Summary of 2002 Recreational Crab Regulations
For Coastal Bays of Maryland’s Atlantic Ocean and their Tributaries

click here for a summary of 2002 Recreational Crab Regulations for the Chesapeake Bay

Crab Season: April 1 to December 31

License: No license required.

Daily Time Restriction: None

Daily Catch Limit:
     One (1) bushel hard crabs per person, but not more than two (2) bushels if two (2) or more persons are on a boat.

IT SHALL BE LAWFUL:

  1. To crab in the Coastal Bays of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and their tributaries using:
    1. not more than 600 feet of baited trotline, with a float of the same color, size, and shape attached to each end; or
    2. not more than two (2) 600 foot trotlines if two (2) or more persons are in the boat; or
    3. dip nets and any number of handlines; and
    4. not more than ten (10) or a combination of ten (10) collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per person from docks, piers, bridges, boats, or shorelines; or
    5. not more than twenty-five (25) or a combination of twenty-five (25) collapsible crab traps or crab net rings, if two or more persons are in the boat.
  2. For waterfront property owners to set a maximum of two (2) crab pots at their property:
    1. attached by rope or line to the property or a privately owner pier or dock; or
    2. attached to a pole in front of their property, not more than one hundred (100) yards from the shore and marked with a sign not less than six (6) inches in height indicating the owner's name and address; and
    3. are required by law to have one (1) 2 5/16-inches cull ring on a side panel of the upper compartment and one (1) 2 5/16-inches cull ring on the lower compartment; and
    4. are required by law to have a “turtle reduction device” attached to each entrance or funnel in the lower chamber constructed of wire or plastic, rectangle in shape with dimension not larger than 1 3/4-inches by 4 3/4-inches.

updated ... March 12, 2002