I going to Hood Canal For the frist time for shrimp Where would be the best place to launch.

Edmonds, if you are anywhere north of Seattle, or Port Townsend if you are south of Seattle.

Otherwise, there are a few ramps on the Canal itself, but there will be 1,000,000 gomers all trying to launch Saturday morning to go get their 80 shrimp. You will wait in line for hours, and miss half of the opener, unless you get to the ramp looooong before the fishery opens. Then, when you want to retrieve, you will meander around for a couple more hours waiting for your tow rig to get through the queue.

DAMHIKT.

I am well and truly amazed that so many people spend so much time and $$, for a few pounds of shrimp meat. You can't even crab or fish while you're waiting. The shrimp don't put up much of a fight, so there's not a lot of sport in it. Maybe spot shrimp are loaded with Viagra or Rogaine :p .

I think there are few undeveloped launches that will remain unnamed so they don't become crowded as well.

Finegrain.....I have this theory although I don't know if its true. I personally think lots of folks haven't been out on the salt all winter (not BM fisherman) and are anxious to get out. Shrimping is one of the first convenient excuses to take the boat out. I've noticed the same with summer salmon fishing. There will often be huge crowds when the seasons open even though the peak of the run is weeks away. A little later in the season as the crowds thin the fishing gets good. Just a theory....