Blue crab (peeler and soft crabs) Regulations in Virginia (2026)

Where

All waters

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

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