Most areas of Puget Sound closed to recreational crab fishing after Sept. 2, which means for crabbers, it’s time to submit their Puget Sound Dungeness crab summer catch record cards.

The only two areas still open for recreational crabbing are Marine Area 7 South (San Juan Islands/Bellingham) and Marine Area 7 North (Gulf of Georgia). Both areas are open to crabbing Thursdays to Mondays only through Sept. 30. All crab caught after Sept. 2 must be recorded on winter catch record cards.

Anyone licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound has through Oct. 1 to submit their summer catch report to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for crab harvested from July through Labor Day weekend.

“Remember, even if you didn’t attempt crabbing or harvest any Dungeness crab from Puget Sound this summer, reporting your catch is required and important to identify and manage future opportunities,” said Don Velasquez, WDFW crustacean biologist. “When fewer people report their catch, WDFW must devote more resources to sample the non-reporters and estimate how many were harvested by that group. When more people report their catch, resources can be used elsewhere and confidence in the estimated harvest improves.”

Summer catch record cards can be submitted by mail to WDFW at CRC Unit, P.O. Box 43142, Olympia, WA 98504-3142. Crabbers can also report their summer catch through WDFW’s online licensing system between Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. Crabbers who fail to file their catch reports on time face a $10 fine when purchasing a 2025 Puget Sound crab endorsement.