regs on topless crab traps?

[aquaman9]

I hear many people saying that the Foxy Mate open crab traps are not considered regular crab pots because the crab can just swim away so you are not held to a limit of two per person. VMRC could not answer for sure. Does anyone use them or can tell me exactly? If its not a pot and not a net maybe its a hand line???

[aquaman9]

Thanks, Just hope the game warden knows that. Its been hard to find the answer. But I hear others setting thirty.

[SteveL]

It's a trap, not a pot. You are permitted up to 30 Foxy Mate or other brand traps as a recreational crabber.

Jim provided the Maryland perspective, in VA the law is different and yoiu need to follow the VA requirements in Va waters. I don't know the VA laws, you should talk to VRMC some more.

[Tom Powers]

The laws in Virginia are NONEXISTENT regarding collapsible crab traps, crab rings and topless crab traps. For years the laws were interpreted that all of those gear types were considered to be the same as crab pots. About 4 or 5 years ago an interpretation was made that they are considered to be the same as hand lines. Thus there are no limits on the number that an individual may set out in Virginia waters.

Somewhere I have an email about it that I have posted here on this board.