Crabbing Over Two Days

March 24, 2011

Question:If I go out crabbing on my boat and get a limit of 10 Dungeness crabs before midnight, can I then go out after midnight till morning and catch another limit? I figure since technically it is two different days, this is possible. I really want to make sure that I meet all DFG regulations. (Frank M.)

Answer: Only one limit of crab may be in your possession at any time, and there are no exceptions. If you’re going to fish two days and hope to take two limits total, you can fish one day but then must go back to shore and give those 10 crabs to another person who doesn’t have any of their own. Then, the following day you could go out again to take a limit for yourself. Whoever receives your gift of crab doesn’t need to have a fishing license, but if they don’t possess a license they cannot help you by doing anything related to taking crab (baiting jars, setting or pulling traps, taking crab from the trap, etc.).