New Recreational Crab Catch Limits Start July 1, 2026
State of MD - Crabbing season is about to look a little different for Eastern Shore boaters. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2026, Maryland is rolling out new daily catch and possession limits for recreational male hard crabs caught from boats in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
The new limits run through June 2027 and depend on how many people are on board and whether anyone has a commercial crabbing license. If you're crabbing solo on an unlicensed boat, your daily limit is 2 dozen male hard crabs. Bring a buddy or two, and that limit jumps to 4 dozen for boats with two or more unlicensed crabbers.
Things change if a licensed crabber is on board. Any boat with at least one licensed individual, no matter how many unlicensed folks join, can keep 1 bushel or 6 dozen crabs. That same limit applies to licensed boats regardless of how many people are aboard.
There's one catch with the bushel option. If you're storing crabs in a bushel basket, the limit is 1 bushel. If you're using any other type of container, the limit switches to 6 dozen crabs.
It's worth noting what this notice doesn't change. Shore crabbing limits in the Bay and its tributaries stay the same, and recreational crabbing in the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays, and tributaries isn't affected either.
This update is strictly for boats on the Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries, including Maryland's stretch of the Potomac River.
So why the change? Maryland's Department of Natural Resources says it's about keeping the male blue crab harvest in line with conservation goals set under the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan. The limits are based on results from the Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a joint effort between Maryland DNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
If you're heading out on the water this summer, it's a good idea to double-check your limit before you drop your first trap. Rules can vary based on who's on board and what gear you're using, so a quick gut check now could save you a headache later.
