2025 Delaware Code
Title 7 - Conservation
Chapter 23. BLUE CRABS (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS)
§ 2305. Seasons; limits.

(a) No person shall catch and take or attempt to catch and take crabs in any of the waters under the jurisdiction of this State with any commercial crab pot or trotline between December 1 of each year and the last day of February immediately following.

(b) The Department may restrict the number of crab pots which may be set by any 1 licensee when, in its discretion, the Department determines from biological evidence that emergency restrictions are necessary to protect crabs or other shellfish resources of the State; they may do so with such advance notice as it deems necessary.

(c) No person shall catch and take or attempt to catch and take crabs by dredge in any of the waters under the jurisdiction of this State between March 31 of each year and December 15 thence next ensuing of any year.

(d) Commercial trotlines are limited to a maximum of 3 anchored long lines totaling no more than 3,600 feet.

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person who places, uses, or sets a crab trotline to harvest crabs from the trotline by any means other than hand dip netting.