shrimp season dates

We did pretty well. We camped at anchor in Elger Bay to avoid the morning crowds at the launch. Dropped pots to the north of Cama beach, Camano Island. We had 4 pots and would soak for about 45 - 60 minutes each starting at right at 7:00. On the 3rd round of pulling the pots around 10:00 am I lost a pot. Trying to save money, I bought cheap clips, to attach the 400' rope lengths to the pot harnesses. I may have saved 5 bucks each at the time, but I lost a pot because of it :( At this point, we decided to call it a day and not risk any more loss. We ended up with 147 spot prawns in about 3.5 hours.

The bonus was when we got back to Camano state park. Divers had pulled some derelict pots from Elger Bay, and they were there for the taking. So I scored two really nice nearly new stainless round Willipa Bay crab pots. That made losing the shrimp pot a little less painful. I have more crab gear than I know what to do with. Anyone wanna trade for a shrimp pot? Lots of different styles to choose from!

We will try again Wednesday, with 3 pots instead of 4. I bought some fancy stainless clips to upgrade that weak point. I hope we get 3 limits this time.
 
we went out for our first attempt from out boat. we had fun learned a lot and fixed some mistakes in rigging i overlooked the first go around. in the end we got 10 short of 4 limits. and hoping to do it again wend. have pics will load into album tomorrow. thanks to those that helped me with intel. it was much appreciated.
 
We put a ton of time and effort to get ready for Shrimping this past saturday only to realize that the placement of down rigger mounts was less than ideal due to rail placement. It was very disheartening to fall short of the goal after so many long days and nights of fixing and making ready.

In the end, we ended up fishing for flounder and enjoying a day out on the water. I would love to ride passenger on someones boat (will pitch in for gas), just to learn the process of shrimping.

If anybody is going out on shrimping on Wednesday and would like some company, I would certainly love to come along. I would in turn return the favor once our boat is set up later in the year (crabbing).
 
Jake , where did you go? Was it in area 6?

Well the shrimping was off to a slow start saturday. We over nighted in La conner with the intent to shrimp north camano but decided to try biz point just out side and north of deception pass instead. It was a little crowed just at the south end of the area so I ended up with my first drop to far north. Landed in the mud and clam shells. If you pull your pot up and its muddy and empty, MOVE.

There were too many boats and pots where I wanted to drop at biz point and a friend had reported 6 limits in his boat at Iceberg so we moved in a big way.

We had to pull two pots twice but we ended up just 14 short of two limits. we would have dropped again but needed to get to Friday harbor.

Sunday we tried a spot in area 6 just south of Smith Island. Area 6 is open 7 days a week until the quota is filled, which should be some time in August. I had heard that this area can be good and the tide was perfect but we only got twenty shrimp. It was a great tide. All slack and we were on sand . We may not have been far enough south.

What we did get was one minki whale swimming around the boat for an hour. Two ruffed puffins, three eagles, and about 60 young harbor seals swimming around the boat in a group. never seen that many in one group before. The whole time the swell was about 1cm in height.
 
We go just north of Pleasant Harbor in Hood Canal. We only drop two pots, and we got two limits in two pulls, and actually had to throw another limit back. We were headed back in about 11:30.

The wind against the tide made for some steep chop, which can make pulling a pain. I have Shirley back the boat into the current, maintaining position so I'm pulling pretty much straight up on the rope. I've heard a lot of guys complaining about the added weight from pulling against the current; keeping the boat over the pot makes a big difference.
 
we go out of yelvicks(sp) and run across the canal and drop in various spots there. we are hoping for easier limits tomorrow. have 4 to get and be back to work by 3pm. also area 6 is open for a long season and I have never tried out there yet. I have been talking with guys that do and getting some starting points. But the good area of 6 they lump into the discovery bay area making it a 5 day season. this is our first year shrimping since we got our own gear. In years past I would go with my buddy out of whidbey.
 
good work we pulled 4 limits this morning before having to head back to work. great day on the water left a fog bank this am pulling out of sequim bay area. to a nice calm area 12.
 
Two limits in about 5 hours, but it was work. Hit & miss at Brown's Bay. Some pots came up w/ ~30; some with no shrimp at all.

Just cooked a few on the grill w/ some butter and garlic. Taste like little lobsters....delicious! :smilep
 
I took Brain out for his first time today and we only ended up with twenty. Took marks advice and headed to just south of the ferry terminal. ( where he limitied the other day). changed brand of cat food and not sure its doing the job. Also forgot the dry cat food and the pots washed out fairly quick. Will try again next week at Friday harbor.
 
Had the best day ever, yesterday. First pot we pulled had 174 big ol' spot prawns in it. Second pot had close to a limit. Since we only needed 6 to make our two daily limits, we let a whole bunch swim back down for us to get on Saturday.

I also mounted a Hands Free Dualler Plate to my Ace Line Hauler. Pulls the leaded line absolutely hands free. Way cool.
 
good to see you out there yesterday. we worked for ours and have no clue but the spot we were in was day 3 for us and all of a sudden all our pots were coming up covered in mud. will be relocating for the closing date next wend. ended up 3-4 shy of 4 limits. we will be looking into getting a hands free device also.
 
Back
Top