Blue Crab Regulations in Maryland (2026)

Recreational blue crab rules in Maryland saltwater, as published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Bag limit

A. Daily Catch and Possession Limits. (1) An individual exempt from…

Season

C. A person may not catch blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its…

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Recreational Blue Crab rules in Maryland

Where: Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries (bays & inshore)
Bag limit: 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. (a) Female crabs are accompanied by a bill of sale; and (b) Individual is not catching or attempting to catch crabs.
Season: C. A person may not catch blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries from December 16 through March 31, inclusive.

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.
(1) Except for crab pots from private property, dipnets, or handlines, a person may not set any crabbing gear or catch crabs for recreational purposes on Wednesdays in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. (2) When a State or federal holiday falls on a Wednesday or Thursday, recreational crabbing is permitted on the Wednesday of that week.
An individual may not catch or possess female hard crabs or female peelers (COMAR 08.02.03.10B).
Recreational crabbing license rules: COMAR 08.02.03.09. Size limits are not stated in this regulation.

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Quick answers

How many blue crab can I keep in Maryland?

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. (a) Female crabs are accompanied by a bill of sale; and (b) Individual is not catching or attempting to catch crabs..

When is blue crab season in Maryland?

C. A person may not catch blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries from December 16 through March 31, inclusive.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

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Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services. Most anglers need a Maryland saltwater license or registry: get one here.