SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Crab regulations in Maryland
Crabs · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Blue Crab size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay & tidal tributaries | April 1 – December 15 | 5 inch minimum (April 1 – July 14); 5.25 inch minimum (July 15 – December 15) | 2 dozen males per person (unlicensed); 1 bushel or 6 dozen (licensed); females prohibited |
| Atlantic Ocean & coastal bays | April 1 – December 31 | 5 inch minimum | 1 bushel (6 dozen) per person, 2 bushels (12 dozen) per boat |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' size/limit (Atlantic zone row is blank). Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/blue-crabs-atlantic
- Recreational crabbers may not keep any female crab in Maryland Chesapeake waters. Hours: ½ hour before/after sunrise to sunset (5 p.m. in the Bay mainstem).
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- April 1 – December 15; no recreational crabbing on Wednesdays (except handlines, dip nets, private-property pots, holiday weeks)
- Size
- Male hard crab 5 inches Apr 1–Jul 14, 5¼ inches Jul 15–Dec 15; male peeler 3¼ in then 3½ in; soft crab 3½ inches
- Limit
- Unlicensed: 2 dozen male hard crabs per person (1 dozen peelers/soft); licensed: 1 bushel or 6 dozen; boat limits 2–4 dozen unlicensed, 1 bushel licensed
- Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries — as printed
- “Minimum Size Limits (measured from tip to tip of spikes) — Male hard crab: April 1–July 14—5 inches. July 15–Dec. 15—5¼ inches. Male peeler crab: April 1–July 14—3¼ inches. July 15–Dec. 15—3½ inches. Soft crab: April 1–Dec. 15—3½ inches. It is Illegal for a Recreational Crabber: To possess an egg-bearing (sponge) crab or any female hard or peeler crab. Unlicensed Individual: 2 dozen male hard crabs; Licensed Individual: 1 bushel or 6 dozen if using a container other than a bushel basket.”
- Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and tributaries — as printed
- “Season April 1–Dec. 31. Hard crabs—5 inches. Soft crabs—3½ inches. Peeler crabs April 1–July 14—3¼ inches, July 15–Dec. 31—3½ inches. Mature female crabs—no minimum size. The taking of sponge crabs is prohibited. One bushel per person if using a bushel basket, 6 dozen if using a container other than a bushel basket; two bushels per boat.”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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Open SlotGauge for Blue CrabAbout the blue crab
Species of crustacean
Callinectes sapidus, commonly known as the blue crab, Atlantic blue crab, or, regionally, the Maryland blue crab, is a species of crab native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and introduced internationally.
Read more about Callinectes sapidus on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Blue Crab in Maryland?
5 inch minimum (April 1 – July 14); 5.25 inch minimum (July 15 – December 15) in Maryland state waters.
How many Blue Crab can you keep per day in Maryland?
2 dozen males per person (unlicensed); 1 bushel or 6 dozen (licensed); females prohibited.
When is Blue Crab season in Maryland?
April 1 – December 15.
Is my Blue Crab a keeper today?
A blue crab is a keeper today if it measures at least 5.25 inches, with 2 dozen males per person (unlicensed); 1 bushel or 6 dozen (licensed); females prohibited.