SlotGaugeCheck a catchBlue Crab regulations in Virginia
Crabs · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Blue Crab size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia tidal waters | Open year-round | 5 inch minimum | 1 bushel of hard crabs + 2 dozen peelers per person per day |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' sizeNote / seasons. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/VA-recreational-crabbing-rules.shtm
- March 17 – June 15 only bright orange sponge (egg-bearing) crabs may be kept; brown/black sponge crabs must be returned. VMRC asks that all sponge crabs be released.
Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording
- Season
- Hand line, dip net, collapsible traps and cast net: all year. Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 – December 19
- Size
- Hard crab 5 inches (male and immature female); mature female (sook) no size limit; peeler 3.25 in Mar 17–Jul 15 and 3.5 in Jul 16–Nov 30; soft crab 3.5 inches
- Limit
- 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2 dozen peeler crabs per person per day
- Virginia tidal waters — as printed
- “All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2 dozen peeler crabs per person per day. Minimum sizes (tip to tip of the longest spikes): hard crabs male 5 inches, immature female 5 inches, mature female no size limit; peeler crabs March 17 to July 15 3¼ inches, July 16 to November 30 3½ inches; softshell crabs 3½ inches.”
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (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 Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Blue Crab in Virginia?
5 inch minimum in Virginia state waters.
How many Blue Crab can you keep per day in Virginia?
1 bushel of hard crabs + 2 dozen peelers per person per day.
When is Blue Crab season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
Is my Blue Crab a keeper today?
A blue crab is a keeper today if it measures at least 5 inches, with 1 bushel of hard crabs + 2 dozen peelers per person per day.