Maryland DNR shortens crabbing season

[Steve6902]

This is not about fishing, however some of us also crab out of their kayaks so.... MD DNR is shortening the commercial crabbing season to November 20th AND limiting the female harvest. Here is an article from the BS (Baltimore Sun)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...626-story.html

[D3NAL1]

Hasnt been shortened yet. Talks about it. Crazy how at the beginning of the season they did a survey and found a very healthy crab population

[Steve6902]

Sorry I forgot to add the link to DNR's news release about it.

http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2017/06...-crab-harvest/

[D3NAL1]

Sorry I forgot to add the link to DNR's news release about it.

http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2017/06...-crab-harvest/

Gotya. I hope virginia is doing something as well. Are you aware that they are allowed to keep sponges. Crazy, no wonder why we arent getting many up here

[Steve6902]

I knew about VA keeping sponges, female with eggs and that's wrong also. Personally I feel that their should be a moratorium on keeping females. Rec guys can't keep females but commercial guys can. Just a couple of years.

[Slobber Bob]

When was the commercial season set to close originally? I guess they are still potting enough to make it worth while that late in November that the shortening will effect them?

Rec guys can't keep females but commercial guys can.

You can keep mature females of any size, so long as they aren't sponge, in the coastal bays.

[nhunter344]

I knew about VA keeping sponges, female with eggs and that's wrong also. Personally I feel that their should be a moratorium on keeping females. Rec guys can't keep females but commercial guys can. Just a couple of years.

Ive been down to Kiptopeke/Cape Charles a couple times this year and have watched rec guys carrying cooler after cooler full of females with eggs back to the car. Worse part is that the game wardens just sit there and watch them as well without so much as a warning.