Recreational crabbing hand trap method of crabbing.

Recreational Crabbing Regulations
in Delaware & Maryland


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Recreational Crabbing Summary for the Chesapeake Bay & Tributaries

FEMALE HARVEST IS PROHIBITED

SEASON: April 1 - December 15
  • The current license structure and fees are:
    • $5 for a resident
    • $10 for a non-resident
    • $15 Resident Recreational Crabbing Boat
    • $2 with an Adjoining Sportfishing License
  • The $50 Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing Decal is NOT valid as a Recreational Crabbing Boat License (though the purchaser of this decal is given one complimentary individual recreational crabbing license).
  • Female Harvest is prohibited except soft crabs.
  • Recreational crabbers may set recreational crabbing gear and crab from boats:
    • during Apr, Oct, Nov and Dec
      • between 1/2 hour after sunrise to 5:00 PM main Bay
      • between 1/2 hour after sunrise to sunset in tributaries
    • during May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sept
      • between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 5:00PM in the main Bay
      • between 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset in the tributaries of the Bay
  • Recreational crabbers may not set recreational crabbing gear or crab from boats on Wednesdays except pots from private piers, dipnets or handlines.
  • Recreational crabbers may not set a trotline, traps/rings within 100 feet of another individual's trotline.
  • Minimum Size (Female Harvest Prohibited):
    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
    • 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.

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