Crabbing SOMD
- Thread starter jackers
- Start date
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Did the law change?
I thought collapsible traps were against the rules in MD for recreational crabbers.
BUT if you have a LONG dip net, the dock on Webster Field is pretty good. Chicken necks on stings.. throw out 6 - 10 of them, and you can get a 1/2 bushel in an hour or two.
jackers
New Member
I am not sure what the law used to be, I only started crabbing in Maryland this year. You had me a little scared actually! But you can use 10 or fewer traps with just the tidal recreational license. Oh, and no using the traps at night.
http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/crab/bayreccrabsummary.asp
08.02.03.11
One of the guys I always see on base uses one of those super long nets and just walks around looking for the crabs swimming and then swoops them up. No bait, no traps, just his net. That's pretty cool actually!
I will definitely try Webster Field soon.
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itsbob
I bowl overhand
I haven't crabbed in a couple of year, but it used to be (I think) any sort of collapsible trap was not allowed other than the "rings" that don't work worth a damn.
Usually when they reference 11 or more traps they aren't talking about collapsible manually operated traps, but the crab pots.. At least that's the way I read it.
CobbWeb
New Member
Crabbing Regs
A Recreational Crabber Without A License May:
1. use any number of seines, dip nets, and handlines.
2. use not more than 10 or a combination of 10 collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per person.
3. set a maximum of 2 crab pots at their property that:
a. are attached by rope or line to the property or a privately owned pier or dock; or
b. are not more than 100 yards from the shore and marked with a buoy, pole or sign indicating the
owner’s name and address; and
c. have 2 cull rings, one measuring at least 2 3/16 inches and one at least 2 5/16 inches, located in the
exterior side panel or the top panel of the pot; and
d. have a turtle reduction device attached to each entrance or funnel in the lower chamber constructed of
wire or plastic, rectangular in shape with dimensions not larger than 1 ¾ inches high by 4 ¾ inches long.
A Recreational Crabber With A License May Use:
1. All of the gear listed in the section titled A Recreational Crabber Without A License May (see page 33);
2. up to 1200 feet per boat (regardless of the number of licensees on board) of trotline, with a float of the
same color, size, and shape attached to each end
3. up to 30 or a combination of 30 collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per licensee or per boat (regardless
of the number of licensees on board); and
4. up to 10 eel pots for catching your own crabbing bait. The pots must be labeled with the owner’s name not
in a buoy free channel.
A Recreational Crabber Without A License May:
1. use any number of seines, dip nets, and handlines.
2. use not more than 10 or a combination of 10 collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per person.
3. set a maximum of 2 crab pots at their property that:
a. are attached by rope or line to the property or a privately owned pier or dock; or
b. are not more than 100 yards from the shore and marked with a buoy, pole or sign indicating the
owner’s name and address; and
c. have 2 cull rings, one measuring at least 2 3/16 inches and one at least 2 5/16 inches, located in the
exterior side panel or the top panel of the pot; and
d. have a turtle reduction device attached to each entrance or funnel in the lower chamber constructed of
wire or plastic, rectangular in shape with dimensions not larger than 1 ¾ inches high by 4 ¾ inches long.
A Recreational Crabber With A License May Use:
1. All of the gear listed in the section titled A Recreational Crabber Without A License May (see page 33);
2. up to 1200 feet per boat (regardless of the number of licensees on board) of trotline, with a float of the
same color, size, and shape attached to each end
3. up to 30 or a combination of 30 collapsible crab traps or crab net rings per licensee or per boat (regardless
of the number of licensees on board); and
4. up to 10 eel pots for catching your own crabbing bait. The pots must be labeled with the owner’s name not
in a buoy free channel.
tipsymcgee
Active Member
you can catch up to two dozen crabs without a license, no females
racerwoody
New Member
seeing as I am just across the water from webster field, I'll have to try that dock.....Thanks for the tip. I've been eating them all my life, but haven't caught any.....Have a friend that's anxious to come and go out with me, so we'll try that spot when she comes. 
somdshootnet
New Member
That's how we used to do it, just walk around the pilings and scoop them off of the pilings scoop one up, another soon follows. Always had great luck at Benedict and St. George's just scooping and chicken neckin'
Crabs used to be 10-13" back then too LOL todays "big" crabs were our little bitty babies back in the day.
Anabaptist
New Member
Anyone tearing up crabs?
Anabaptist
New Member
I caught seven this morning at Wicomico Shores.
struggler44
A Salute to all on Watch
Anabaptist
New Member
5 more and you will have a dozen
Crabbing has improved, but it's really messed up that such a lousy catch is improved crabbing. When I was a child, chicken neckers easily got a bushel in a day.