Blue Crab In The Hudson River

The blue crab is a swimming crab found in the Hudson River with ecological, recreational, and commercial importance. They have five pairs of legs: the first pair are claws used for eating and defense, and the last pair of legs are modified as paddles for swimming. Blue crabs are omnivores that eat various prey items including mollusks, live or dead fish, and aquatic plants. They are lively animals and simple to catch, making them a popular species to capture recreationally and to eat. The Latin name of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, means "beautiful savory swimmer" and fits well with their impressive swimming skills.

Current Fishery

Blue crabs are popular among recreational and commercial anglers and can be caught using a variety of gears such as pots, lines, and trawls.

• Recreational Saltwater Crabbing Regulations
• Summary of Commercial Blue Crab Regulations
• Official Commercial Crabbing Regulations

Fish Consumption Advisory

Please visit the Department of Health's website for fish consumption advisories from the Hudson River and other waters of New York, as well as the blue crab cooking and eating guide.

Management

Unlike striped bass, river herring, American shad, and Atlantic sturgeon that are cooperatively managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the DEC is solely responsible for the management blue crabs throughout the Hudson River and the Marine District of New York.

Monitoring

Since 2004, DEC has been monitoring the demographics and movement of blue crab in the Hudson River. Blue crabs are collected in Newburgh using baited crab pots and length, sex, and maturity stage are recorded for each crab. Before releasing each crab to the river, a yellow tag is secured across the back of the crab. The tag has the number, DEC research, and a phone number 845-256-3009. If you catch a tagged crab, please call the phone number to report the catch information. This recapture data is recorded from call-ins from recreational and commercial crabbers along the Hudson River and marine waters to help determine movement patterns. If you happen to capture a tagged crab while in the Marine & Coastal District, please visit the Blue Crab Tagging Program webpage or call 631-444-0429 to report it.