This is an abridged version of the rules and does not include all regulated species. Consult the Maryland Register, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) and Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for full legal text. For the complete, searchable, text of these regulations click here to access the Maryland Division of State Documents.

Summaries of Commerical & Recreational Fishing Laws

Maryland Blue Crab Summary of Regulations ↓

Maryland Blue Crab Summary

Commercial Regulations ↓

All Commercial Regulations by Species

Recreation Regulations ↓

Non-Tidal (freshwater) Recreational Fishing Regulations

Coastal Recreational Fishing Regulations

Tidal Recreational Fishing Regulations

Please refer to the Maryland Fishing Guide Book for most recreational regulations.

• Maryland Statutes are available for viewing from the Maryland General Assembly Website.

Below are documents which contain gear and fishery specific laws. For additional and/or related laws or for updates on the laws contained in these dated documents, please visit our public notice webpage, COMAR and the Maryland Code.

• Bait (NON-TIDAL) Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Bait (TIDAL) Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Blue Crab Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Bow Fishing Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Coastal Bays Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Commercial Hook and Line Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Commercial Tidal Fishing Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Fishing Guide Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Fish Pot Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Fyke Net Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Gill Net Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Hard Clam Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Haul Seine Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Hoop Net Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Oyster Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Pound Net Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Recreational Hook and Line Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Recreational Striped Bass Specific Laws (.pdf)
• Recreational Tidal Fish Laws (.pdf)
• All Gear and Fisheries Specific Laws