Recreational Crabbing Licenses & Crab Pot Registration
Licenses and Fees
Crabbing licenses and registrations are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase/registration.
Maryland Resident - $5
Non-Resident - $10
Maryland Resident who possesses a Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License or a Resident Senior Consolidated Sport Fishing License - $2
Recreational Crabbing Boat License* - $15
Waterfront Property Crab Pot Registration - Free
Who Needs A Maryland Recreational Crabbing License?
Anyone who uses the following gear:
- Collapsible crab traps
- Eel pots for own bait
- Net Rings
- Seines
- Trotline
Additionally, anyone who uses other legal gear to catch more than the following quantity of crabs:
- More than 24 with a limit of one bushel of male hard crabs
- More than 12 with a limit of 24 soft crabs or male peelers
Crabbing License Exemptions
You do not need a license if you are using the following gear:
- Handlines
- Dip nets
If you are crabbing without a license using license-exempt gear, you are still limited to the unlicensed crabber limits of no more than 24 male hard crabs and no more than 12 soft crabs or male peeler crabs.
You also do not need a license if you are:
- Assisting another individual who has a recreational crabbing license
- Crabbing from a boat that is displaying a recreational crabbing boat decal
Waterfront Property Crab Pot Registration
Registration - Annual
An owner, lessee, or tenant of a private shoreline property may use a maximum of two crab pots, regardless of the number of owners or lessees of the property, and must annually register 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; however, you are limited to the unlicensed crabber limits. See Blue Crabs—Atlantic for details.
Private property crab pots set in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays and their tributaries do NOT need to be registered, but must be marked with the owner's name and address.
A recreational crabbing license is not required in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries.
