Spot shrimp season hits Seattle — but blink and you'll miss it
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Thousands of boats will be in Puget Sound waterways this week, chasing a share of one of the region's most coveted crustaceans. Photo: Chase Gunnell/Courtesy of WDFW
A fleet of small boats on Elliott Bay on Wednesday is a sign that Seattle's short but oh-so-sweet spot shrimp season is on.
Why it matters: It's so popular — and the delicacy so limited — that the shrimping season is down to just four hours in Seattle, as the state works to prevent overharvesting and to protect future hauls.
Driving the news: Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is opening the 2025 recreational spot shrimp season in select marine areas across Puget Sound on Wednesday while keeping others closed due to declining populations.
- Shrimping will be allowed in Elliott Bay from 9am to 1pm, and it's expected to be packed, WDFW spokesperson Chase Gunnell told Axios. Additional dates may be announced later.
- Several marine areas, including west of Alki, Bremerton Bainbridge, Tacoma and Vashon Island and South Puget Sound, are closed completely due to low spot shrimp population, per WDFW.
- Other areas, like Hood Canal, Deception Pass and parts of the San Juan Islands, may see additional open dates through July.
The big picture: With both the population in the region and the popularity of the sport rising, the department has to be careful of overharvesting, said WDFW biologist Don Velasquez in a statement, explaining why there are more shrimping opportunities this year in Hood Canal and Discovery Bay but fewer in central Puget Sound.
Fun fact: Spot prawns are the largest shrimp in the Sound, occasionally reaching a length of 9 inches.
Between the lines: The fishery is managed by WDFW and Northwest Treaty Tribes, who have rights to half the harvestable population, per WDFW.
If you go: Know the rules and make sure you have a valid shellfish/seaweed license, which is required for all shrimpers age 15 and older. You can get one:
- Online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login;
- At a regional office;
- Or from hundreds of license vendors around the state.
- Seattle-area shrimpers should plan to arrive at boat launches several hours before the opening and be mindful of weather conditions and safe boating rules, said Gunnell.
Zoom in: WDFW recommends sturdy shrimp pots with 1-inch mesh (to target adult spot shrimp) and at least 400 feet of weighted line.
- Don't forget a yellow buoy with your name and address.
- Set your gear well away from ferry lanes — or risk having it confiscated.
Reality check: Can't catch your own? You can often find fresh or frozen spot shrimp at local seafood markets or occasionally directly from commercial fishers at marinas like Ballard's Fishermen's Terminal.
- Some farmers markets will also carry them in season.
What they're saying: Pike Place Fish Market has them for $39.99 a pound. Pricey but "they are super sweet and absolutely worth it," fishmonger Kobi Bynum told Axios.
- "Many Washingtonians, myself included, think spot shrimp is arguably the tastiest of all Pacific Northwest seafood," said Gunnell.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove incorrect information about when shrimp pots can be dropped in the water.