Guys,

Heading up to Poulsbo, WA for the 4th and hoping to get my kayak out into the salt.  As an Oregonian, I thought our fishing regulations where complicated, until I looked at the Washington Regulations!  Holy Cow!  How do you guys figure out where, when and what is open?

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on where to do some bottom fishing, crabbing, and whatever else is open nearby.  I'm doing my own research, but hoping to cut the learning curve down by asking for some local advice.

Any thoughts and help is greatly appreciated.

Cosmo

Hey Guys,

Heading up to Poulsbo, WA for the 4th and hoping to get my kayak out into the salt.  As an Oregonian, I thought our fishing regulations where complicated, until I looked at the Washington Regulations!  Holy Cow!  How do you guys figure out where, when and what is open?

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on where to do some bottom fishing, crabbing, and whatever else is open nearby.  I'm doing my own research, but hoping to cut the learning curve down by asking for some local advice.

Any thoughts and help is greatly appreciated.

Cosmo

The regulations are like that because of sharing treaties with the tribes. The complicated nature is a requirement if you want to give the maximum opportunity to sport anglers. Bottom fish are open year round in the Sound, currently Area 10 is open for wild and hatchery resident coho (small). Area 11 near Tacoma is open for Chinook and Coho, Area 9 is closed to salmon. Dogfish will be everywhere. If you wanted to drive a bit Area 5, Sekiu, will be WFO for Chinook with good chances at Coho and pinks.

Workhard,

Thank you for the update.  I'll be looking for bottom fish, rocks, sole, lings, etc, and possibly some crabbing, if it's open.

Thanks for the background on the regs too. Now I just need to look at the map and see what area is what.

Workhard,

Thank you for the update.  I'll be looking for bottom fish, rocks, sole, lings, etc, and possibly some crabbing, if it's open.

Thanks for the background on the regs too. Now I just need to look at the map and see what area is what.

If you're North of Apple Cove ( just north of Kingston ferry) you're in 9, south of it is 10, south of southworth ferry is 11. Lings are closed, and hard to find anyways. Rockfish has been closed for 30 years. Looks like crabbing for dungeness is only open in the northern portion of hood canal thur-mon you can launch at Salsbury park or Shine tidelands or misery point. Closed until the 11th everywhere else near by.

Washington fishing regulations can indeed be complicated.

I often use the following app, select the body of water of interest and go from there:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/app

Awesome. Thank you.

So I've found a few locations in Hood Canal, which looks like it's Zone 12, opening for dungeness starting today, and open for sole, flounder, sand dabs.  Also looks like there are some public clamming and oyster harvesting options, but the low tides may not be low enough.

Thanks for all of the info guys.  Appreciate the help.

So I've found a few locations in Hood Canal, which looks like it's Zone 12, opening for dungeness starting today, and open for sole, flounder, sand dabs.  Also looks like there are some public clamming and oyster harvesting options, but the low tides may not be low enough.

Thanks for all of the info guys.  Appreciate the help.

If you can find clamming areas that are not accessible by walkin's then they would be worth trying.  Any shoals or beaches below uplands would be a good place to try.

Not sure if you have seen this webpage but it can help identify some spots for clamming and oysters.
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html

So I've found a few locations in Hood Canal, which looks like it's Zone 12, opening for dungeness starting today, and open for sole, flounder, sand dabs.  Also looks like there are some public clamming and oyster harvesting options, but the low tides may not be low enough.

Thanks for all of the info guys.  Appreciate the help.

 I would be cautious about eating the clams this time of year due to possible shellfish poisoning. Saying around here is only harvest clams in months that have an 'r' in the name.

Workhard,

Thanks for the heads up. I was looking for some sort of shellfish hotline, and they are saying the same.  Leaving the clamming gear at home.

Will target flat fish and dungeness.

Clamming in this area is tough:

I picked a random beach on Bainbridge Island for reference:https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches/260262

You can zoom out to see how far the area is closed. 

Area 10 is Sunday & Monday only for crabs. Traps cannot remain.