Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officer Al Esparza said results were spotty for shrimpers heading out from Cornet Bay Saturday morning on the opening weekend of the 2008 season and the weather was a definite factor.

Wet suits were the order of the day for many of the fishing folks and although the wind wasn’t blowing, a steady rain fell as shrimp pots were being set and hauled up.

“I’ve checked about 15 boats so far and we’ve had a few people bring in some, but most of it is pretty spotty out there,” Esparza said.

Despite the rain, it was a fairly good day for Charley Anderson from Bow and his fishing buddy, Stuart Ford from Anacortes, who had their sons, 6-year-old Haydn Anderson, and 5-year-old Ryan Ford, out on the ocean helping haul up the pots.

“We were out on the water for a couple of hours and we caught 30 or so of them,” Charley Anderson said. “Then the boys started getting a little sick, so we decided to

head back in.”

Despite being a little green around the gills from their adventure on the ocean chop, the younger Anderson and Ford were all smiles while nibbling on Cheetos and said they both had a good time as their fathers secured the boat at Cornet Bay Marina.

Robin Bennett, who said he was originally from Florida but is now stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, had better luck and proudly showed off the bucketfull he had hauled in.

“I got these up around Lopez Island, me and the 100 other boats that were up there,” he said. Bennett said he has been stationed at NAS Whidbey for 10 years and enjoys living here. “It was a little wet out there today, but it was worth it,” he said.

Shrimping wasn’t the only activity going on at Cornet Bay Saturday morning.

Connie Campbell from Aqua Trek Sea Kayaking Adventures based in Arlington had three clients she was instructing on the proper techniques before setting out on the water for Hope and Skagit islands from the new launch site at Cornet Bay.

“This is our first outing of the

year and we’ll be doing this all summer,” Campbell said. “The trips are a lot of fun and we are usually out on the water for about two-and-a-half hours before we come back.”

Shrimping is open Wednesdays through Saturdays in Marine Areas 7 and 8 until May 31 or until the spot shrimp quota is attained. The daily limit per person is 80 shrimp.

After the quota is attained, a portion of Area 7 and all of Area 8 area will be open for harvesting coonstripe and pink shrimp every day until Oct. 15.

For additional information, call the WDFW at 866-800-5431 or check the Web site at wdfw.wa.gov.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officer Al Esparza said results were spotty for shrimpers heading out from Cornet Bay Saturday morning on the opening weekend of the 2008 season and the weather was a definite factor.

Wet suits were the order of the day for many of the fishing folks and although the wind wasn’t blowing, a steady rain fell as shrimp pots were being set and hauled up.

“I’ve checked about 15 boats so far and we’ve had a few people bring in some, but most of it is pretty spotty out there,” Esparza said.

Despite the rain, it was a fairly good day for Charley Anderson from Bow and his fishing buddy, Stuart Ford from Anacortes, who had their sons, 6-year-old Haydn Anderson, and 5-year-old Ryan Ford, out on the ocean helping haul up the pots.

“We were out on the water for a couple of hours and we caught 30 or so of them,” Charley Anderson said. “Then the boys started getting a little sick, so we decided to

head back in.”

Despite being a little green around the gills from their adventure on the ocean chop, the younger Anderson and Ford were all smiles while nibbling on Cheetos and said they both had a good time as their fathers secured the boat at Cornet Bay Marina.

Robin Bennett, who said he was originally from Florida but is now stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, had better luck and proudly showed off the bucketfull he had hauled in.

“I got these up around Lopez Island, me and the 100 other boats that were up there,” he said. Bennett said he has been stationed at NAS Whidbey for 10 years and enjoys living here. “It was a little wet out there today, but it was worth it,” he said.

Shrimping wasn’t the only activity going on at Cornet Bay Saturday morning.

Connie Campbell from Aqua Trek Sea Kayaking Adventures based in Arlington had three clients she was instructing on the proper techniques before setting out on the water for Hope and Skagit islands from the new launch site at Cornet Bay.

“This is our first outing of the

year and we’ll be doing this all summer,” Campbell said. “The trips are a lot of fun and we are usually out on the water for about two-and-a-half hours before we come back.”

Shrimping is open Wednesdays through Saturdays in Marine Areas 7 and 8 until May 31 or until the spot shrimp quota is attained. The daily limit per person is 80 shrimp.

After the quota is attained, a portion of Area 7 and all of Area 8 area will be open for harvesting coonstripe and pink shrimp every day until Oct. 15.

For additional information, call the WDFW at 866-800-5431 or check the Web site at wdfw.wa.gov.