Winter crab reporting and new on-line system

[Larry3215]

Got this email today. The new system isnt working for me. I cant get logged on or create a new account. Its also kind of stupid. The Create a new account option is only for those who have never had a fishing license before??? Its not done very well at all.

December 23, 2016
Contact: Don Velasquez, (425) 775-1311, ext. 112

Puget Sound sport crabbing to close Dec. 31;
new online system opens for reporting

OLYMPIA – Puget Sound marine areas currently open for recreational winter crabbing will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, after which all sport crabbers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in the Sound will have through Feb. 1 to report their winter results.

Crabbers who plan to report their catch online should be aware of some changes to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) online system, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy lead for the department.

"Crabbers should be prepared to take a few extra minutes to navigate our new online system," Childers said. "Crab reporting is not only required but is essential to managing our crab fisheries."

To report online, crabbers will need to establish an online account by creating a user name and password and providing an email address. Individuals can use these accounts for a variety of purposes, including crab reporting and purchasing hunting and fishing licenses.

Anyone who has a question about the online system can contact WDFW's Licensing Division at (360) 902-2464 or licensing@dfw.wa.gov

The online reporting system will be available Jan. 1 through Feb. 1 at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Crabbers also may send their catch record cards to WDFW by mail at WDFW CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

State fishing rules require that all sport crabbers with winter catch record cards submit catch reports for the winter season to WDFW by Feb. 1 – even if they did not catch any crab. Sport crabbers should be aware that if they fail to submit a winter catch report, they will receive a $10 fine when they purchase their 2017 crab endorsement.

After Dec. 31, all Puget Sound marine areas will be closed to recreational crabbing until summer 2017.

[Larry3215]

Ok, it worked the third time.

Turns out if you have ever purchased a license before, you need to go to the "ID" tab and sign in that way. It will then ask you to create a Log-on name and password. Not clearly spelled out on how to do that.

[Amx]

Oh well, I prefer to go to the fishing store and buy mine. Don't have to sweat it while waiting for it to come in the mail like some here have to do, and not have their license show up.

[Larry3215]

Its time to send in winter crab reports or post them on-line. I couldnt remember for sure if I bought a winter crab card or not and its way too cold to go out to the boat and dig around for my license.

Turns out you can now look up everything you have ever bought from WDFW on the new website. No more looking for lost papers or wondering.

Its actually a pretty cool setup.

[riverhunter]

The biggest problem is that I now cannot submit my daughters catch card as she is only 6 years old and I don't feel like making two accounts for the same household. This is ridiculous. Years prior I was able to submit hers and mine now I will still have to mail hers in.

[Larry3215]

I do all my grand kids stuff for them as far as licensing, but its all in their names of course.

I can see why they do that though. If there are different names on the licenses, then you would need different accounts. Is this really any different than it was before? You had to log on in his name to do it on-line before, same as now.

I dont think they ever did "family" licenses did they?

[riverhunter]

No they do not do family licenses but before all I needed was her doc Id # and I was able to submit without creating a new account. I now know that it will be easier to fill out an envelope instead of wasting my time with creating 2 or more accounts and trying to keep track of them all. I have a mail drop box at my work anyways and I was just stating how it is frustrating that I won't be able submit hers online. Also when I go get her license at the store it pops up with mine as a group purchase

[Larry3215]

I see your point, but I feel just the opposite. The new system seems easier and a lot faster to me now. All I need to do is to write down a user name and password and save it with all my 244 other user names and passwords

It was more work to me to go find the license - who knows where the kid left it. He sure doesnt remember - and type in all those Document numbers, find the kids SSN, etc to log on. Or, get an envelope, stamp, fill out addresses etc, then go mail it. Sounds like its easier for you with a 6 yr old, but my 15 yr old goes off to fish with his dad and who knows where stuff ends up.

Now I can copy paste his user name and password or better yet, let my browser remember the log-on info so its automatic.
It takes about 1/10th the time with this new system and costs nothing and I can still do it even if he flushed everything down the toilet. Plus now you have the full record of everything all in one place.