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Recreational Lobster & Crab Regulations

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Recreational Lobster Regulations
Gulf of Maine Recreational Lobster Area
Minimum Size	3 1/4“
Maximum Size	5“
V-Notched Females – Definitions	“Zero-Tolerance” – Illegal to harvest female with V-shaped notch of any size with or without setal hairs
Trap Limit	10 Traps
Escape Vent	One rectangular vent 11 5⁄16“ x 5 3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2 7⁄16” in diameter
Bag Limit	15 per day
Outer Cape Cod Recreational Lobster Area
Minimum Size	3 3⁄8“
Maximum Size	—
V-Notched Females – Definitions	Illegal to harvest female with notch or indentation in base of flipper at least 1⁄4” deep and tapering to sharp point without setal hairs
Trap Limit	10 Traps
Escape Vent	One rectangular vent 2″ x 5 3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2 5⁄8” in diameter
Bag Limit	15 per day
Southern New England Recreational Lobster Area
Minimum Size	3 3⁄8“
Maximum Size	5 1⁄4“
V-Notched Females – Definitions	Illegal to harvest female with notch or indentation in base of flipper at least 1⁄8” deep with or without setal hairs
Trap Limit	10 Traps
Escape Vent	One rectangular vent 2″ x 5 3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2 5⁄8” in diameter
Bag Limit	15 per day

Taking Lobster at Night is Prohibited

Lobster may only be harvested from 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset.

Egg-Bearing Females

It is unlawful to take or possess any egg-bearing female lobster.

It is unlawful to land or possess any lobster:

1. from which eggs have been removed, or…

2. that has come in contact with any substance capable of removing lobster eggs.

Recreational Crab Regulations
Species	Blue Crab	Other Edible Crabs (excludes Green Crabs)
Minimum Size	5″ shell width (spine to spine)	None
Other Regulations	Egg-bearers cannot be taken; 25 crabs/day; no permit required unless using traps or SCUBA; closed season is Jan. 1 – Apr. 30, inclusive	50 crabs total per day (including blue) – other regulations are the same as for blue crab

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.

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This is not the full law. Consult the Division of Marine Fishieries for further details. All persons are reminded that the statutes, code and regulations are the legal authorities.

J.F. Griffin Media reaches 9,000,000 sportsmen every year through our print and digital publications. We produce 30 hunting and fishing regulation guides for 15 state agencies. For advertising information, please visit: www.jfgriffin.com