Blue crab (hard crabs) Regulations in Virginia (2026)

Recreational blue crab (hard crabs) rules in Virginia saltwater, as published by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Size limit

5 in minimum

Bag limit

All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2…

Season

Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 - December 19 | Licensed 3-5 crab pots…

Can I keep it today? Check your harbor & date

Recreational Blue crab (hard crabs) rules in Virginia

Where: All waters
Size limit: (As measured from tip-to-tip of the longest spikes) Hard Crabs Male 5 inches Code 28.2-708; Immature female 5 inches; Mature female No size limit
Bag limit: All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2 dozen peeler crabs per person per day.
Season: Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 - December 19 | Licensed 3-5 crab pots: June 1 - September 15 | Crab trotline or pound/trap: April 15 - October 15 | Hand line, collapsible recreational traps, cast net: All year

[ 4VAC20-670-40 ]. Other Crabbing and Crab Gear Regulations It is illegal to: • Use more than 5 crab pots per licensee recreationally [ 4VAC20-670-30 ]. • Fish 3-5 pots with the 5 pot license on Sundays [ 4VAC20-670-30 ] • Crab recreationally within Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary Area 1A from June 1 through September 15, in Sanctuary Area 1B from May 16 through September 15, and in Sanctuary Area 3 from May 9 through September 15.
For GPS coordinates of the sanctuaries, see 4VAC20-752 { MAP }. A recreational crab pot must have at least two unobstructed cull rings at least 2 3/8 inches inside diameter cull rings located one each in opposite exterior side panels of the upper chamber of the pot [ 4VAC20-700-20 ]. On the seaside of Accomack & Northampton Counties, each pot must have two cull rings: one cull ring at least 2 5/16 inches inside diameter and another at least 2 3/16 inches inside diameter located one each in opposite exterior side panels of the upper chamber of the pot [ 4VAC20-700-20 ]. Each crab pound/trap must have at least four unobstructed cull rings of at least 1 1/2 inch inside diameter, located two each under water in the lower portion of two opposite side panels (perpendicular to the shoreline) of the retention box [ 4VAC20-460-50 ]. Any law or regulation applying to the setting or fishing of crab pound/traps or crab trot lines shall also apply when those gears are set or fished for recreational purposes [ 4VAC20-670-30 ]. For more information on Recreational Use of Commercial Gear, see 4VAC20-670-10.
Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licenses may only be purchased from DWR. (Purchase license HERE or see more license info HERE ) Seasons Up to 2 crab pots March 17 - December 19 Licensed 3-5 crab pots June 1 - September 15 Crab trotline or pound/trap April 15 - October 15 Hand line, collapsible recreational traps, cast net All year It is unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish or knowingly leave any hard crab pot or peeler pot in any Virginia tidal waters from December 1 through March 16.
Size Limits (As measured from tip-to-tip of the longest spikes) Hard Crabs Male 5 inches Code 28.2-708 Immature female 5 inches Mature female No size limit Peeler Crabs March 17-July 15 3.25 inches 4VAC20-270-55 July 16-November 30 3.5 inches Seaside Eastern Shore 3.25 inches Softshell Crabs 3.5 inches Male "Jimmy": Washington Monument Female "Sook": US Capitol Sponge Crabs From March 17 through June 15, you can only keep bright orange sponge crabs (1-5 above).
[ 4VAC20-670-40 ]. Other Crabbing and Crab Gear Regulations It is illegal to: • Use more than 5 crab pots per licensee recreationally [ 4VAC20-670-30 ]. • Fish 3-5 pots with the 5 pot license on Sundays [ 4VAC20-670-30 ] • Crab recreationally within Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary Area 1A from June 1 through September 15, in Sanctuary Area 1B from May 16 through September 15, and in Sanctuary Area 3 from May 9 through September 15.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule

Where: Hard crab pot fishery (all waters)
Bag limit: B. From July 5, 2026, through October 31, 2026, and May 16, 2027, through July 4, 2027, any commercial fisherman registration licensee legally licensed for any hard crab pot license, as described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits for any of the following hard crab pot license categories: 1. 10 bushels, or three barrels and one bushel, of crabs if licensed for up to 85 crab pots. 2. 14 bushels, or four barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 127 crab pots. 3. 18 bushels, or six barrels, of crabs if licensed for up to 170 crab pots. 4. 29 bushels, or nine barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 255 crab pots. 5. 47 bushels, or 15 barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 425 crab pots. C. From November 1, 2026, through December 19, 2026, and March 17, 2027, through May 15, 2027, any commercial fisherman registration licensee legally licensed for any hard crab pot license, as described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits for any of the following crab pot license categories: 1. Eight bushels, or two barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 85 crab pots. 2. 11 bushels, or three barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 127 crab pots. 3. 14 bushels, or four barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 170 crab pots. 4. 22 bushels, or seven barrels and one bushel, of crabs if licensed for up to 255 crab pots. 5. 36 bushels, or 12 barrels, of crabs if licensed for up to 425 crab pots. D. When a single harvester or multiple harvesters are on board any vessel, that vessel's daily harvest and possession limit shall be equal to only one daily harvest and possession limit, as described in subsections B and C of this section, and that daily limit shall correspond to the highest harvest and possession limit of only one licensee on board that vessel.
Season: A. In 2026, the lawful season for the commercial harvest of crabs by hard crab pot shall be March 17 through December 19. In 2027, the lawful season for the commercial harvest of crabs by hard crab pot shall be March 17 through November 30.

B. The lawful hard crab pot license categories and hard crab pot limits are as follows: 1. Up to 85 crab pots. 2. Up to 127 crab pots. 3. Up to 170 crab pots. 4. Up to 255 crab pots. 5. Up to 425 crab pots.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person licensed to catch and sell crabs taken by hard crab pot or peeler pot to take and harvest crabs from any hard crab pot or peeler pot, or to retrieve, bait, or set any hard crab pot or peeler pot, except between 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the lawful season as described in 4VAC20-270-40 A.
It shall be unlawful to possess or sell crabs harvested for commercial purposes by any means other than by hard crab pot, peeler pot, dip net, ordinary or patent trotline, crab dredge, crab scrape, or crab trap or pound.
It shall be unlawful to take or harvest crabs for commercial purposes on Sunday.
For all other lawful commercial gear used to harvest crabs, as described in 4VAC20-1040 , the lawful seasons for the harvest of crabs shall be April 15 through October 15.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly place, set, fish, or leave any hard crab pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 20, 2026, through March 16, 2027.

Official source

Quick answers

What is the blue crab (hard crabs) size limit in Virginia?

(As measured from tip-to-tip of the longest spikes) Hard Crabs Male 5 inches Code 28.2-708; Immature female 5 inches; Mature female No size limit.

How many blue crab (hard crabs) can I keep in Virginia?

All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2 dozen peeler crabs per person per day..

When is blue crab (hard crabs) season in Virginia?

Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 - December 19 | Licensed 3-5 crab pots: June 1 - September 15 | Crab trotline or pound/trap: April 15 - October 15 | Hand line, collapsible recreational traps, cast net: All year. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

More crabs, lobster & shrimp in Virginia

All Virginia saltwater fishing regulations →

Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Most anglers need a Virginia saltwater license or registry: get one here.