Maryland's Department of Natural Resources has released over 5 million young largemouth bass into Maryland's tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay since 1980. Routine stocking is sometimes necessary to maintain or grow bass fisheries, such as when habitat conditions severely limit reproduction. To assist in stocking, the department considers input from anglers and the general public alike, as well as bass fishing clubs. All fish stocking follows a stocking policy established in 2014.
Bass are usually raised in the department's warm water hatcheries at
Joseph Manning Hatchery and
Unicorn Lake Hatchery. The department also purchases largemouth from state-approved vendors to stock some rivers and works in conjunction with
Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. who grow bass which are routinely stocked in the Gunpowder River and Middle River. Please see below for the most recent list of stocked areas.
