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Jimmy (large male) · Sook (mature female)

Blue crab

Male blue crab seen from above, showing blue claws and the spined edge of the shell, on pale shells
Karkinos19 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recognition

Smooth oblong shell in gray, blue or brownish green with nine spines along each side, the rearmost the largest. Males have blue claws and a T-shaped abdomen. Mature females have bright orange claw tips. Average shell width about five and a half inches for males and six for females.

SC DNR · SC DNR

Waters

Estuaries, coastal bays, sounds and nearshore waters, often near submerged vegetation or oyster reefs. Males favor soft-bottom tidal creeks. At high tide crabs swim into the salt marsh.

SC DNR · SC DNR

Months

Year-round

Present in South Carolina estuaries year-round and inactive in winter at water temperatures near 50 to 55 degrees. Large, heavy crabs are usually best October through December. Georgia saltwaters are open year-round for recreational crabbing.

SC DNR · GA DNR

Months present, by species
SpeciesJanJFebFMarMAprAMayMJunJJulJAugASepSOctONovNDecD
Blue crabJan: presentFeb: presentMar: presentApr: presentMay: presentJun: presentJul: presentAug: presentSep: presentOct: peakNov: peakDec: peak
  • Present
  • Peak
  • Not stated

Bait

  • Oily fish (pots)
  • Herring (drop nets and collapsible traps)
  • Chicken neck (string and dip net)
  • Fish head (string and dip net)

SC DNR

Notes

Drop nets and collapsible traps can be fished from docks and bridges. For dip netting, bait tied to a string is thrown in; once a tug is felt the crab is pulled close enough to scoop with a long-handled net.

SC DNR

Georgia allows legal crabs from crab traps and other legal gear including cast nets, hand-lines and lift rings.

GA DNR

Size and bag limits