Texas Crab Trap Limitations

[CraigFos]

Texas law limits recreational crabbers to six traps (pots up north).  The law does not mention a limit per boat, but we were never sure if you had more than one licensed crabber on the boat if you could work more than six traps.  The other day I called the captain in charge of the enforcement division of the Texas Department of Wildlife to get a clarification on gear tags.  I took the opportunity to ask about the limitations on the number of traps.  I mentioned that both my brother and I were licensed and I want to know if we could use twelve traps.  Before I finished asking the question he answered sure, you're good.  He went on to say, "In fact, bring a couple of kids and you can run twelve more."

That got me thinking, if my brother brings his grandson we can run 18 traps.  And if I bring my grandkid we can run 24.  Then I remembered his grandson in only two months old and my first grandkid wont be born until July.  I guess we'll have to wait a couple of years.  I wonder if my daughter would get upset if I gave the grandkid a crab trap for a baby shower gift?

[Ronster]

Good info.   I'll set this as a sticky.

[John WAsmuth]

Yeppers, we can run 6 per license, if my daughter and wife and I wanted to runn our legal limit of traps... we dern sure need a bigger boat! LOL!

[fishhawk]

are you sure your not a cajun?  lol

[John WAsmuth]

Could bees!

[CraigFos]

are you sure your not a cajun?  lol

Actually, I'm one quarter Cajun, but was born in New Orleans at a time when you did not let anybody know you were Cajun.  Cajuns were considered country hicks and discriminated against until recently.    As my cousin says, "Some fat guy burns some fish and suddenly it's cool to be Cajun."  Now you can let people know that you are Cajun in New Orleans without fearing that your car will get egged. (That used to happen a lot in the '60's and '70's.)

When we moved to Texas we were able to show our Cajun pride without fear.

[Night Wing]

This is good info to know. For pier crabbing from the water to the top of the pier is three feet or more, I'm thinking of using some topless traps. With a throw line, the crabs are dropping off before I can lift them far enough to net them. Traps should solve this problem. I'm probably going to go with 2 traps by Captain Bruce's design.

[crabbywaters]

This is good info to know. For pier crabbing from the water to the top of the pier is three feet or more, I'm thinking of using some topless traps. With a throw line, the crabs are dropping off before I can lift them far enough to net them. Traps should solve this problem. I'm probably going to go with 2 traps by Captain Bruce's design.

I usually have a few traps with me when crabbing off the pier. Sometimes they just won't hold on to those handlines for what ever reason.

[capt. ron]

Craig

Do ya have to put your license number on the trap/cork?  La. requires 10 per person as long as they are tagged.  Husband and wife plus kids $25 each person and I don't think they have to be in the boat.  Not sure on that.  Good luck crabbing.  Real CAJUNS boil their crabs.

Ronnie

[CraigFos]

Recreational crabbers don't need paid tags for their traps, they just need to mark them.  I believe commercial crabbers need tags. 

I'm only 1/4 Cajun, so I only have to boil 1/4 of my crabs!

[capt. ron]

Recreational crabbers don't need paid tags for their traps, they just need to mark them.  I believe commercial crabbers need tags. 

I'm only 1/4 Cajun, so I only have to boil 1/4 of my crabs!

LOL

[Borabora]

craig what did he say about gear tags? anything unteresting?   ive been searching for a waterproof tag i can use to mark my traps.  as i understand it, name and address must be on gear tag.   been writing on the buoy but it fades....  maybe going to a wax marker and a piece of plastic wire tied on.  any ideas?

[fishingtom]

Try using a sharpie and then over spray with a clear polyurethane...

[CraigFos]

I mark the float with a Sharpie and etch a 2" plastic cutting from a Folger's coffee can.  I attach one of the plastic tags to the trap and one to the float. I include my phone number even though it is not required.  My thought is if the traps become lost due to a storm, someone who finds them is more likely to call if the phone number is included.

[crewstation]

If your brother brings his grandson, and you bring your pregnant daughter along to take care of him, can you drop 30 pots?! 

[CraigFos]

Well, my granddaughter is eight months old now.  I'm thinking of getting her six traps for her birthday in July for her to run by herself.

[capt. ron]

Why are you waiting so late.   By six months I had my own gun and fishing pole and could paddle my own pirogue..

[crewstation]

You can never go wrong with a birthday gift that comes from the heart (or the sporting goods store).   

[grdgrs7491]

Texas law limits recreational crabbers to six traps (pots up north).  The law does not mention a limit per boat, but we were never sure if you had more than one licensed crabber on the boat if you could work more than six traps.  The other day I called the captain in charge of the enforcement division of the Texas Department of Wildlife to get a clarification on gear tags.  I took the opportunity to ask about the limitations on the number of traps.  I mentioned that both my brother and I were licensed and I want to know if we could use twelve traps.  Before I finished asking the question he answered sure, you're good.  He went on to say, "In fact, bring a couple of kids and you can run twelve more."

That got me thinking, if my brother brings his grandson we can run 18 traps.  And if I bring my grandkid we can run 24.  Then I remembered his grandson in only two months old and my first grandkid wont be born until July.  I guess we'll have to wait a couple of years.  I wonder if my daughter would get upset if I gave the grandkid a crab trap for a baby shower gift?

I know where you can buy them!  :~}