Back in October, we heard a rumor that crabbing guidelines would be changing in 2014, starting January 1. But since the crabbing season doesn't start until April 1, we had to do a little digging to find out exactly what was going on. We checked in with the Maryland DNR's Joe Evans to hear the whole story. From Joe: "

The new recreational crabbing regulations you asked about are now in effect. The notable change is that Maryland waterfront property owners, lessees or tenants must register their crab pots with DNR so that crab biologists and analysts can get a better indication of this crabbing activity. DNR needs this data in order to assess the harvest better. This registration is free of charge. Waterfront property owners, lessees, and tenants are the only recreational crabbers who may use crab pots. Commercial crabbers are prohibited from using crab pots in the tributaries. To put it another way, the waterfront property owners, tenants, and lessees are the only crabbers who have the privilege to use crab pots in these prohibited areas. The limit is two pots regardless of the number of owners, lessees, or tenants. Recreational crabbing regulations require a recreational crabbing license for anyone who uses the following gear or takes the following quantity of crabs in Chesapeake Bay and Chesapeake Bay tributaries:

  • Trotline
  • Collapsible crab traps
  • Net rings
  • Seines
  • Eel pots for own bait
  • More than 2 dozen with a limit of 1 bushel male hard crabs
  • More than 1 dozen with a limit of 2 dozen soft crabs or male peelers

Crabbing License Exemptions

You do not need a license if you are using the following gear or taking the following quantity:

  • Dip net
  • Handlines
  • No more than 2 dozen male hard crabs
  • No more than 1 dozen soft crabs and male peelers

A recreational crabbing license is not required in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries. The 2014 Maryland Fishing Guide is now available  in hard copy at DNR Service Centers and tackle shops. The digital flip version should be up in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, here is the 2014 Fishing Guide content of the Chesapeake and Chesapeake Tributary Recreational Crabbing Page:

Term

Crabbing licenses are valid from April 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.

2014 Licenses & Fees

Maryland Resident................................................................................................$5.00 Non-Resident.................................................................................................... $10.00 Maryland Resident who possesses a Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing License or a Resident Senior Consolidated Sport Fishing License.................................$2.00 Recreational Crab Boat License*..................................................................... $15.00 Waterfront Property Crab Pot Registration......................................................FREE An individual under 16 years of age may crab without a license in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and is  restricted to the same limits as an unlicensed crabber. *One individual license is issued to the individual who purchases this license.

Who Needs A Maryland Recreational Crabbing License?

Anyone who uses the following gear or takes the following quantity of crabs must possess a recreational crabbing license:

  • Trotline
  • Collapsible crab traps
  • Net rings
  • Seines
  • Eel pots for own bait
  • More than 2 dozen with a limit of 1 bushel male hard crabs
  • More than 1 dozen with a limit of 2 dozen soft crabs or male peelers

Crabbing License Exemptions

You do not need a license if you are using the following gear or taking the following quantity:

  • Dip net
  • Handlines
  • No more than 2 dozen male hard crabs
  • No more than 1 dozen soft crabs and male peelers

A recreational crabbing license is not required in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries.

Recreational Crab Pots

Registration An owner, lessee, or tenant of a private shoreline property may use a maximum of 2 crab pots regardless of the number of owners or lessees of the property. Crab pots must be registered with the department. The registration is free and it does NOT count as a recreational crabbing license. A license is not needed to use properly registered crab pots. Regulations

  • Crab pots must be set in front of the private property within 100 yards of the shore and either be attached by a line to the property or marked by a buoy or pole and sign.
  • Crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries must be marked with the owner’s DNRid.
  • Crab pots in the coastal bays and their tributaries must be marked with the owner’s name and address.

Private property crab pots set in the Atlantic

Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries do NOT need to be registered.

  • 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 panel 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 13⁄4 inches high by 43⁄4 inches long.