Blue Crab in Pennsylvania
blue crab under the 2026 Summary.
- One (1) bushel (comblimit
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Philadelphia: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Pennsylvania profile of blue crab
Under PFBC rules Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is game fish, covered by 1 water class. Inland, on delaware river and estuary waters, the rule is one (1) bushel (combined hard shell and soft shell); minimum 4 inches (hard shell), 3.5 inches (soft shell), point to point; season open year-round.
The PFBC record and stocking lists leave it out.
Creel and season table for Pennsylvania blue crab
| Water class | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware River and estuary | Delaware River and estuary waters | One (1) bushel (combined hard shell and soft shell); minimum 4 inches (hard shell), 3.5 inches (soft shell), point to point | Open year-round |
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PA Fish and Boat Commission; in effect or proposed as of October 1, 2025, PDF revised February 27, 2026), page 10 to 14. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Fish that share rules with blue crab
- Largemouth Bassgame fish
- Smallmouth Bassgame fish
- Spotted Bassgame fish
- Rock Bassgame fish
- Striped Bassgame fish
- White Bassgame fish
- Bluegillgame fish
- Pumpkinseedgame fish
- Redbreast Sunfishgame fish
- Crappiegame fish
- Yellow Perchgame fish
- White Perchgame fish
Ridges, rivers and lakes around Blue Crab, pictured
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael A. Orlando, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions on catching blue crab in Pennsylvania
What size limit covers blue crab in Pennsylvania?
One (1) bushel (combined hard shell and soft shell); minimum 4 inches (hard shell), 3.5 inches (soft shell), point to point on delaware river and estuary waters, season open year-round; other water classes have their own rows.
Who holds the Pennsylvania blue crab record?
No PFBC record exists for it.
Which pages name blue crab?
No lake or stream page here lists it so far.
Is blue crab on the 2026 stocking lists?
The 2026 lists include no stockings of it.
Which Latin binomial does the PFBC print for blue crab?
Callinectes sapidus; listed as game fish.
Can I fish for blue crab all year in Pennsylvania?
Open year-round on delaware river and estuary waters.
How much does a license for blue crab cost?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Pennsylvania fishing license: $27.97 for residents, $60.97 for nonresidents and $14.47 for resident seniors, fees included.
Is there a guide for blue crab here?
No permitted guide lists it.