New York recreational crabbers are reminded to review the state’s blue crab regulations before heading out this season. In New York’s Marine and Coastal District, the minimum legal size is 4-1/2 inches from spike tip to spike tip for hard-shell blue crabs, 3-1/2 inches for soft-shell crabs, and 3 inches for peeler or shedder crabs. Recreational anglers may harvest up to 50 blue crabs per person per day, and the fishery remains open year-round. Crabbers should also remember that possession of egg-bearing female blue crabs is prohibited. Whether you’re crabbing from a dock, shoreline, or boat, measuring your catch and following the regulations helps ensure a healthy blue crab fishery for years to come.
