MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

[mthieme]

Every year about this time, the powers that be decide on the seasons regulations. They take effect April 1. Last year caused much confusion and the people at the counter had nothing to offer but a newspaper article. Oddly, the guys out on the rivers can quote chapter and verse.
Every year I purchase a boat decal with my registration (January) which entitles me to crab and fish (along with anyone else in the boat). It's a crabbing/fishing license.

Perusing the slides from this years proposals I ran across these items.

* The complimentary crabbing license will no longer be included in the Bay Sport Fishing Boat Decal - individual crab licenses must be purchased separately.

* The Recreational Crab Boat Decal will continue to include an individual license that allows the license holder to crab anywhere, not just on the boat.

I have the first decal which was purchased with a license for 2009. These stickers cost $50. A crabbing license costs $5.

The second one I have never seen or heard of.
There is yet another similar to the first which I have found the only difference to be half the price and non-existent (like the crab decal) outside of words on paper. Obviously, I'll be saving $45 next year on.

Here's my question. Is someone gonna have to bail me outta jail because DNR changed the rules after I spent 10X too much on what will be the wrong license?
Can I get a refund on an unused sticker?

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Before the Bay sport liscense gave you crabbing and fishing for people on the boat. It still does that.
I think the complementary crab liscense they're talking about is the $5 one, they used to give you one when you bought you sticker for the boat...don't ask my why you'd need a crab liscense if you have one on your boat already..I guess so you can crab on someone else's boat?

So, you can still crab with the 2009 bay sport liscense just like before.

If you don't fish and only crab on your boat then all you need is the $5 liscense. not sure on the refund, you'd have to call the DNR

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Before (key word) the license included with the sticker was "complimentary", not the $5 one.

The proposal states that you can crab with the sticker - as long as you register (free) which entitles you to 4 dozen, just like any other chicken necker or buy a $5 license to get you back to where you started $50 ago.

I have two boats I crab with, fortunately I haven't bought the second sticker.
With a $5 license I don't need boat stickers.
Seems like DNR is shooting themselves in the foot.
Everybody on the river that crabs buys a boat sticker.

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

So what you're saying is now the bay sport is just fishing? I guess I read it differently.
I usually buy the boat sticker (and end up doing very little fishing compared to crabbing)
With the $5 one you don't even need 2 as long as you're only using one boat at a time..sounds like they're losing a lota money with that move

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

it looks like with the $5 it just lets you crab though.. if you take more people on the boat they all need a $5 liscense too. Or you'd have to get the $15 boat sticker...hopefulyl when they print the 2009 regs it'll be less confusing! I'm not buying a sticker till theres a new transom in my boat anyway.

 

[Edko]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Consolidated Bay Sport Boat License
For a resident or non-resident boat, that is not for hire, to fish and crab the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries .............................................................................................................................................................................$50.00
1
. Persons fishing aboard licensed boats do not need a license.
2. A complimentary Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing License is issued to the boat owner who purchases this license.

This is in the 2009 Handbook,

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/pdfs/2009MSFG.pdf

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

And I hope DNR and/or the judge buys that line after they change the rule. I've already gotten a legal opinion on this since I started the thread (from a retired judge). He said to expect a ticket, although what they are doing is not right. But, the game is being played on their turf.

 

[bowman316]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

The 50 buck boat sticker entitles you to a bushel,
if you have another person on board, you can get 2 bushels, If that person has another $5 crab liscense.

bottom line,
2 ppl
with 2 crab liscenses,
= 2 bushels.


And the crab liscense can go from boat to boat.
but it has a name on it, so it is not transferable to someone else.

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

...up until April 1, if the proposal goes through.

 

[bowman316]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

where did you read about this proposal?

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/crab/BCPublicHearing2_09.pdf

They've had slightly more detail in the Gazette (capitalonline.com)

 

[bowman316]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

yea, sounds like if this passes, you will have to pay an additional 15 for anyone to crab aboard your boat,
or 5 for a personal liscense, and have who ever crabs with you get a liscense too.

Seems like they just want to keep better track of who is actually crabbing.

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

The intent to to get a better count of the crabs that are being harvested.
The commercial guys are notorious for submitting bad numbers for their own reasons. I've been crabbing all my life...noone has ever asked how many I caught...they do manage to ask if I have any females, are any undersize, etc., etc.
I think they are going to shoot themselves in the foot financially. I use two boats to crab with, $100 total. With this , I'll only need the $5 license...or just register and be happy to settle for 4 dozen.

 

[bowman316]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

they can never count every crab that gets caught.
they can only know who is allowed to crab. But not when and how often they will crab, and how many they catch.

The picture I got from this proposal was they are not trying to make more money, just know who is going to be crabbing.


And you could have always just gotten the $5 liscense so you can crab on 2 different boats.

 

[Edko]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Makes no sense to implement new rules in April, after people already purchase licenses and assume to be law-abiding. But that's Momland for ya.

Nice catch on the reg proposals, and thanks for bringing it up. For anyone interested who doesnt like pdfs,

4. I have a Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing boat decal. Will I have to get a crabbing license or register to crab?
Yes. The Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing boat decal currently comes with a complimentary crabbing license. Under the proposed regulations,it would no longer come with this crabbing license. So in order to crab from your boat, you will need to either register (to keep up to 4 dozen from a boat) or purchase a crabbing license (to keep up to 1 bushel or up to 2 bushels if another licensed individual is on board).

I guess my concern is if you already got the sticker and comp crab license, is there not a conflict (again, assuming new regs pass)? Meaning, you have a license per current regs...would they not grandfather?

 

[bowman316]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Makes no sense to implement new rules in April, after people already purchase licenses and assume to be law-abiding. But that's Momland for ya.

Nice catch on the reg proposals, and thanks for bringing it up. For anyone interested who doesnt like pdfs,

4. I have a Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing boat decal. Will I have to get a crabbing license or register to crab?
Yes. The Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing boat decal currently comes with a complimentary crabbing license. Under the proposed regulations,it would no longer come with this crabbing license. So in order to crab from your boat, you will need to either register (to keep up to 4 dozen from a boat) or purchase a crabbing license (to keep up to 1 bushel or up to 2 bushels if another licensed individual is on board).

I guess my concern is if you already got the sticker and comp crab license, is there not a conflict (again, assuming new regs pass)? Meaning, you have a license per current regs...would they not grandfather?

I think you already have a crabbing liscense, the complementary crabbing liscnse should be just as good as the $5 one.

 

[mthieme]

Re: MD Crabbing Regulation - Interpretation Please

Makes no sense to implement new rules in April, after people already purchase licenses and assume to be law-abiding. But that's Momland for ya.

I guess my concern is if you already got the sticker and comp crab license, is there not a conflict (again, assuming new regs pass)? Meaning, you have a license per current regs...would they not grandfather?

That's part that makes me hotter than a half fed fox in a forest fire.
I always get my stickers right after Xmas along with the boat stickers. That'll change.