Section 220-56-335. Crab—Unlawful acts—Personal use.  


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  • (1) It is unlawful for any person to take or possess any female Dungeness crab for personal use.
    (2) It is unlawful to take or possess any male Dungeness crabs taken for personal use measuring less than the following caliper measurements:
    (a) In Puget Sound (all contiguous waters east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line) - 6 1/4 inch minimum size.
    (b) In coastal waters west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line, Pacific Ocean waters except when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay - 6 inch minimum size.
    (c) In the Columbia River upstream of a line from the outermost end of the north jetty to the exposed end of the south jetty, and when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River - 5 3/4 inch minimum size.
    (3) It is unlawful to take or possess any red rock crab taken for personal use that measure less than 5 inches. Either sex may be retained.
    (4) All crab measurements must be made at the widest part of the shell (caliper measurement) immediately in front of the points (tips).
    (5) It is unlawful to possess in the field any crab or crab parts without also retaining the back shell.
    (6) It is unlawful to possess soft-shelled crab for any personal use purpose. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.
    [Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-56-335, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-335, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; WSR 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-335, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. WSR 98-06-031, § 220-56-335, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-335, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; WSR 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-335, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; WSR 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-335, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; WSR 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-56-335, filed 4/26/88; WSR 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-335, filed 4/9/86; WSR 85-07-023 (Order 85-18), § 220-56-335, filed 3/13/85; WSR 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-335, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.]
RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-56-335, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-335, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; WSR 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-335, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. WSR 98-06-031, § 220-56-335, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-335, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; WSR 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-335, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; WSR 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-335, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; WSR 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-56-335, filed 4/26/88; WSR 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-335, filed 4/9/86; WSR 85-07-023 (Order 85-18), § 220-56-335, filed 3/13/85; WSR 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-335, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.