Massachusetts blue crab limit question

[chef]

Does anyone know if the 25 blue crab limit for Mass is per person or is it per vessel? If it is per person, would my 12 year old son count or would he have to be over the age of 16 for his own crab limit?

I've looked through the mass.gov website and it doesn't specify from as far as I can see, but I dont want to find out the hard way with a hefty fine or worse.

[Ron]

I think the possession limit is per person for all of the limits, whether they be fish or otherwise.

[chef]

Thanks Ron.

Trying to get a feeling for how things work up here. Very little info online and it seems as though the MA regulations change every couple of years from what I gather when searching through older northeast crabbing regulations threads.

[masspi]

Not only do the regulations change often, you also have to check the CMR's (Codified Massachusetts Regulations) which can make changes to laws and regulations administratively. 

It is almost like the rules are written vague so you can get caught on something................thank the lawyers for that.

I recommend that you check the Dept. of Fisheries for any recent changes on limits......................I have not heard of any recently.

The bag limit was changed a couple of years ago and it applies to the person.  To my knowledge there is no mention in fisheries law/regulation that says a person is someone 18 or over.  I would check the abstracts for the age where a fishing license is required.  Under that age I guess you don't count.  If you call Fisheries, you will talk to a low level clerk who most likely will give you bogus information.

Don't mean to be negative.........it is what it is.

The way the season has been I would be quite surprised if you got the bag limit.

[chef]

Thanks Dave. I dont doubt you about them intentionally being written vague in the great state of Taxachussetts. 

I limited quickly about a week and a half ago in Wareham, but the more I read others reports the more I feel I just got lucky and was in the right place at the right time.

For what its worth the ones I caught looked like they were getting close to a molt so hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, it will get better for everyone.