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.06 Collapsible Crab Traps and Crab Net Rings
Stay 100 feet from other people's gear. Coastal bays: max 10 traps/rings per person recreational (25 per boat with multiple people). Chesapeake: need a license, max 30 per person or per boat. Free-floating traps need marked buoys.
A. An individual may not set or fish a crab net ring or collapsible crab trap within 100 feet of another individual's set trotline, collapsible crab trap, or net ring. B. In the coastal bays of the Atlantic Ocean and their tidal tributaries: (1) An individual may not catch or attempt to catch crabs for recreational purposes with any combination of more than ten collapsible traps and net rings. (2) If two or more individuals are on a boat, not more than any combination of 25 collapsible traps and net rings may be set per boat. C. In the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries: (1) Recreational crabbing requires licensure or boat licensing. (2) Licensed individuals may use not more than 30 collapsible traps or net rings or not more than 30 of a combination. (3) Not more than 30 collapsible traps or net rings or a combination may be set per boat. D. Unattached traps require buoys marked with either DNR id number (Chesapeake Bay), name and address (Atlantic coastal areas), or commercial license number.