Summary of Maryland Tidal Recreational Fisheries Regulations
FISH HEALTH HOTLINE:1-877-224-7229
This is an abridged version of the regulations and does not include all regulated species. May not include Emergency Amendments, Quota Closures/Modifications or Proposed Amendments. Under State Govt. Article, Section 7-217, Annotated Code of Maryland, the printed version of COMAR is the official and enforceable text. Only the official text may be judicially noticed under Courts and Judicial Proceedings, Section 10-203, Annotated Code of Maryland. Consult the Maryland Register, Code of Maryland Regulations and Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for full legal text. Maryland regulates the following finfish and shellfish species as listed below. This is not a comprehensive list of all finfish or shellfish species in Maryland, only the finfish or shellfish species regulated by Maryland. For additional information call DNR Fisheries Service, 410 260-8260 or 1-800-688-FINS or e-mail Dianne Samuels.
The EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) All waters from the seaward boundary of coastal states (3 miles from shore) out to 200 nautical miles. Maryland waters is from the shore to 3 miles. Click here for more Rules.Potomac River Fisheries Commission Regulations
| Species | Minimum Size | Season, Days, Times, Creel Limits | Special Conditions/Comments |
| Bass, Black Sea | 12-1/2" | Open Year Round 25/person/day |
|
| Bass, Black Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth |
12" 15" = Mar 1 - Jun 15 |
Open Year Round 5/person/day |
|
| Bass, Striped |
CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY Catch and Keep |
Mar 1, 2009 - May 3, 2009 May 16 - May 31, 2009 |
Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to
Turkey Point and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting the
Susquehanna State Park Boat Ramp in Lapidum to Twin Rocks to Tomes Wharf
in Port Deposit; and Northeast River. No eels.
If using bait and hook has gap 1/2" or more, must use non-offset circle hooks. Please use non-offset circle hooks |
| Bass, Striped (Bay) |
28" |
|
No Eels. Restricted to the mainstem Chesapeake Bay from
Brewerton Channel to the Maryland/ Virginia Line, Tangier & Pocomoke
Sounds (no Tributaries)
|
|
18"-28" |
May 16, 2009 - Dec. 15, 2009 |
May 16 - 31, 2009- Restricted to the mainstem Chesapeake Bay from a Line between Tolchester to the south pt. of Hart-Miller Island south to the MD/ VA Line plus areas of the Chester, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers.
June 1 - Dec. 15, 2009: Maryland's Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries. |
|
Bass, Striped Call the Potomac River Fisheries
Commission at |
28" |
Apr 18, 2009 - May 15, 2009 1/person/day |
Downstream of the Harry W. Nice Bridge (US 301), including the Maryland and Virginia tributaries downstream of the bridge |
| 18"-28" | May 16, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009 2 @ 18" - 28" OR 1 @ 18" - 28" and 1 larger than 28"/person/day |
Downstream of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95), including the Maryland and Virginia tributaries downstream of the bridge. | |
| Bass, Striped (Ocean) | 28" | Open year round 2/person/day | Prohibited in EEZ beyond MD waters (3 miles -200 miles from shore) |
| Bluefish | 8" | Open year round 10/person/day | |
| Catfish: Blue, Channel, White | 10" | Open year round | (Except bullheads) |
| Pickerel, Chain | 14" | 10/person/day | CLOSED Mar 15 - Apr 30 |
| Pike, Walleyed (Walleye) |
15" |
Open year round |
By rod and reel, hook and line only |
| Clam, Hard | Transverse 1" |
Open year round 250/person/day |
|
| Crab,
Blue |
All season
|
Apr 1 - Dec 15 |
Harvest of Females is prohibited effective March 23, 2009, except soft crabs. Crabbing will be permitted on Nov 11, 2009 and Nov 25, 2009 Click here to get
a more detailed description of the 2009 crab regulations
|
| Croaker | 9" | Open year round 25/person/day |
|
| Drum, Black | 16" | 1/person/day & not more than 6/boat/day | |
| Drum, Red | 18" - 27" |
Open year round 1/person/day | |
| Eel, American | 6" | If pot mesh less than 1/2" x 1/2" escape panel required | With a recreational crab license-10 pots
for bait for personal use. (License is required to set pots) |
Flounder, Summer |
16 ½" |
1 fish/person/day |
Click here to see size and creel for the Atlantic Ocean and its Coastal Bays |
| Herring | NONE | CLOSED Jun 6 - Dec 31 | |
| Lobster | 3-3/8" carapace | Open year round |
100 Lobster/person/day or 500 lobster/trip for 5 day or longer trip. V-notched females are prohibited. |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 14" | Open year round 15/fish/person/day | |
| Oysters | 3" | Oct 1-Mar 31-1 Bushel/day Mon-Fri sunrise-3 PM Sat sunrise to noon |
CLOSED AREAS shaft tongs, rakes, hand and diving |
| Perch, White | Gear other than hook & line 8" |
No size limit for Hook & Line | |
| Perch, Yellow | 9" |
10/person/day |
Sea Trout, Spotted | 14" | Open year round 10 fish/person/day |
| Scup | 8" | Open year round 50 fish/person/day |
Closed Mar 1-Sep 17 and Dec 1-Dec 31 in EEZ |
| Shad, American & Hickory | CLOSED TO POSSESSION | CLOSED TO POSSESSION | |
| Snapping Turtles | NONE | OPEN YEAR ROUND | May not use hook and line, trotline, bow and arrow, spear, gig or gig iron or any device that would pierce any part of a turtle. May not catch or attempt to catch in tributary waters of Charles Co. from 4/15 - 5/31 |
| Sturgeon, Atlantic & Shortnose | CLOSED | CLOSED | |
| Tautog | 14" | Jan 1 thru May 15 and Nov 1 thru |
Closed month of December |
| Walleye | 15" |
Open year round 5 fish/person/day |
|
| Weakfish | 13" |
Open year round 6 fish/person/day |
Note: A Tidal Sport Fishing License Required for all individuals 16 yrs and older
to fish for finfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.THE TAKING OF AMERICAN AND HICKORY SHAD AND ATLANTIC AND SHORTNOSE STURGEON IS PROHIBITED.
Shark and Tuna are Federally Managed Species. Recreational Shark Requirements
Call the National Marine Fisheries Service for more information.Shark - (301)713 -2347
Tuna (888)872-8862
http://www.nmfspermits.com/