Virgin crabs

[Louis D]

That's a new one for me. I'm watching Louisiana law they busted a crabber stealing from other people trap. Then they told him he was not allowed virgin female crabs showed him the triangle bottom to the round bottom. I only thought they went by size and no eggsacks

 

[Roccus7]

Guess LA doesn't allow retaining females, which would mean no significant soft shell business, as most softies are females...

ME has a variation on this theme with lobsters. When a female is caught with eggs, the harvester must notch a tail fin. That notch is a lifetime "Get Out Of Jail Free", as that confirmed breeder is not allowed to ever be harvested. "Virgins" of legal size are fair game...

 

[Louis D]

He showed him the round bottom crab that he was allowed to keep if they were his trap they can keep those females.

 

[Chevy1]

I never keep female crab. The survival rate from egg to adult of the thousands of eggs a female lays is very low, I think 3% the last time I read up on it.