Summary of Maryland Tidal Recreational Fisheries Regulations

FISH HEALTH HOTLINE:1-888-584-3110

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.

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Regulations

Species	Minimum Size	Season, Days, Times, Creel Limits	Special Conditions/Comments
Bass, Black Sea	12"	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 18" - 26"	Mar 1, 2008 - May 9, 2008 ______________________ May 16 - May 31, 2008 1/person/day	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"	Spring Trophy Season Apr 19, 2008 - May 13, 2008 1/person/day Captain/mate not eligible May not possess striped bass while fishing between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m.	No Eels. Restricted to the mainstem Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Maryland/ Virginia Line, Tangier & Pocomoke Sounds (no Tributaries) Proposed Maximum two charterboat trips/day
	18"-28"	May 14 and 15 - Catch and Release Only May 16, 2008 - Dec. 15, 2008 2 @ 18"- 28" OR 1 @ 18" - 28" and 1 larger than 28"/person/day. May not possess striped bass while fishing between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m.	May 16 - 31, 2008- 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. Click here to see map Charter boat captain or mate = 1/fish/boat/trip Maximum two charterboat trips/day June 1 - Dec. 15, 2008: Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Charter boat captain or mate = 1/fish/boat/trip Maximum two charterboat trips/day
Bass, Striped (Potomac River) Call the Potomac River Fisheries Commission at 800-266-3904	28"	Apr 19, 2008 - May 15, 2008 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, 2008 - Dec 31, 2008 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 5/person/day	By rod and reel, hook and line only
Clam, Hard	Transverse 1"	Open year round 250/person/day
Crab, Blue	All season 3 1/2" Soft Crab No Min. size for Mature Females 4/1-7/14 5" Hard 3¼" Peeler 7/15 - 12/15 5¼" Hard 3½" Peeler	Apr 1 - Dec 15 Closed Wednesdays Except handlines, dip nets and pots at private piers Apr, Oct, Nov and Dec 1/2 hour after sunrise-5:00 PM main Bay 1/2 hour after sunrise - sunset in tributaries May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep 1/2 hour before sunrise-5:00 PM main Bay 1/2 hour before sunrise -sunset in tributaries	Crabbing will be permitted on November 26, 2008 Click here to get a more detailed description of the 2007 crab regulations Click here to get a more detailed description of the 2007 crab regulations for the Potomac River Click here to get a more detailed description of the Crab Regulations in Ocean City and seaside Bays.  Changes being proposed for 2008 Season
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 Open Year Round	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	Max 5½" Female Changes for 2008 being proposed
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" Gear other than hook and line 8 1/2"	5/person/day	CLOSED Watersheds: Magothy, Nanticoke, Patapsco, Severn, South and West Rivers McIntosh Run (off Breton Bay) and Northeast Creek (off Northeast River) no harvest, recreational or commercial, is allowed from February 1 – March 31.
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	CLOSED
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 Nov 30-4/person/day May 16 thru Oct 31-2/person/day	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.