Delaware Regs.

AngolaBlueClaw · January 15, 2018, 11:44:06 AM

Hey guys I have 2 questions. I want to start running a trot line with my 12yo son. Can anyone tell me if he is allowed to keep a bushel of crabs as well as myself? I am assuming he would be because he is allowed his fair share of any other fish when we go fishing even though he doesn't require a fishing license yet.
Second question is, when actively crabbing or after you're done and heading back to the boat ramp, if you have more than one bushel of crabs in the boat do they need to be in separate bushel baskets or can they be in a large cooler combined?
Thanks!

Ron · January 15, 2018, 12:00:11 PM

Since there is no fishing license required for children under 16 that they are still bound by and/or granted the catch limit of one bushel per person as if they were a fully licensed individual. Same would go for someone 65 or older, who would also be exempt from the license requirement.

In terms of storing the kept crabs on board, best practice is to have your crabs in two bushel baskets on board. It's the only way you, and more importantly DNREC, can be sure you haven't taken more than your fair share.

AngolaBlueClaw · January 15, 2018, 12:33:33 PM

Thanks for the input Ron!

AngolaBlueClaw · January 15, 2018, 12:50:13 PM

another quick question, this isn't a rule or reg but, this is my first time running a trot line. Do you guys rebait every time you go out, or will the bait still be good if i roll my line back up( still baited) and put it in the deep freeze until next trip?

Wallco99 · January 15, 2018, 01:53:30 PM

My opinion is to always rebait chicken. It really stinks after a full day in 80 degree water. I know some guys will answer that they use it more than once, but personally, I never would.

r_ventura_23 · January 15, 2018, 03:13:28 PM

Quote from: Wallco99 on January 15, 2018, 01:53:30 PM
My opinion is to always rebait chicken. It really stinks after a full day in 80 degree water. I know some guys will answer that they use it more than once, but personally, I never would.

Absolutely agree. It is cheap enough.

evinrude 130 · January 15, 2018, 03:56:27 PM

Depends on how bad the bait looks as you are pulling it in at the end of your trip. Foolish to discard the bait if you hardly caught anything. If the spot you laid your line isn't producing or you catch the wrong tide, you won't catch much. Crabs like fresh bait, but will eat bait used twice. If the baits chewed up bad, I would replace it. I've reused bait twice, you put the line and necks in a freezer until the next trip.

Depends on your mindset, fresh bait does catch better if your hoping to catch a lot of crabs. For me, 2-3 dozen is enough, so the bait is not chewed up much for that amount unless the smaller crabs are there. Those little crabs can tear up the bait while looking for keepers. .

Neither Crab · January 20, 2018, 06:35:15 AM

Even if the bait doesn't have a nick on it , it becomes washed out of scent. I once sunk a bushel of menhaden at my pier overnight to thaw it out for the next morning crabbing in my pots. A bushel of bait would bait 100 pots.I had a very poor catch in the pots that were baited with that bushel of bait. The bait lost it's scent and didn't catch.