Thread: Blue Crab as bait

What are the AL regulations on catching and using blue crab for bait? If by chance I am shore or pier fishing and capture (net) a small blue crab am I allowed to use it for bait?

This will be on a non-resident trip saltwater license.

Thanks

My understanding is that blue crabs are not permissible for bait. They must be 5 inches from tip to tip across the carapace which would preclude using the small ones as bait. http://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/...creational.pdf

The regulations are a bit fuzzy. Recreational Shrimpers are allowed to keep up to 1 gallon of undersized crabs for bait (see item #3), so the concept of using them for bait is recognized. Maybe one day the State will figure out what they mean to say. I have a recreational shrimp license, so I don't worry about that.

The undersize escape rings in traps have only been required recently.

If it is an issue to you I would call the State office on Dauphin Island.

As noted above, MRD makes an allowance for bait crabs.
This straight from the Man:

Keeping up to 1 gallon of small crabs as live bait is not an issue.
Keep your bait crabs separate (in a live well/bait bucket vs. cooler), from your eating crabs.
If you are keeping them for consumption, they must meet the 5" rule.

MRD knows this is a fuzzy area and that the current regs are confusing. They hope to fix it in the near future.

Keeping up to 1 gallon of small crabs as live bait is not an issue.
Keep your bait crabs separate (in a live well/bait bucket vs. cooler), from your eating crabs.

As Frednic pointed out, you can keep a gallon IF you have a recreational shrimper's license according to the law. Personally, I wouldn't chance running afoul of the MRD if I were to be stopped. I'd definitely seek out clarification before gathering a bucketful.