When can I use a single crab pot?

[Shrimpshackshooter]

I got one for my birthday this year but I'm having trouble deciphering the VMRC regs in regards to when I can use it.

EXEMPTIONS - The following activities are exempt from the licensing requirements:
 1. Taking by dip net, hand line, or two crab pots as much as one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs in any one day for personal use aboard any vessel.  If crabbing occurs from shore (crabs are not possessed on a vessel) the possession limit is one bushel and two dozen peeler crabs per person per day.


*  It is unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish or knowingly leave any hard crab pot or peeler pot in any Virginia tidal waters from December 1 through March 16 [4 VAC 20-270-40].

*  The season for the Recreational Gear License, up to 5 crab pots, is June 1 through September 15 [4 VAC 20-670-30].

Ok so I understand I don't need a license to fish one pot. I can't use it between December 1st and March 16.  

Can I use it between March 16th and June 1st?  Or is it considered "up to 5 crab pots" and I must wait until June 1st?

Thanks for any insight.


 
 

[jack1747]

I got one for my birthday this year but I'm having trouble deciphering the VMRC regs in regards to when I can use it.

EXEMPTIONS - The following activities are exempt from the licensing requirements:
 1. Taking by dip net, hand line, or two crab pots as much as one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs in any one day for personal use aboard any vessel.  If crabbing occurs from shore (crabs are not possessed on a vessel) the possession limit is one bushel and two dozen peeler crabs per person per day.


*  It is unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish or knowingly leave any hard crab pot or peeler pot in any Virginia tidal waters from December 1 through March 16 [4 VAC 20-270-40].

*  The season for the Recreational Gear License, up to 5 crab pots, is June 1 through September 15 [4 VAC 20-670-30].

Ok so I understand I don't need a license to fish one pot. I can't use it between December 1st and March 16.  

Can I use it between March 16th and June 1st?  Or is it considered "up to 5 crab pots" and I must wait until June 1st?

Thanks for any insight.


 
 

Each person can set 2 pots from March 17th to Dec. 1st.  You can also buy a "5 pot gear license" that allows you to set 5 pots from June 1st until Sept. 15th.  You can do one or the other but not both.  Max gear in the water is 5 pots.

[Shrimpshackshooter]

Thanks for the reply Jack.

[CRABGUY]

CANT TOUCH THE 5 POTS ON SUNDAY
WITHOUT THE LICENSE YOU CAN HAVE 2 

[jack1747]

CANT TOUCH THE 5 POTS ON SUNDAYWITHOUT THE LICENSE YOU CAN HAVE 2 

Unless they are peeler pots.  Russ is right no hard crabbing with the "5 pot gear license" on Sundays.

[Tom Powers]

And you can mix it up from day to day.  You can use your 5-pot license one day to work 5 pots and your 2-pot no license to work 2 pots.  Just because you have a 5-pot license does not mean that you are exempt from the state code that allows you to use 2 pots when ever crab pot season is open.

What gets tricky is if you have 5 pots in the water with a license and want to work 2 on Sunday . . . I haven't figured that one out yet.

Oh and you CAN NOT use your 5 pot license AND 2 additional non licensed pots unless you take your buddy out with you and the other 2 pots are his/hers.

[jack1747]

And you can mix it up from day to day.  You can use your 5-pot license one day to work 5 pots and your 2-pot no license to work 2 pots.  Just because you have a 5-pot license does not mean that you are exempt from the state code that allows you to use 2 pots when ever crab pot season is open.

What gets tricky is if you have 5 pots in the water with a license and want to work 2 on Sunday . . . I haven't figured that one out yet.Oh and you CAN NOT use your 5 pot license AND 2 additional non licensed pots unless you take your buddy out with you and the other 2 pots are his/hers.

Interesting.  I have thought about that......

*  It is unlawful for any person to use more than five crab pots recreationally, or more than two eel pots when licensed for recreational purposes [4 VAC 20-670-30].