Blue crab Regulations in New York (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

Hard shell: 4 1/2"; Soft shell: 3 1/2"; Peeler/Shedder: 3"

Bag limit

50

Season

All year

• Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDs) must be used on all non-collapsible crab pots or traps that are fished in creeks, coves, rivers, tributaries, and near-shore harbors of the Marine and Coastal District. TEDs shall be securely fastened inside each funnel entrance of the crab pot to effectively reduce the size of the funnel opening to no larger than 4-3/4 inch by 1-3/4 inch.
• Lobsters and crabs with eggs may not be taken or possessed.
• Peeler/shredder is when the crab is about to molt or shed its hard outer shell. At this stage, the crab has a fully formed soft shell beneath the hard outer shell. The impending shedding process is evident by the white coloration along the outer rim of the paddle-like appendages on the crab's fifth pair of legs.
• State law limits recreational take to no more than 50 crabs of any single species or combination of species may be harvested per person per day. At no time may a person be in possession of more than the daily recreational limit of five horseshoe crabs.
• Regulations were last changed on May 11, 2022 and are subject to change at any time.

Official source