Verified against 31 TAC 57.973 and the TPWD Outdoor Annual, September 2026. Rules change. Confirm with TPWD before you set gear. This page is a reference, not legal advice.
Escape vents: two per chamber at 2-3/8"
Under 31 TAC 57.973, a crab trap must have at least two escape vents of minimum 2-3/8" inside diameter in each crab-retaining chamber, located on the outside trap walls of each chamber. A two-chamber trap therefore carries four vents. Texas runs the 2-3/8" ring, same as Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. The 2-5/16" ring used in Alabama, Maryland and North Carolina is undersized here.
Degradable panel
Every trap needs a degradable panel, met by either:
- The lid tie-down strap secured at one end by a simple loop of untreated jute twine, sisal twine, or untreated steel wire of 20 gauge or smaller, so the lid falls open when it degrades; or
- At least one sidewall, not the bottom, with a rectangular opening no smaller than 3" by 6" in either dimension, obstructed only by a panel that hinges down when its twine or wire degrades
Trap construction and marking
- Maximum 18 cubic feet
- White floating buoy at least 6" by 6" by 6" with a 2" center stripe of contrasting color; commercial buoys also carry the license plate number in 2" contrasting letters, matching the number on the boat
- No plastic bottles as buoys or floats
- Recreational: gear tag valid 10 days, attached within 6" of the buoy or the pier the trap is tied to
- Traps may be pulled or emptied only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
Sizes and limits
| Rule | |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 5" carapace width |
| Undersize tolerance | No more than 5% by number |
| Egg-bearing females | Prohibited |
| Recreational traps | 6 at a time in most locations |
| License | Fishing license with saltwater endorsement, even from shore |
Texas's 5" is a 5" measure, year round. Our aluminum cull stick is listed at 5-1/4" for Maryland; call the shop for a 5" cut.
Annual closure
TPWD closes coastal waters to all crab traps and trap components for about ten days each February for derelict trap removal; the Outdoor Annual lists the dates (February 19 through 28 for 2027). Any trap in the water during the closure is presumed abandoned.
Sources
- 31 TAC 57.973, Devices, Means and Methods
- TPWD Outdoor Annual, Legal Devices, Methods & Restrictions
- TPWD Crab & Ghost Shrimp Regulations
Gear for Texas 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 vents: Texas 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: Texas is a 5" measure with a 5% tolerance. Machined aluminum, held to .005"; call for the 5" cut.