Weather cooperating, my wife and I are going to take our pontoon boat out at least part of tomorrow, do a little light fishing in-place, and toss some collapsible crab traps over the side.
This is the first time we've tried crabbing, and I have a question about regulations. I got a boat license for crabbing. On page 40 of the DNR "Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing" it states: "It is illegal for a recreational crabber: ... to possess an egg-bearing (sponge) crab or any female hard or peeler crab." Yet on the very next page is states: "Minimum size limits: ... mature female crabs - no minimum size."
These two statements seem 100% contradictory with no way to reconcile them. What am I missing? Can we keep females or not?
Related - how would I know the difference between an egg-bearing (sponge) crab versus any other female crab? How the heck would I know she's pregnant?
Thanks much to those of you more experienced in this than me, and who are willing to help out a newbie.
This is the first time we've tried crabbing, and I have a question about regulations. I got a boat license for crabbing. On page 40 of the DNR "Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing" it states: "It is illegal for a recreational crabber: ... to possess an egg-bearing (sponge) crab or any female hard or peeler crab." Yet on the very next page is states: "Minimum size limits: ... mature female crabs - no minimum size."
These two statements seem 100% contradictory with no way to reconcile them. What am I missing? Can we keep females or not?
Related - how would I know the difference between an egg-bearing (sponge) crab versus any other female crab? How the heck would I know she's pregnant?
Thanks much to those of you more experienced in this than me, and who are willing to help out a newbie.