2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
41
CRABS
NOTE: It is UNLAWFUL to place, fish or leave
a crab trap component in the coastal waters
of this state from Feb. 16–25, 2018.
• There are no public salt waters, seasons
or times closed to the taking and retaining
of crabs and ghost shrimp, EXCEPT as
provided in this guide.
• It is lawful to take, attempt to take or
possess crabs and ghost shrimp by
means, in numbers, and of sizes ONLY
as described below.
BAG, POSSESSION
AND LENGTH LIMITS
Blue crab
• Daily Bag: No limit
• Possession: No limit
• Except that not more than 5% by number, of undersized blue crabs may be
possessed for bait purposes only and
must be placed in a separate container.
• May not possess egg-bearing (sponge)
crabs.
• May not possess a female crab that has
its abdominal apron detached.
• Minimum Length: five inches
• Measured across the widest point of the
body from tip of spine to tip of spine
(see page 25).
Stone crab (right claw only)
• Daily Bag: No limit
• Possession: No limit
• Only the right claw may be retained or
possessed.
• The body of the stone crab must be
returned immediately to the water from
which it was taken.
• Minimum Length: 2-1/2 inches claw
measurement
• Measured from the tip of the immovable
claw to the first joint behind the claw
(see page 25).
DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS
Crab Line: A baited line with no hook attached.
• Must be marked with a white floating buoy
not less than 6 inches in height, 6 inches
in length and 6 inches in width.
• Buoys must be marked with a commercial
crab fisherman’s license plate number in
letters of a contrasting color at least 2
inches high attached to the trap.
• Buoys or floats may not be made of plastic
bottle(s) of any color or size.
Crab Traps:
• May only remove crab traps from the
water or remove crabs from crab traps
during the period from 30 minutes before
sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Maximum Number of Traps Allowed:
• Only 200 crab traps at a time may be
used while fishing for bait purposes
under the authority of a commercial
crab fisherman’s license.
• Only 20 crab traps at a time may be used
while fishing under the authority of a
commercial finfish fisherman’s license.
Crabs harvested are for bait purposes
only and may not be sold.
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a
valid GEAR TAG (See Page 5) attached
within 6 inches of the buoy.
• Construction and Design Restrictions
(See Page 43):
• Crab traps may not exceed 18 cubic feet.
• Crab traps must be equipped with at least
two escape vents in each crab-retaining
chamber and located on the outside trap
walls.
• Escape vents must be at least
2-3/8 inch in diameter.
• Crab traps must be marked with an
attached white floating buoy not less
than 6 inches in height, 6 inches in
length and 6 inches width.
• Crab traps fished under the authority of
a commercial crab fisherman’s license
must have buoys marked with a commercial crab fisherman’s license plate
number in letters of a contrasting color at
least 2 inches high.
• Crab traps fished under the authority of
a commercial finfish fisherman’s
license must have buoys marked with a
commercial finfish fisherman’s license
plate number preceded with the letter
“F” in letters of a contrasting color at
least 2 inches high attached to the trap.
• Buoys or floats may not be made of
plastic bottle(s) of any color or size.
• Crab traps must be equipped with a
degradable panel. A trap is considered
to have a degradable panel if one of the
following methods is used in construc262
41
CRABS
NOTE: It is UNLAWFUL to place, fish or leave
a crab trap component in the coastal waters
of this state from Feb. 16–25, 2018.
• There are no public salt waters, seasons
or times closed to the taking and retaining
of crabs and ghost shrimp, EXCEPT as
provided in this guide.
• It is lawful to take, attempt to take or
possess crabs and ghost shrimp by
means, in numbers, and of sizes ONLY
as described below.
BAG, POSSESSION
AND LENGTH LIMITS
Blue crab
• Daily Bag: No limit
• Possession: No limit
• Except that not more than 5% by number, of undersized blue crabs may be
possessed for bait purposes only and
must be placed in a separate container.
• May not possess egg-bearing (sponge)
crabs.
• May not possess a female crab that has
its abdominal apron detached.
• Minimum Length: five inches
• Measured across the widest point of the
body from tip of spine to tip of spine
(see page 25).
Stone crab (right claw only)
• Daily Bag: No limit
• Possession: No limit
• Only the right claw may be retained or
possessed.
• The body of the stone crab must be
returned immediately to the water from
which it was taken.
• Minimum Length: 2-1/2 inches claw
measurement
• Measured from the tip of the immovable
claw to the first joint behind the claw
(see page 25).
DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS
Crab Line: A baited line with no hook attached.
• Must be marked with a white floating buoy
not less than 6 inches in height, 6 inches
in length and 6 inches in width.
• Buoys must be marked with a commercial
crab fisherman’s license plate number in
letters of a contrasting color at least 2
inches high attached to the trap.
• Buoys or floats may not be made of plastic
bottle(s) of any color or size.
Crab Traps:
• May only remove crab traps from the
water or remove crabs from crab traps
during the period from 30 minutes before
sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Maximum Number of Traps Allowed:
• Only 200 crab traps at a time may be
used while fishing for bait purposes
under the authority of a commercial
crab fisherman’s license.
• Only 20 crab traps at a time may be used
while fishing under the authority of a
commercial finfish fisherman’s license.
Crabs harvested are for bait purposes
only and may not be sold.
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a
valid GEAR TAG (See Page 5) attached
within 6 inches of the buoy.
• Construction and Design Restrictions
(See Page 43):
• Crab traps may not exceed 18 cubic feet.
• Crab traps must be equipped with at least
two escape vents in each crab-retaining
chamber and located on the outside trap
walls.
• Escape vents must be at least
2-3/8 inch in diameter.
• Crab traps must be marked with an
attached white floating buoy not less
than 6 inches in height, 6 inches in
length and 6 inches width.
• Crab traps fished under the authority of
a commercial crab fisherman’s license
must have buoys marked with a commercial crab fisherman’s license plate
number in letters of a contrasting color at
least 2 inches high.
• Crab traps fished under the authority of
a commercial finfish fisherman’s
license must have buoys marked with a
commercial finfish fisherman’s license
plate number preceded with the letter
“F” in letters of a contrasting color at
least 2 inches high attached to the trap.
• Buoys or floats may not be made of
plastic bottle(s) of any color or size.
• Crab traps must be equipped with a
degradable panel. A trap is considered
to have a degradable panel if one of the
following methods is used in construc262