The Maryland crabbing season opens April 1st! Here are the crabbing regulations through December 15, when the season ends.
Time of Day Restrictions:
Rivers, creeks and tributaries: April and October through Dec. 15—one half hour after sunrise to sunset. May through September—one half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Chesapeake Bay Mainstem: April and October through Dec. 15—one half hour after sunrise to 5:00 p.m. May through September—one half hour before sunrise to 5:00 p.m. It is illegal to set or fish crabbing gear prior to or after the time restrictions. Using properly registered crab pots on private property, dip nets or handlines is permitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Day of the Week Restrictions:
No recreational crabbing is allowed on Wednesdays except: When using crab pots from private property; When using handlines or dip nets; During a week when a state or federal holiday falls on a Wednesday or Thursday.
Daily Creel and Possession Limits:
From shore, from unlicensed boat, or from waterfront crab pots.
Unlicensed individual: 2 dozen male hard crabs; 1 dozen male peelers, soft crabs, or combination
Licensed individual: 1 bushel male hard crabs; 2 dozen male peelers, soft crabs, or combination
Unlicensed Boat:
- With 1 unlicensed individual: 2 dozen male crabs.
- With 2 or more unlicensed individuals: 4 dozen male crabs.
- With 1 or more licensees and any number of unlicensed individuals: 1 bushel of male crabs.
Licensed Boat:
- With any number of licensed or unlicensed individuals: 1 bushel of male crabs.
Minimum Size Limits (Measured from tip to tip of spikes)
Male hard crab:
- April 1 to July 14—5 inches
- July 15 to December 15—5¼ inches
Male peeler crab:
- April 1 to July 14—3¼ inches
- July 15 to December 15—3½ inches
Soft crab:
- April 1 to December 15—3½ inches
It is illegal for a recreational crabber:
- To sell crabs.
- To possess an egg-bearing (sponge) crab or any female hard or peeler crab.
- To set or fish a trotline, collapsible trap or crab net ring within 100 feet of another individual’s set gear.
- To fish crab gear which belongs to another person.
- To harvest crabs while SCUBA diving.
- To use gear other than the gear listed.
Additional Crab Pot Rules:
- Crab pots must have 2 cull rings, one measuring at least 23⁄16 inches and one at least 25⁄16 inches located in the exterior side panel or the top panels of the pot.
- Crab pots must have a turtle excluder device attached to each entrance or funnel in the lower chamber constructed of wire or plastic, rectangular in shape not larger than 1¾ inches high by 4¾ inches long
Amount of Gear Allowed
