Md. Code Regs. 08.02.03.11 - Season and Time for Catching Crabs
A.
Commercial.
(1) An individual licensed to catch
crabs for sale may remove crabs from commercial gear in the Chesapeake Bay and its
tidal tributaries only during the following time periods:
(a) Trotlines:
(i) Except as provided in §A(1)(a)(iii) of
this regulation, between 1 hour before sunrise to 9 hours after sunrise during the
period May through September;
(ii)
Between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 9-1/2 hours after sunrise during April, October,
November, and December; and
(iii)
Between 2 hours before sunrise to 9 hours after sunrise on Memorial Day, Juneteenth
National Independence Day, July 4, Labor Day, and the day immediately preceding each
of those holidays; and
(b)
Crab scrapes:
(i) Except as provided in
§A(1)(b)(iii) of this regulation, between 1 hour before sunrise to 9 hours
after sunrise during the period May through September;
(ii) Between sunrise and 10 hours after sunrise
during April and October; and
(iii)
Between 2 hours before sunrise to 9 hours after sunrise on Memorial Day, Juneteenth
National Independence Day, July 4, Labor Day, and the day immediately preceding each
of those holidays; and
(c)
Crab pots, bank traps, channel pounds, collapsible traps, net rings, handlines, dip
nets, and pound nets:
(i) Except as provided in
§A(1)(c)(ii) of this regulation, between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 7-1/2 hours
after sunrise; and
(ii) Between 1-1/2
hours before sunrise to 7-1/2 hours after sunrise on Memorial Day, Juneteenth
National Independence Day, July 4, Labor Day, and the day immediately preceding each
of those holidays.
(2) A person may not catch crabs using a crab
scrape from October 31 to April 14, inclusive.
(3) An individual licensed to catch crabs for sale
may set or place overboard scrapes only during the following time periods:
(a) Except as provided in §A(3)(c) of this
regulation, between 1 hour before sunrise to 9 hours after sunrise during the period
May through September;
(b) Between
sunrise and 10 hours after sunrise during April and October; and
(c) Between 2 hours before sunrise to 9 hours
after sunrise on Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, July 4, Labor
Day, and the day immediately preceding each of those holidays.
(4) Crab Pot Set Times. Crab pots may only be set:
(a) During the time periods established in
§A(1)(c) of this regulation; or
(b)
If already onboard a boat at the end of the time periods established in
§A(1)(c) of this regulation, for 1 hour after the end of the time periods
established in §A(1)(c) of this regulation.
(5) Time limits specified in this regulation are
not applicable to the fishing of bank traps before May 1.
B. Recreational.
(1) Except as provided in §B(2) of this
regulation, a person may not set any recreational crabbing gear or catch crabs for
recreational purposes during:
(a) May through
September between:
(i) 5 p.m. and 1/2 hour before
sunrise in the main Chesapeake Bay; and
(ii) Sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise in tidal
tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay; and
(b) April, October, November, and December between:
(i) 5 p.m. and 1/2 hour after sunrise in the main
Chesapeake Bay; and
(ii) Sunset and 1/2
hour after sunrise in tidal tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
(2) Crab pots, dip nets, and handlines.
At all times during the recreational season for crabbing, a person may use:
(a) Crab pots on private property that have been
registered in accordance with Regulation .09 of this chapter;
(b) Dip nets; or
(c) Handlines.
C. A person may not catch blue crabs in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries from December 16 through March 31,
inclusive.
Notes
Regulation .11A 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 .11A amended effective 40:25 Md. R. 2067, eff.
Regulation .11A, C amended effective March 23, 2009 (36:6 Md. R. 488); October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1590); amended effective 44:6 Md. R. 324, eff.
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