Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24B

To preserve recreational fishing opportunities within the sheltered waters of the Puget Sound, which have historically provided the citizens of the state with the safest and most convenient access to productive marine recreational fishing. Recreational fishing opportunities in the Puget Sound for salmon and marine bottomfish have declined in the past two decades. Seasonal and permanent closures ensure that fish stocks are rebuilt and that fishing opportunities are restored.

Species of Concern: Multiple, Lingcod, Herring, Anchovy, Smelt, Bottomfish, English sole, Starry flounder, Shellfish, Sixgill shark, Rockfish

Restrictions

1. It is unlawful to possess lingcod taken with commercial gear.
2. It is unlawful to take herring and anchovy with purse seine gear.
3. It is unlawful to take herring or anchovy with any gear other than dip bag net from January 16 through April 15.
4. It is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess smelt for commercial purposes from April 16 to June 30.
5. The following waters are closed to the commercial crab fishery: Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24B inside a line projected from Priest Point (48.0322°, -122.2274°) to the five-meter tower (48.0156°, -122.2707°) between Gedney (Hat) Island and Priest Point, thence northwesterly on a line between the five-meter tower and Barnum Point (48.1935°, -122.4625°) to the intersection (48.1353°, -122.3999°) with a line projected true west from Kayak Point (48.1351°, -122.3678°), thence east to shore.
The following restrictions apply to all Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas:
1. It is unlawful to possess English sole less than 12 inches in length taken with commercial bottomfish gear.
2. It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes any starry flounder less than 14 inches in length taken by any commercial gear.
3. It is unlawful to retain sixgill shark taken with commercial fishing gear.
4. It is unlawful to retain any species of rockfish taken with commercial fishing gear.
5. It is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish taken with the following gear: otter trawl, beam trawl, dogfish set net gear, pacific cod set net gear, set line gear, commercial jig gear, and troll line gear.

Allowed

1. Hardshell clams, oysters, and geoducks are excluded from this closure.
2. Herring and anchovy fisheries may use drag seine, lampara, and dip bag net for human consumption or bait only outside of the closed period.
3. Taking, fishing for, or possessing bottomfish with drag seine gear for commercial purposes is open from September 1 through April 30.