A. "Cull ring" means a device in a crab pot, for the escapement of undersized crabs, described as a:

(1) Ring with an opening of the established measurement for the inside diameter; or

(2) Square opening cut from the crab pot measuring at least 4-1/2 inches by 4-1/2 inches and covered by a panel of 2-inch by 2-inch mesh so that there are at least four complete 2-inch by 2-inch square meshes.

B. A crab pot shall meet the following structural requirements:

(1) A standard cube type crab pot may not have sides which are more than 24 inches long;

(2) Rectangular crab pots may not have dimensions which are greater than 12 inches high, 24 inches wide, and 48 inches long in total;

(3) A crab pot shall be constructed of wire having a mesh measuring along its longest axis when the wire is unstretched of not less than:

(a) 1-1/2 inches for the purpose of catching hard crabs; or

(b) 1 inch for the purpose of catching peeler crabs;

(4) Except for a crab pot constructed with unstretched mesh measuring less than 1-1/2 inches or at least 2 inches on each side, a crab pot set in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries shall have two cull rings, one of at least 2-3/16 inches and one of at least 2-5/16 inches inside diameter located in exterior side panels or the top panel of the crab pot;

(5) A live male blue crab used for bait, in a crab pot used for catching peeler crabs, shall be contained only in the upper chamber of the crab pot and may not be less than the minimum size; and

(6) A crab pot set for recreational purposes shall have a turtle reduction device which:

(a) Is firmly attached to each entrance or funnel in the lower chamber;

(b) Is constructed of wire or plastic;

(c) Is rectangular in shape; and

(d) Has dimensions which do not exceed 1-3/4 inches high and 4-3/4 inches long.

C. Times for Setting and Removing Crab Pots.

(1) Crab pots may not be set in State waters before March 31 of each year.

(2) All crab pots shall be removed from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries by December 31 of each year.

(3) All crab pots shall be removed from the waters of the coastal bays of the Atlantic Ocean and their tidal tributaries:

(a) If set for commercial purposes, by November 16 of each year; or

(b) If set for recreational purposes, by December 31 of each year.

D. General Requirements.

(1) A person may use crab pots to catch crabs for recreational purposes only:

(a) If the person is:

(i) An owner, lessee, or tenant of a private property along the shore; or

(ii) A guest of an owner, lessee, or tenant of a private property along the shore;

(b) If using the crab pot in accordance with §§B, C, D, and H of this regulation; and

(c) If crabbing from a property located on the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries, only if the crab pots have been properly registered with the Department.

(2) Not more than two crab pots set for recreational purposes may be attached to a property or privately owned pier, regardless of the number of owners or lessees of that property.

(3) Notwithstanding §§E and G of this regulation, a crab pot set for recreational purposes shall be:

(a) Set in front of the person's property, within 100 yards of the shore, and:

(i) Attached by a line to the property or a privately owned pier or dock; or

(ii) Marked by a buoy or pole and sign; and

(b) Marked with the owner’s:

(i) DNRid number, if crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries; or

(ii) Name and address, if crabbing in the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays, or their tidal tributaries.

(4) A person who owns or is in charge of operating a vessel used to catch crabs for commercial purposes with crab pots shall be licensed by the Department.

(5) Buoys for Commercially Set Crab Pots.

(a) Each pot individually set shall be marked with a buoy that is easily visible on the surface.

(b) Each string of pots shall be marked at each end with a buoy that is easily visible on the surface.

(c) Each buoy shall be clearly marked with the identification number of the licensee in letters at least 2 inches high, and, if the buoy is attached to a string of crab pots, with the number of pots in the string.

(d) The Department may require individual numbered markers supplied by the Department to be attached to every buoy.

(6) A person may not fish a crab pot licensed to another person.

(7) While crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, a person licensed to catch crabs with more than 50 crab pots may not at any time set or fish more than 300 crab pots unless the person is authorized to set or fish 600 or 900 crab pots.

(8) A person commercially licensed to catch crabs may set crab pots in the coastal bays of the Atlantic Ocean and their tidal tributaries subject to the following limitations:

(a) A person licensed to catch crabs with more than 50 pots may not set or fish more than 300 pots per day; and

(b) Regardless of the number of licensees per boat, not more than 300 pots per day may be set or fished.