2 bushel limit

[U812OHNO]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on this years license and saw this below.  Could have sworn somebody said it was just a one bushel limit like they did end of last year?

"Recreational Crabbing Boat License
The Recreational Crabbing Boat License allows the purchaser of the license, or if that person is not on board, any one individual on board the vessel, to catch crabs for recreational purposes anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. This license allows you to use any of the following gear: (a) trotline, (b) collapsible traps, (c) net rings and catch up to 1 bushel of male hard crabs (or 2 bushels if another license is on board) and 2 dozen soft or male peeler crabs or a combination of male peeler and soft crab. You may not use a trotline, collapsible crab trap, or net ring, or have more than 4 dozen male hard crabs and 1 dozen soft or male peeler crabs on board your boat unless either the boat is licensed or one of the individuals on board has an individual license.

License Term - 365 days from the date of purchase
$15.00 for residents and nonresidents"

[U812OHNO]

Ahh, then you go to check out and you get this;

"This license entitles license holder to only one bushel of male hard crabs per daily creel/possession limit, regardless of how many license holders are on board vessel."

[Wallco99]

You know what I want to say.

[vw_buggsy]

Ahh, then you go to check out and you get this;

"This license entitles license holder to only one bushel of male hard crabs per daily creel/possession limit, regardless of how many license holders are on board vessel."

Interesting, I feel like they kind of failed on the language of that statement. The way it's written implies that if there are 6 license holders on the boat you can have 6 bushels on the boat because one bushel belongs to each. The limit in that statement is very explicitly tied to the license holder, and directly stated as regardless of other license holders, and not based on a vessel limit.

So from that statement alone:

• Jim Bob has a license, can have 1 bushel (regardless of Jimmy Dean and Molly Sue or number on the vessel)
• Jimmy Dean has a license, can have 1 bushel (regardless of Molly Sue and Jim Bob or number on the vessel)
• Molly Sue has a license, can have 1 bushel (regardless of Jimmy Dean and Jim Bob or number on the vessel)

Of course from various other sources we know that is not what they intended and not how they'll enforce it.

Not that it matters to me, I don't have any friends 

[thecameraguy]

It's $15 for a boat license but $5 for residents or $10 for a non-resident license. What's the sense of purchasing a boat license?............... or am I missing something?

[Harford Crabber]

Only possible advantage that I can see is that if boat is licensed no one on board would need a license.  The unlicensed people on the licensed boat could take 1 bushel with all legal traps and/or trotline..   A rare need but it does happen.

[Crabslayer]

So tow a kayak and keep the second bushel in the kayak.  Two vessels one person each vessel and one bushel each vessel.  Government employees are so DUMB ! ! !

[Wallco99]

So tow a kayak and keep the second bushel in the kayak.  Two vessels one person each vessel and one bushel each vessel.  Government employees are so DUMB ! ! !

Yes. That's what we did last year.

[yorkpacrabber]

It's $15 for a boat license but $5 for residents or $10 for a non-resident license. What's the sense of purchasing a boat license?............... or am I missing something?

The reason I pay the extra $5 for a boat license, is because when the DNR is out doing their job, they can see the sticker on the side of your boat and already know that you at least have a license and are legal that way. More than once I have seen them stop and look at me with binoculars while I'm running my line and then move to the next guy. Not trying to hide anything, but sure does sway them from stopping me and checking out someone else who might not have their license.

[Wallco99]

The reason I pay the extra $5 for a boat license, is because when the DNR is out doing their job, they can see the sticker on the side of your boat and already know that you at least have a license and are legal that way. More than once I have seen them stop and look at me with binoculars while I'm running my line and then move to the next guy. Not trying to hide anything, but sure does sway them from stopping me and checking out someone else who might not have their license.

So have I. They drive right by most times. That's why I buy it too.

[FFGomer]

So, MD's own websites can't even agree what the limit is. The ERegulations site(which BTW is not actually run by MD) says 1 bushel, regardless of licensees on the boat. The MD Division of State Documents site(which is run by the state) still says 2 bushels if 2 or more licensees are on board. So which is correct? I know DNR always says you need to pay attention to the official sites and laws for legal guidance. Since the state's own site says 2 bushels could they cite you for it?

[Mikie]

See if this answers your question:

Chesapeake Bay Recreational Hard Crab Catch and Possession Limits — April through June 2023
WHAT THIS NOTICE DOES
The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces modifications to the recreational male hard crab catch and possession limits for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for April through June 2023. Effective 12:01 a.m. April 1, 2023, male hard crab catch and possession limits for individuals on a vessel are:
Daily catch and possession boat limits for April 1 – June 30, 2023
Unlicensed Boat
With 1 unlicensed individual
2 dozen male crabs
With 2 or more unlicensed individuals
4 dozen male crabs
With 1 or more licensees and any number of unlicensed individuals
1 bushel of male crabs
Licensed Boat
With any number of licensed or unlicensed individuals
1 bushel of male crabs
Male hard crab catch and possession limits are based on results of the 2022 winter crab dredge survey conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and consultation with advisory groups and stakeholders. Possession limits for July through December 2023 will be determined when results from the 2023 winter crab dredge survey are available.

[FFGomer]

It wasn't really a question. Yes, I know they put out that press release. And yes, I know the limit is 1 bushel per boat. My point is that they tell you to use official sources for regulations and the two official sources contradict each other, with the most official one being incorrect.

[Mr. Ray III]

It wasn't really a question. Yes, I know they put out that press release. And yes, I know the limit is 1 bushel per boat. My point is that they tell you to use official sources for regulations and the two official sources contradict each other, with the most official one being incorrect.

Post back here after court and let us know if you got away with it.

[crabster2]

This is exactly why DNR needs to set limits.  

[jack1747]

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDDNR/bulletins/362351f

The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces modifications to the
recreational male hard crab catch and possession limits for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for
July 2023 through June 2024. Effective 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2023, male hard crab catch and possession
limits for individuals on a vessel are:
Daily catch and possession boat limits for July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Unlicensed Boat
With 1 unlicensed individual 2 dozen male crabs
With 2 or more unlicensed individuals 4 dozen male crabs
With 1 or more licensees and any number of unlicensed individuals 1 bushel of male crabs
Licensed Boat With any number of licensed or unlicensed individuals 1 bushel of male crabs

[rdbeard]

sounds good.

[Stabilizer]

sounds good.

yep

[tom on the rocks]

seems to me that i need not give any money to the state of maryland, 2 of us on the boat can have 4 doz crabs thats about 3/4 of a bushel when crabs are of decent size. simple math! md looses revenue!

[FFGomer]

I guess you could quit giving MD money if you only want to use hand lines and dip nets 🤷🏻