There is no minimum size for recreational crayfish; However, all berry crabs (also called sponge crabs) must be released immediately after being caught. They are female crabs with large masses of orange to brown sponge-like eggs located between their ventral lobes and bodies. There are two ways to differentiate between male and female blue crabs, the color of the claws and the ventral shape of the “apron”. Adult male crabs have bright blue claws, while female crabs have red tips. The belly or underside of a crab has what is commonly referred to as an apron. In males, this apron is long and pointed, while in females, the apron is wider and rounder. Immature females have triangular bottoms and are called “V-bottoms”. There is no minimum size for blue crabs, stone crabs or stone crab claws. The recreational possession limit for blue crabs is 12 dozen per person per day. No one is allowed to harvest adult female crabs at the berry stage (with eggs or young attached to the belly). It is forbidden to lure, groom, check or walk on crab traps from half an hour after legal sunset until half an hour before legal sunrise.

Crab availability varies seasonally and is affected by the life cycle, abundance and size of the crab. Since crabs undergo a series of moults during their growth, you can catch a composition of stages at different times of the year, hard shell, peeler (just before molting) and soft shell (scales only). Crab conditions Crabs thrive in water of 70 to 75 degrees F, and the main crab season traditionally includes the period from late spring to early summer and late summer to early fall, when the water is warm but not too hot. Soft-shell crabs are mainly available from March to November, with the most productive months being from May to September. Crabs at this stage are hard to find when the temperature drops below 50 degrees F. Beach crabs should also be aware that Louisiana prohibits the possession of beverage containers or glass bottles on Louisiana beaches. The requirements for recreational crab are minimal, both in terms of licence and equipment. But according to Sgt. Mike Garrity of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, certain permits are required and there are certain rules for the game. The use of crab traps requires a $15 recreational fishing equipment licence, as well as a basic fishing licence.

With these permits, a maximum of 10 crab traps can be used. Each crab trap must be marked with a label bearing the licence number of the crab trap equipment. If you fish for shrimp in your spare time using a landing net, landing net, crab net or minnow trap, you will need: People fishing for crabs in LDWF wildlife management areas or refuges must hold a basic recreational fishing license or a Wild Louisiana stamp. For the use of crab traps, a permit for recreational equipment of crab traps is required. * There is a limit of 10 traps per authorized fisherman. Crab traps may be prohibited on some TDMA and LDWF shelters. Crabs have a hard outer shell or exoskeleton. The shell cannot stretch as crabs grow, so they must molt or shed their shell to grow. During their lifetime, which usually lasts about 3 years, the process of excretion takes place again and again, up to 25 times. Bottom and saltwater licences do not allow more than 10 recreational crab traps per licensed person.

New guidelines from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fish now require a roadside crab fishing license. For soft-shelled crabs, dozens are typically sold “direct series,” which includes all sizes, or classified as small, medium and large. Individual manufacturers may sell by weight or otherwise. Therefore, to avoid confusion when buying soft-shell crabs, buyers should specify by size (in inches) or weight. See the size and weight chart as a guide: Cooked crabs: Plan 2 to 4 crabs per person, depending on the size of the cooked crabs. Typically, one bushel of #1 contains 60 to 72 crabs feeding about 10 to 12 people. If other foods are on the menu, then only half as many crabs are needed. Also consider quantity and appetite.