Recreational Lobster & Crab Regulations
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Recreational Lobster Regulations |
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Gulf of Maine Recreational Lobster Area |
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Minimum Size |
3-1⁄4“ |
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Maximum Size |
5“ |
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V-Notched Females – Definitions |
“Zero-Tolerance” – Illegal to harvest female with V-shaped notch of any size with or without setal hairs |
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Trap Limit |
10 Traps |
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Escape Vent |
One rectangular vent 11-5⁄16” x 5-3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2-7⁄16” in diameter |
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BagLimit |
15 per day |
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Outer Cape Cod Recreational Lobster Area |
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Minimum Size |
3-3⁄8“ |
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Maximum Size |
— |
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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 |
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Trap Limit |
10 Traps |
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Escape Vent |
One rectangular vent 2″ x 5-3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2 5⁄8” in diameter |
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Bag Limit |
15 per day |
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Southern New England Recreational Lobster Area |
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Minimum Size |
3-3⁄8“ |
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Maximum Size |
5-1⁄4“ |
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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 |
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Trap Limit |
10 Traps |
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Escape Vent |
One rectangular vent 2″ x 5-3⁄4” or two circular vents of 2-5⁄8” in diameter |
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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.
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Recreational Crab Regulations |
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Species |
Blue Crab |
Other Edible Crabs |
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Minimum Size |
5″ shell width (spine to spine) |
None |
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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 up to 25 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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