Verified against Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division and Law Enforcement Division regulations, September 2026. Rules change. Confirm with Georgia DNR CRD before you set gear. This page is a reference, not legal advice.
Escape rings: two at 2-3/8"
Every crab trap set in Georgia saltwater must have two unobstructed escapement rings of 2-3/8" inside diameter installed on an outside vertical wall. Rings may not be placed in the floor or ceiling of the trap. Commercial and recreational traps carry the same requirement. Peeler pots are exempt.
Georgia runs the 2-3/8" ring, same as South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia Bay water. The 2-5/16" ring used in Maryland and North Carolina is undersized here.
Minimum sizes
| Crab | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Hard crab | 5" spike to spike |
| Peeler | 3" |
| Mature adult female | Exempt from the 5" minimum |
| Sponge crab | Prohibited |
Georgia's 5" hard crab is a 5" measure, year round. Our aluminum cull stick is listed at 5-1/4" for Maryland's late season; call the shop for a 5" cut.
Recreational gear
- Up to six standard crab traps, 2 ft by 2 ft or smaller, per person
- Each trap marked with a fluorescent green or lime green float, owner's name and address in 1" letters
- Traps weighted against tidal current; not set in marked channels
- Limit one bushel per person per 24 hours, two bushels per boat
- Saltwater open year round, any hour, unless otherwise designated
- Georgia fishing license and Saltwater Information Permit required
Commercial gear
Commercial traps carry the same 2-3/8" ring requirement. Floats must be a color other than green, visible at 100 feet, marked with the DNR-assigned identification number in 1" contrasting letters; the same ID goes on the vessel. Commercial crabbing is a limited-entry license; traps are permitted in 50-pot increments up to 200 per license.
Terrapins
Georgia does not require terrapin excluders on crab traps but encourages them. CRD has plans for building your own.
Sources
- Georgia DNR Law Enforcement, Shrimp, Crab, Shellfish & Bait Minnow Regulations
- Georgia DNR CRD, Commercial Saltwater Fishing Regulations
Gear for Georgia traps
- Door hooks: FlatStack, 4-1/4" overall, 3-1/2" center to center, cut for a commercial trap door. Bulk boxes from 100 to 10,000.
- Escape rings: Georgia requires 2-3/8". Our 2-5/16" ring is not legal here; we don't cut 2-3/8" yet. Tell us how many traps you fish.
- Cull stick: Georgia is a 5" measure. Machined aluminum, held to .005"; call for the 5" cut.