Fishing -- 5-Day Hood Canal Shrimp Season Set

Under a new federal-court guideline, the popular Hood Canal recreational spot-shrimp season will be open five days in May and June, the state Fish and Wildlife department announced yesterday.

"This is the first season managed under a federal-court order called the Rafeedie Ruling, which allows treaty tribal fishermen half the shrimp catch quota," said Jay Odell, a state Fish and Wildlife shellfish biologist in Brinnon.

This year's total sport and tribal catch quota for Hood Canal is 205,000 pounds. Sport shrimpers will be allowed to catch about 102,000 pounds.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie is an attempt to balance the treaty rights of 19 Washington state tribes and covers all shellfish (including shrimps, oysters, clams, crabs and geoducks) in Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia.

The ruling was based on interpretations of a federal-treaty law which forces state governments to honor treaties, even if they had not been honored for years.

The Rafeedie ruling followed the 1974 decision by U.S. District Judge George Boldt that gave Washington tribes the right to 50 percent of all fish in traditional native fishing waters.

State Fish and Wildlife held two meetings last month to hear public comments and answer questions about the new ruling.

The feeling at the meetings was somewhat hostile, said Odell, but the sportsmen realize we (state Fish and Wildlife) weren't the

ones who decided on the ruling.

"In fact, state Fish and Wildlife managers tried to negotiate, but were unsuccessful in getting recreational shrimpers more than 50 percent," Odell said.

"From the anglers' point of view, the ruling isn't fair, and we're seeing less and less of a catch every year," said Mark Sjostrom, owner of Seabeck Marina in Hood Canal.

Sjostrom urged concerned sportsmen to go through political means to express their views.

The tribal commercial season began Wednesday, and will run for 10 days or until 50,000 pounds of their quota is caught. The tribes will stop fishing before the recreational season. After June 1, the tribes will resume fishing for the remainder of the quota.

"This is one of the first fisheries in which 50 percent allocation is exercised, so it's a whole new level because until the decision we were allowed to take only 5 percent of the total quota," said Doug Williams, the Point No Point Treaty Tribe information officer.

Hood Canal recreational shrimping will be allowed May 18, 22, 25, 29, and June 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All pots must be set and pulled during the four-hour period.

A daily limit is the first 80 shrimp caught per person. Only one shrimp pot per person, with a four pot per boat limit. Unlike past seasons, people will be allowed to remove shrimp heads while out on the water.

"The good news is shrimp are large in size, and without the heads 80 shrimp will average roughly about 5 pounds," Odell said.

To provide additional opportunities, those pursuing Dungeness crabs can use a maximum of two ring nets or star traps apiece. Crab gear must be set and pulled from sunrise to sunset. The daily limit south of the Hood Canal bridge is six 6-inch male crabs.

Anglers are required to have a shellfish/seaweed license, and should check the new fishing pamphlet, available at most tackle shops and retails stores, for specific regulations.

For details on current shrimp regulations, call (360) 796-4601, and press 1.