Can I Keep?Blue Crab Regulations by State (2026)
Recreational blue crab size limits, bag limits and seasons in 11 US coastal states, each from the state's fishery agency. Where a state has several rules, the first is shown; open the state for all of them.
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| State | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut (2 rules) | Minimum shell width (spike tip to spike tip): 5 inches - Hard shell | Daily creel limit: None | Open Season: May 1 - November 30 |
| Delaware | 5 in minimum | unlawful for any person to take in any 1 day more than 1 bushel of… | — |
| Florida | Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 10 gallons whole per harvester per day | — |
| Georgia | 5 in minimum | Recreational crabbers may take no more than one bushel of crabs… | Unless otherwise designated, the saltwaters of Georgia are open… |
| Maryland | — | A. Daily Catch and Possession Limits. (1) An individual exempt from… | C. A person may not catch blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its… |
| Massachusetts | 5 in shell width (spine to spine) | 25 per person | — |
| New Jersey | Peeler or Shedder – 3 inches; Soft – 3 ½ inches; Hard – 4 ½ inches | Recreational Limit = One Bushel | — |
| New York | Hard shell: 4 1/2"; Soft shell: 3 1/2"; Peeler/Shedder: 3" | 50 | All year |
| North Carolina (2 rules) | 5" Carapace Width | 50 Crabs/Day not to exceed 100 Crabs per Vessel per Day | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS from Jan 1-31 North of Highway 58 bridge |
| Rhode Island | 5 in minimum | 25 per person | — |
| South Carolina | Size Limit: 5-inch minimum carapace width (point to point) | Possession Limit: 1 US bushel per person per day and 2 US bushels per… | — |