The Potomac River crabbing season, sizes and commercial pot, harvest and time limits for the Potomac River Fisheries Commission are as follows:

2011 Mature Female Crab CLOSED SEASON 

It shall be unlawful for any person to take or catch, or attempt to take or catch any MATURE FEMALE crabs by any means in the Potomac River during the CLOSED SEASON as follows:
 

Above St. Clements Island/Hollis Marsh:	9/20/2011 to 9/30/2011
Below St. Clements Island/Hollis Marsh:	10/4/2011 to 10/14/2011

Crab Season (open)

Crab Pot Season:		April 1 through November 30
Trotlines & Dip Nets:		April 1 through November 30
Peeler Traps:		May 1 through June 30 (traps must be removed by July 1)
Hard Crabs:	Males and Immature Females:	April 1 through November 30

	Mature Females:	April 1 through November 30
Soft and Peeler Crabs:		May 1 through October 30

Crab Size Limits  It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, keep in floats, or have in possession any:

(1)    hard crabs, except mature female crabs, less than 5 ¼” inches from April 1 through July 9 and hard crabs, except mature female crabs, less than 5 ½ inches from July 10 through the end of the season.

(2)    peeler crabs less than 3 ½ inches.

(3)    sponge crabs, spawn crab, blooming female crab, mother crab or the female crab from which the egg pouch or bunion has been removed - of any size.

Effective July 10, 2008; all hard males, hard females, peelers and soft shell crabs shall be kept separate from each other.

Commercial Pot Limits:  285, 380, and 475

Commercial Time Limits:  It shall be unlawful for any person to take or catch crabs between sunset and one hour before sunrise, or to land or unload crabs earlier than sunrise or later than sunset.

Click Here for Summary of Crab Potting Regulations

Other

Regulations: Crab pot longlines were added as an alternate crabbing method.
For additional information Click Here for Longline Crabbing Summary.

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