Md. Code Regs. 08.02.03.10 - Recreational Crabbing Catch and Possession Limits - Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries

A. Daily Catch and Possession Limits.

(1) An individual exempt from the licensing requirements of Regulation .09 of this chapter is considered an unlicensed individual and may not exceed the catch and possession limits for an unlicensed individual.

(2) Daily catch and possession limits for individuals harvesting crabs from shore or from crab pots.

(a) Unlicensed individual	2 dozen male hard crabs	1 dozen soft crabs, 1 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 1 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(b) Licensed individual	1 bushel male hard crabs if storing crabs in a bushel 6 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs

(3) Daily catch and possession boat limits for a vessel without a recreational crabbing boat license.

(a) One unlicensed individual on board an unlicensed vessel	2 dozen male hard crabs	1 dozen soft crabs, 1 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 1 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(b) Two or more unlicensed individuals on board an unlicensed vessel	4 dozen male hard crabs	1 dozen soft crabs, 1 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 1 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(c) One licensed individual or one licensed individual accompanied by any number of unlicensed individuals on board an unlicensed vessel	1 bushel male hard crabs if storing crabs in a bushel 6 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(d) Two or more licensed individuals or two or more licensed individuals accompanied by any number of unlicensed individuals on board an unlicensed vessel	2 bushels male hard crabs if storing crabs in bushels 12 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs

(4) Daily catch and possession boat limits for a vessel with a recreational crabbing boat license.

(a) One or more unlicensed individuals on board a licensed vessel	1 bushel male hard crabs if storing crabs in a bushel 6 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(b) One licensed individual on board a licensed vessel	1 bushel male hard crabs if storing crabs in a bushel 6 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(c) An individual who purchased a recreational crabbing boat license accompanied by any number of unlicensed individuals on board a licensed vessel	1 bushel male hard crabs if storing crabs in a bushel 6 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs
(d) Two or more licensed individuals accompanied by any number of unlicensed individuals on board a licensed vessel	2 bushels male hard crabs if storing crabs in bushels 12 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs The catch limit is a bushel per licensed individual when using a bushel to hold male crabs. When not using a bushel the catch limit is 6 dozen male hard crabs per licensed individual.
(e) One licensed individual, who is not the owner of the licensed vessel, accompanied by any number of unlicensed individuals on board a licensed vessel	2 bushels male hard crabs if storing crabs in bushels 12 dozen male hard crabs if storing crabs in any container other than a bushel	2 dozen soft crabs, 2 dozen male peeler crabs, or a combination of 2 dozen soft crabs and male peeler crabs The catch limit is a bushel per licensed individual when using a bushel to hold male crabs. When not using a bushel the catch limit is 6 dozen male hard crabs per licensed individual.

B. Female Hard Crabs and Female Peelers.

(1) Except as provided in §B(2) of this regulation, an individual may not catch or possess female hard crabs or female peelers.

(2) Exception.

An individual may only possess female peeler or hard crabs if the:

(a) Female crabs are accompanied by a bill of sale; and

(b) Individual is not catching or attempting to catch crabs.

Notes

Md. Code Regs. 08.02.03.10

Regulation .10 repealed and new Regulation .10 adopted effective February 26, 2007 (34:4 Md. R. 399)
Regulation .10 amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2008 (35:13 Md. R. 1174); emergency status extended to December 16, 2008 (35:23 Md. R. 2011); emergency status expired December 16, 2008
Regulation .10 amended effective March 23, 2009 (36:6 Md. R. 488); January 1, 2014 (40:25 Md. R. 2067)
Regulation .10E amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 175); October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1345)
Regulation .10 amended effective 42:19 Md. R. 1228, eff.9/28/2015; amended effective 48:6 Md. R. 237, eff. 3/22/2021; amended effective 51:6 Md. R. 269, eff. 4/1/2024.