Several Puget Sound marine areas will reopen for recreational crab fishing Wednesday.

“Crab harvest data reported on Catch Record Cards (CRC) from the summer season plays a critical role in determining both the areas and duration of winter crabbing seasons,” state Department of Fish and Wildlife Crustacean Program Leader Katelyn Bosley said in a news release. “This data is also important for assessing the crab population. Luckily, early catch reports indicate a productive summer fishery in many marine areas.”

Local waters reopening to sport crabbing seven days a week Wednesday through Dec. 31 include Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait, Port Angeles Harbor, Discovery Bay); Marine Area 7 North (San Juan Islands); Marine Area 7 South (San Juan Islands); Marine Area 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay); Marine Area 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner); and Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet).

Fish and Wildlife reminds sport crabbers that setting or pulling traps from a vessel is only allowed from one hour before official sunrise through one hour after official sunset.

The daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crabs, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 1/4 inches. Crabbers may also keep six red rock crabs of either sex per day with a minimum carapace width of 5 inches, and six Tanner crabs of either sex with a minimum carapace of 4 1/2 inches.

All recreational crabbers 16 years or older must carry a state fishing license. Options range from an annual shellfish/seaweed license to combination fishing licenses, valid for a single day or up to a year.

Crabbers can still report summer catches until Oct. 1 either online or by mail. By reporting their catch, crabbers can help ensure more accurate harvest estimates and help with the setting of future crabbing seasons.

Crabbers must have a Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement to harvest Dungeness crab from Puget Sound.

All Dungeness crab caught in the late-season recreational fishery must be recorded immediately on winter catch record cards, which are for crabs caught through Dec. 31.

Winter catch record cards are free to those with crab endorsements and are available at license vendors throughout the state. Winter catch reports are due Feb. 1.