Maryland's New Crab Catch Limits Go Into Effect On July 1st

Maryland’s new crab catch limits for hard crabs take effect July 1, with updated daily recreational recreational catch and possession rules issued by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The changes begin at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 and apply to male hard crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for the period July 2026 through June 2027. DNR says the limits are intended to keep crab levels stable and are selected using the Chesapeake Bay male conservation trigger from Amendment 2 to the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan, along with winter dredge survey results. The limits remain in place through next June, and new numbers will be set once the 2027 winter dredge survey is completed. They do not apply to shore fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries or in the Atlantic Ocean. The notice also highlights the ecosystem and economic importance of blue crabs.