trot line regulations

[chads]

i am considering experimenting with a trot line this year. Is it legal to use both traps and a trotline at the same time, or is it just one or the other.

I do have a rec fishing sticker for the boat.

[done workin]

Yes

[Rod Bender II]

Recreational guys are allowed up to 1200 ft of trotline and I think 10 crab traps. I am 100% about the length of the line but not the traps. Check the regulation books for the rule on traps.....

[Glub]

It's still 1200' of Trotline, 30 traps.

Trouble is, the DNR refuses to put an "and" or an "or" between those two items, so no one knows for sure. Keeps it interesting.


CRABBING GEAR
If the boat is licensed for recreational crabbing by either the Recreational Crabbing Boat License (new at a $15 fee) or the Chesapeake Bay Special Pleasure Boat License or at least one person in the boat possesses an individual recreational crabbing license:
1200 feet of trotline (baited portion)
Maximum 30 crab traps or rings
Handlines
Dipnets

Summary of Maryland Tidal Recreational Fisheries Regulations (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/recregchrt.html)
Summary of 2007 Recreational Crab Regulations for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal Tributaries (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/crab/2007recreationalcrabsummary.html)

(yes, the URL says 2007 but the content is for 2009)

[heimdall]

Is that 1200 if there is only one person on the boat?

1200 ft no matter how many rec licenses on the boat.

[done workin]

I hate this damn state. I wish they would just make the licenses mandatory and be done with it. I set of rules applies to everybody. Gee let's try this one.

License = 2 rockfish, no license =1 rockfish.



If I have my kids on board according the phrasing this year, and they are with me, they are crabbing with more than 10 traps and 1200' of line, so does that mean they have to have a license? Or does my license cover all gear and

they are just restricted to the catch limits of an unlicensed crabber being 2 dozen each?

Chris

[crabberlig]

Chris,

Great question.

I have the boat license which allows me to have one bushel. My two daughters and wife are on the boat with me five to 10 times a year. Do they need individual licenses to pull "my traps" or work "my" trot Line?

HELP!!!!!!

jOHN

[gchambers]

Chris,

Great question.

I have the boat license which allows me to have one bushel. My two daughters and wife are on the boat with me five to 10 times a year. Do they need individual licenses to pull "my traps" or work "my" trot Line?

HELP!!!!!!

jOHN

Anyone on board can work the lines or traps, but the catch limit is only 1 bu. unless another person [wife] has a license. George

[BowMovements]

Chris,

Great question.

I have the boat license which allows me to have one bushel. My two daughters and wife are on the boat with me five to 10 times a year. Do they need individual licenses to pull "my traps" or work "my" trot Line?

HELP!!!!!!

jOHN

The wife, Yes. The children, it depends on their age. If the wife is working the gear she must have a license. "To my understanding" Can anyone confirm?

[Clark W. Griswold]

The wife, Yes. The children, it depends on their age. If the wife is working the gear she must have a license. "To my understanding" Can anyone confirm?

You need at least one licensed individual on board or the boat license to use a trotline or more than 10 traps/rings. That will also allow 1 bushel.

Anyone on board can pull the traps/rings or dip the crabs on the line whether they have a license or not.

A second or third license on board will allow a harvest of 2 bushel, but no extra gear.

Hope this helps.

Of course 3 licensed crabbers on a pier can each take home a bushel for a total of 3 bushel. Those same 3 on one boat can only take home 2 bushel. Makes a lot of sense don't it.

[done workin]

One licensed crabber in the boat alone or with unlicensed crabbers;
1 bushel of hard crabs
2 dozen soft crabs and peelers


Here is what I was not seeing earlier.

With one license on baord with or without additional unlicensed crabbers, you are still only allowed 1 bushel.

Oh well, I guess I need to spend the $10 for them to get their crabbing licenses.

Kind of stupid huh, since my two 10 year olds can catch rockfish without a license but not crabs.What is it with this state?


Special Note: A person less than 16 years of age is exempted from needing a license but, unless they purchase a crabbing license, they are restricted to the same limits as an unlicensed crabber.

So the excerpt from the top of this post says that if they are with me (I have a license) they aren't allowed any more anyway.

What the F?????


This just gets dumber the more I read it.

Chris

[Clark W. Griswold]

Chris, If you have one licensed crabber on the boat, you are allowed one bushel. If you have 2 or mor licensed crabbrs on the boat you are allowed 2 bushel.

If you have one licensed crabber and 5 unlicensed crabbers, you are allowed one bushel.