Send in the crabs.

The recreational crab harvest will open Monday in Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal), more than two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.

Recent tests found crab in the Canal to be in hard-shell condition, allowing for an early start to the season, the state department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release this week.

Crabbing in Hood Canal will be allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week, and will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

So the season will kick off with a one-day opening Monday, close for two days and then reopen for the first installment of its weekly schedule next Thursday through Monday, June 18-22.

The Hood Canal crab fishing season will be open through Sept. 7.

The North Olympic Peninsula’s coast — Marine Area 3 (LaPush) and the portion of Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) West of the Tatoosh-Bonilla line — are already open to the crab harvest.

Crabbing on the Strait of Juan de Fuca is scheduled to begin Thursday, July 2, in Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay, West of the Tatoosh-Bonilla line), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (Port Angeles and Sequim) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet).

Any changes to the opening dates of those areas will be announced in advance by the state.

Current seasons for the crab harvest are posted on the state’s crab fishing website at www.tinyurl.com/pdn-crabby.

The website includes details on fishing regulations, as well as an educational video on crabbing.

The daily limit for crab harvesters throughout on the Strait of Juan de Fuca is five male Dungeness crab in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches.

On the coast, the limit is six males in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 inches.

All Dungeness females, males in soft-shell condition and undersized crabs must be release.

The rules for red rock crab are the same in each of the Peninsula’s marine areas.

Six red rock crab of either sex per day may be harvested as long as they measure at least 5 inches across. Soft-shell red rock crabs must be released.

Setting or pulling shellfish gear from a vessel one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise is prohibited.

All gear must be removed from the water on closed days.

The state reminds crabbers that they are required to record their harvest of Dungeness crab on catch record cards immediately after retaining crab.

Long day on the trails

The Peninsula Trails Coalition’s sixth annual Longest Day of Trails is Saturday, June 20.

The event celebrates the Summer Solstice with a 5K, 10K and half-marathon, which start and finish at the Port Townsend Boat Haven at 9 p.m.

Longest Day of Trails is a fundraiser for the promotion and completion of the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Townsend and the Pacific Ocean.

The cost is $25 for each of the distances for those who register by Thursday, June 18. Register online at www.tinyurl.com/pdn-LongDay.

Day-of-race registration is $30.

Finishers will receive their choice of either running socks or a running hat.

For more information, visit www.peninsulatrailscoalition.org, or contact Jeff Selby, vice president of Jefferson County Peninsula Trails Coalition, at 360-531-2370 or SelbyJL44@gmail.com.

________

Sports Editor Lee Horton is filling in for Michael Carman. He can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.