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New trap requirementsRecreational fishers age 16 and older (including those normally exempt from needing a license) are required to complete an online, no-cost recreational blue and stone crab trap registration before using blue or stone crab traps. To register, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and add the Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration or the Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration to your account. Upon completion, each person will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner’s full name and address. Registration numbers for blue crab traps will begin with the letter “B”; registration numbers for stone crab traps will begin with the letter “S”.” This information must be legible and must be permanently attached to each trap. This no-cost registration will allow FWC to collect important information about these recreational fisheries needed for future stock assessments and management decisions. Traps must be registered annually but unique registration number will not change year-to-year. Florida Regulations Gulf and Atlantic State WatersSize Limit: None Daily Bag Limit: 10 gallons whole per harvester per day Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited Gear Requirements: Legal Gear: blue crab trap (max. 5 per person), dip or landing net, drop net, fold up trap, hook and line, push scrape, trotline
Note: Crab snares are not considered legal gear for blue crabs in Florida.
Trap Specifications
Trapping Regulations
State Waters Trap Closures:Sept. 20 - Oct. 4 closed to traps in Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles and in federal waters. Special regulations apply for traps and this species when in Biscayne National Park.
Blue Crab Trap Harvest Regional Closed SeasonsIn an effort to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from Florida, the FWC has established regional blue crab trap closures. These six regional closures last up to 10 days and prohibit recreational and commercial harvest of blue crabs with traps in these areas. The closures alternate coasts every year with closures on the east coast of Florida occurring during the even numbered years and closures on the west coast occurring on the odd years. Even Year Closures
Odd Year Closures
These closed seasons only apply to standard blue crab traps. The harvest of blue crabs by other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps, is permitted during the closures. Traps that are attached to private property such as a dock are not included in the closures.
Can female blue crabs be harvested?Female blue crabs may be harvested lawfully if they are not bearing eggs. Although it is lawful to keep non-egg bearing female blue crabs, it is a conservation practice to release them unharmed. There has been evidence that the females support the population of the species. Male crabs are capable of mating several times, but females are only able to mate once, after they mature. If a juvenile female is harvested, there will be no chance that she will be able to reproduce. Additionally, mature females may store sperm in their bodies for several months after mating in order to spawn at a later date. If a mature female is harvested, though she may not exhibit eggs, there is no certainty that she has spawned. Releasing female blue crabs enhances reproductive capacity and population renewal. What is the best time to catch blue crabs?Crabs can be caught all year, but become inactive, and therefore more difficult to catch in winter when water temperature falls below 50-55 degrees. The best time of year to harvest large, heavy crabs is usually from October to December.
Where are the most blue crabs found?The blue crab is widely distributed along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Nova Scotia through the Gulf of Mexico and as far south as Uruguay. It also has been introduced in other parts of the world. This crab inhabits estuaries and brackish coastal lagoons.
What is the best depth to catch blue crabs?Make sure the depth is no deeper than 10 feet. If you're an inexperienced boater and don't want to venture too deep into the bays, the easiest areas to crab will be right outside the deeper troughs in the estuaries. While these areas will hold plenty of crabs, they will often hold plenty of crabbers as well.
What is the best place to go crabbing?5 Best Places to Crab. Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) This bay is an estuary inland of the Atlantic ocean in the states of Maryland and Virginia. ... . North Florida. ... . Louisiana. ... . 4. California. ... . Washington.. |