hello to all! I'm new, but Need help, I think I may have found something...

[tongman]

Hello to all! I'm 17 years old, and I have been crabbing since.... :tugh: since I was probably knee high to a coke bottle. My Father, brother and I have one main spot, which is the Solomons Island Fishing Pier on warm nights. Scooping them off the water at night has become our profession, but both of them say that I have excelled way more than themselves in the area, thus they call me the crab "philosopher", while they are more skilled in the area of fishing. We stick in and around Saint Mary's county but recently have been broadening our horizons to other locations. We don't have a boat, so we mainly just crab off piers with trap, handlines, and dipnets. My name the tongman was given to me when I was about 3 years old by my father who'd dump the crabs he just pulled or scooped up out of the patuxent onto the deck. I'd quickly snag them with my tongs and throw them into the basket, and the name just stuck with me ever since. Now at 17, I teach my brother and father to go grab the tongs as I haul them in! LOL, But ok ladies and gents, this website is filled with skilled intelligent crabbers, and I was wondering could you lend me a hand on something i've noticed. I'm assuming alot of people here are boat crabbers... trotlines, pots and such, but could ya'll help me analyze a bit of information thats not pertaining to you guys? Here it goes..... In the 2005 Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing Guide, it says "IT SHALL BE LAWFUL FOR A RECREATIONAL CRABBER WITHOUT A LICENSE TO: CRAB 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, FROM DOCKS, PIERS, BRIDGES BOATS, AND SHORELINES USING DIP NETS AND ANY NUMBER OF HANDLINES". Ok, keep that in mind guys, because it also says " NO CRABBING ON WEDNESDAYS EXCEPT FROM PRIVATE PIERS".... Is it just me, or does this contradict itself a little bit?! And also, it emphasizes having a boat in the "IT SHALL BE LAWFUL FOR A RECREATIONAL CRABBER WITH A LICENSE." This further makes me believe that I don't even need a crabbing license because I don't crab from boats. While almost everybody assumes that you need one, even if you're not in a boat. It's kind of confusing but I hope ya'll understand what I'm saying... for all those that understand, pull out your 2005 Chesapeake Bay Booklets and HELP!!!!!!!! Nice chattin with ya'll, I'll be waiting for replies   
                                                     ''''''Tongman'''''

[CrabbyDaddy]

tongman, I`m not too good at explaining all this, but maybe this link will help answer your questions. And I`m sure some from the board will help out too.   http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/crab/2004recreationalcrabsummary.html     

[Felinis]

Tongman:

This link will lead you to a discussion of this exact subject:

http://www.blue-crab.org/forum/index.php/topic,4043.0.html

A more direct answer is:

Using JUST dipnets and handlines you can:

A) Take up to 2 dozen hard crabs plus one dozen soft or peelers without a license.
B) Crab on any time or day in season including Wednesdays.

Item A above also applies to crabbers with 10 or fewer traps.
Your younger siblings under 16 years of age do not require licenses.
It doesn't matter whether you use a boat or not.

There are two source of the regulations - the Marland DNR Summary of the Crabbing Regs and the Regs themselves (COMAR).  The two DO NOT AGREE which is to say that THE SUMMARY IS IN ERROR on several points.  I do not know which version is published in the sports fishing guide.

COMAR:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/commercial/bluecrabregs.html

Before people start contradicting me, PLEASE read the above thread in BCA Rules and Regulations for Maryland.

[Islander]

I haven't seen were it says you can crab 24/7. I did read that without a license you are limited to not more than 2 dozen hard crabs or 1 dozen soft crabs or peelers. Hopefully it doesn't take 24/7 to catch that limit and if your comfortable with this limit you don't need a license. But, for me I think I'll pay the five bucks to be able to catch a bushel a day. As for wednesdays, you can crab with handlines, dip nets and pots from a private pier. I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion.

[CrAbBeRpEzZ]

every year when i go out crabbing i never get a license,  but that  means i can only use up to 10 traps and keep only 2 dozen a day

[mrscharms]

Yes, it is VERY CONFUSING...this "guide" that they give you!!!  But the advice everyone gives here is correct..I THINK!!!

Anyways, if I ever got a ticket, I would bring it to court just to explain how messy these rules are and so confusing!!

Welcome to the board...you sound like a smart fella!

Janice

[tongman]

Thanks for all the references, they did help guys, and thankyou all for clearing up this mess for me!.... huh, I may just have to go and get a license along with my family, because all of us crabbers well know.... on a good day, 2 dozen just ain't good enough, especially if they are running! Stopping won't be an option. I think I'm with Islander on that one. Thanks for the compliment Ms. Janice, glad to be here. Well everybody, good luck, I'll be watching posts, and I'm patiently waiting for the crabs to start in and around Solomons, and Sandy Point.       Till next time
                                                            ''''''Tongman'''''

[Boss Haus]

For a crabbing only license its only 5 bucks.... I dont know if the public pier in Solomons is considered private anyway. Not to be a funny guy