10 hours of WA shrimp diving this year!

[Navanax]

So for all of Washington state, they let divers catch shrimp (spot prawns are the target) in Area 8.2 only (Mukilteo/Everett). The season is open 2 days (5/7 and 5/11). Wow. Sure hope we divers don't decimate the species after 300+ boats fish each day with 2-4 pots per boat.

If you have never done this, it is a hoot. They come up into 70-90' at night versus the 250' or so in the day. Here are the rules and the tides for those 2 days. Both evenings are big exchanges, so you will need to dive nearer the top of the flood than in the middle. Neither night is ideal at all. Night diving to 80' in current is not to be taken lightly. So please be careful and thoughtful. PM me if you need some starter spots or techniques.

Details on my "shrimpinator" are revealed here:
http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...t=shrimpinator

From WDFW - "Open May 7 and 11, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains. Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight on those open days in Marine Area 8-2."

Tides
Sat 07 May 1421 -1.2L, 2152, 11.5H
Wed 11 May 1755 1.9L, Thu 12 May 0054 11.6H

[SpearMax]

Looks tasty

Originally Posted by Navanax

So for all of Washington state, they let divers catch shrimp (spot prawns are the target) in Area 8.2 only (Mukilteo/Everett). The season is open 2 days (5/7 and 5/11). Wow. Sure hope we divers don't decimate the species after 300+ boats fish each day with 2-4 pots per boat.

If you have never done this, it is a hoot. They come up into 70-90' at night versus the 250' or so in the day. Here are the rules and the tides for those 2 days. Both evenings are big exchanges, so you will need to dive nearer the top of the flood than in the middle. Neither night is ideal at all. Night diving to 80' in current is not to be taken lightly. So please be careful and thoughtful. PM me if you need some starter spots or techniques.

Details on my "shrimpinator" are revealed here:
http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...t=shrimpinator

From WDFW - "Open May 7 and 11, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains. Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight on those open days in Marine Area 8-2."

Tides
Sat 07 May 1421 -1.2L, 2152, 11.5H
Wed 11 May 1755 1.9L, Thu 12 May 0054 11.6H

[Fishstiq]

Originally Posted by Navanax

So for all of Washington state, they let divers catch shrimp (spot prawns are the target) in Area 8.2 only (Mukilteo/Everett). The season is open 2 days (5/7 and 5/11). Wow. Sure hope we divers don't decimate the species after 300+ boats fish each day with 2-4 pots per boat.

If you have never done this, it is a hoot. They come up into 70-90' at night versus the 250' or so in the day. Here are the rules and the tides for those 2 days. Both evenings are big exchanges, so you will need to dive nearer the top of the flood than in the middle. Neither night is ideal at all. Night diving to 80' in current is not to be taken lightly. So please be careful and thoughtful. PM me if you need some starter spots or techniques.

Details on my "shrimpinator" are revealed here:
http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...t=shrimpinator

From WDFW - "Open May 7 and 11, 2011 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains. Divers may take shrimp by hand or hand-held device from 7:00 p.m. until midnight on those open days in Marine Area 8-2."

Tides
Sat 07 May 1421 -1.2L, 2152, 11.5H
Wed 11 May 1755 1.9L, Thu 12 May 0054 11.6H

I read that as divers only being allowed to catch from 7pm until midnight, is that correct? Who does the 7am to 3pm window apply to, the potters? I'm also curious what the 4 hour gap is supposed to accomplish other than to inconvenience divers a bit further.

Seriously, what horses ass comes up with this stuff?

[Spear CR]

How do you guys catch those things?

Like lobster or what?

[North Star]

Originally Posted by Spear CR

How do you guys catch those things?

Like lobster or what?

Follow the link in the first post on this thread. It will tell you how.

[Navanax]

7AM-3PM is for the pots. No use diving during daylight as they are really deep (250'). They come up to 70-90 at dusk. So 7 PM to midnight is for diving. I think they chose 7-3 for pots so they have warden coverage without a ton of overtime.

With so many horse's asses to choose from, not sure how to figure it out. Couple of years ago they chose the 7Am to 3Pm slot only and some set of divers must have made the pitch. No response yet to my letters re opening diving in other areas or using a spear.

If you try it, realize catching shrimp by hand is not the most productive method.

I'll probably hit both nights and will report if I do.