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Recreational Crabbing Regulations
|
APRIL 1 - JULY 14 |
JULY 15 - DECEMBER 15 |
5 " Male Hard |
5 1/4" Male Hard |
3 1/4" Male Peeler |
3 1/2" Male Peeler |
- The minimum size for soft crab is 3 1/2 inches during the entire season.
- INDIVIDUAL CRABBING
- A license is required of an individual who uses the following gear or takes the following quantity of crabs:
- Trotline (1200 feet of baited line maximum allowed) floats must be the same size, color and shape
- 11 to 30 traps or rings or combination of traps and rings
- Up to 10 eel pots for own bait
- More than 2 dozen with a limit of 1 bushel of hard crabs
- More than 1 dozen with a limit of 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers
- A license is NOT required of an individual who uses only the following gear and takes the following quantity of crabs:
- 10 or fewer traps and rings or combination of traps and rings
- dipnets
- handlines
- Seine less than 50 ft in length
- No more than 2 dozen hard crabs
- No more than 1 dozen soft crabs or peelers
- OWNER OF PRIVATE SHORELINE PROPERTY
- Creel limits vary depending on whether the crabber is licensed or not.
- 2 crab pots from a private property or pier or within 100 yards of shore and attached by line, marked with owner's name and address
- Two cull rings required in exterior side panels or the top panel of the crab pot
- One measuring at least 2 3/16"
- One measuring at least 2 5/16"
- Turtle Reduction Device no larger than 1 3/4" x 4 3/4"
- CRABBING FROM A BOAT
- The owner of the licensed recreational crabbing boat is also issued a complementary statewide Individual Recreational Crabbing License
- CRABBING GEAR
- If the boat is licensed for recreational crabbing with the Recreational Crabbing Boat License or at least one person in the boat possesses an individual recreational crabbing license:
- Trotline (1200 feet of baited line maximum allowed) floats must be the same size, color and shape
- Maximum 30 crab traps or rings
- Handlines
- Dipnets
- CATCH LIMITS FOR A LICENSED BOAT:
- Without any persons in the licensed boat who also possess an Individual Recreational Crabbing License;
- 1 bushel of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- Owner of the licensed boat in the boat with unlicensed crabbers;
- 1 bushel of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- Two or more individuals are on the licensed boat and one individual is licensed (not the boat owner);
- 2 bushels of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- If 2 or more licensed persons are in the licensed boat;
- 2 bushels of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- Without any persons in the licensed boat who also possess an Individual Recreational Crabbing License;
- CATCH LIMITS FOR AN UNLICENSED BOAT:
- Without any licensed persons in the unlicensed boat;
- 4 dozen hard crabs
- 1 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- One licensed crabber in the unlicensed boat alone or with unlicensed crabbers;
- 1 bushel of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- If 2 or more licensed persons in the unlicensed boat;
- 2 bushels of hard crabs
- 2 dozen soft crabs or peelers or combination of soft crab/peelers
- Special Note: A person less than 16 years of age is exempted from needing a license but, unless they purchase a crabbing license, they are restricted to the same limits as an unlicensed crabber.
- Without any licensed persons in the unlicensed boat;
- A license is required of an individual who uses the following gear or takes the following quantity of crabs:
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