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Maryland › Fishing › Blue Crabs—Atlantic

Blue Crabs—Atlantic

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and tributaries

Season

April 1–Dec. 31.

Harvest Restrictions

  • There are no license or registration requirements, but gear must be marked with owners name and address.
  • There are no time of day restrictions.
  • The taking of sponge crabs is prohibited.

Minimum Size Limits (measured from tip to tip of spikes)

  • Hard crabs—5 inches.
  • Soft crabs—3½ inches.
  • Peeler crabs
    • April 1–July 14—3¼ inches.
    • July 15–Dec. 31—3½ inches.
  • Mature female crabs—no minimum size.
Maryland blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) carapace width measurement guide, indicating a minimum legal size of 5 inches.
Maryland blue crab size regulations require a minimum carapace width of 5 inches for legal harvest. This measurement helps protect blue crab populations and supports sustainable crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay. Always check Maryland crabbing regulations before harvesting.

Recreational Crabbing Daily Catch Limits

The daily catch limit in the waters of the coastal bays of the Atlantic Ocean and their tidal tributaries is:

  • One bushel per person if using a bushel basket, 6 dozen if using a container other than a bushel basket.
  • Two bushels per boat if using a bushel basket or 12 dozen if using a container other than a bushel basket.

It is Legal

To crab in the coastal bays of Maryland’s Atlantic Ocean and coastal tributaries using:

  • No more than 600 feet of baited trotline, with floats of the same color, size and shape attached to each end; or
  • No more than two 600-foot trotlines if two or more persons are in the boat; or
  • Dip nets and any number of handlines; or
  • Seines with mesh no greater than 1/4" that do not exceed 50' in width and 5' in height that is emptied from shore, or
  • No more than 10 or a combination of 10 collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per person from docks, piers, bridges, boats or shoreline; or
  • No more than 25, or a combination of 25, collapsible crab traps or crab net rings, if two or more persons are in a boat.

For waterfront property owners to set a maximum of two crab pots at their property, provided that:

  • Pots are marked with the owner’s name and address or DNRid; and
  • Crab pots must have two 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 reduction 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.

Turtle Reduction Devices are Required By Law

Turtle reduction devices are required in recreational crab pots in Maryland. These devices reduce the number of terrapins entering a crab pot without hindering blue crab entry. Without turtle reduction devices, terrapins can enter crab pots and drown. For guidance on making or attaching a turtle reduction device, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Crab Pot Regulations page.

Step-by-step guide for installing a Turtle Reduction Device (TRD) on a crab pot to prevent turtle bycatch in Maryland waters. The instructions detail selecting a properly sized TRD, positioning it at the entrance funnel, and securely attaching it with zip ties or hog rings.
How to install a Turtle Reduction Device (TRD) on a crab pot to reduce turtle bycatch in Maryland waters. This step-by-step guide explains selecting the correct TRD size, positioning it at the funnel entrance, and securing it with zip ties or hog rings for effective installation. Using TRDs supports sustainable crabbing and protects Maryland's aquatic wildlife.
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