High catch rates by recreational shrimpers in the Discovery Bay district has prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to close the season Friday.

Officials said shrimpers hit their annual quotas in just two days, so the season will not continue for a third day as originally planned.

The closed area includes a portion of Marine Area 6 located south of a line from McCurdy Point on the Quimper Peninsula to the northern tip of Protection Island, then to Rocky Point on the Miller Peninsula.

Fish and Wildlife officials said shrimp fishers who are looking to harvest spot shrimp have several other areas to fish through the end, at least.

Those include:

• Marine Area 4: Open daily during daylight hours until the recreational spot shrimp season closes when the quota is met.

• Marine Area 5: (Western Strait of Juan de Fuca), open daily during daylight hours until the recreational spot shrimp season closes when the quota is met.

• Marine Area 6: (Port Angeles Harbor, eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District), open Thursdays through Sundays each week until quota is met; daylight hours.

• Marine Area 7 South (Iceberg Point, Point Colville, Biz Point, Salmon Bank), open June 26, June 28 and June 30; daylight hours.

• Marine Area 7 East (northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia islands, Strait of Georgia), open June 26, June 28 and June 30; daylight hours.

• Marine Area 7 West (San Juan Channel, Speiden Channel, Stuart and Waldron islands), open Thursdays through Sundays each week until quota is met; daylight hours.

• Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal Shrimp District), open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 26, and June 28 and July 15, and July 28.

The daily limit is 10 pounds of all shrimp with a maximum of 80 spot shrimp for all areas except Marine Area 6 (outside Discovery Bay). The daily limit in Marine Area 6 (outside Discovery Bay) is 10 pounds of shrimp with a maximum of 120 spot shrimp.

Department of Fish and Wildlife remind shrimpers that traps can be set one hour before official sunrise during any open period in the marine areas without specified harvest hours. These include Marine Areas 4, 5, 6 (outside Discovery Bay), 7 East, 7 South, and 7 West.

The pots must be removed from the water in these same areas by one hour after sunset at the end of an open period.

A valid 2020-21 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery.