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 at dsamuels@dnr.state.md.us.
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" | OPEN YEAR ROUND 25/person/day |
|
| Bass, Black Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth |
12" 15" = Mar 1 - Jun 15 |
Open Year Round 5/person/day |
Pocomoke and its tributaries Closure Jul 15 - Aug 31 |
| Bass, Striped CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY |
Mar 1, 2006 - May 3, 2006 Please use Circle Hooks |
Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point and downstream from the lower Railroad Bridge near Perry Point, excluding the area of Susquehanna River from the Railroad Bridge near Perry Point upstream to the base of the Conowingo Dam; and Northeast River. No eels. If using bait and hook has gap 1/2" or more, must use circle hook. | |
| Bass, Striped (Bay) | TBA | Spring Trophy Season Apr 15, 2006 - May 15, 2006 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) |
|
18"-28" |
May 16, 2006 - Dec. 15, 2006 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, 2006- 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 5 mi. into the Chester, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers. June 1 - Dec. 15, 2006: Maryland's Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries. Charter boat captain or mate
= 1/fish/boat/trip |
|
|
Bass, Striped Call the Potomac River Fisheries
Commission at |
TBA | Apr 15, 2006 - May 15, 2006 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, 2006 - Dec 31, 2006 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) |
14" | Open year round |
By rod, hook and line only |
| Clam, Hard | Transverse 1" |
Open year round 250/person/day |
|
| Crab,
Blue |
All season
|
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 |
Click here to get
a more detailed description of the 2005 crab regulations
Click here to get a more detailed description of the 2005 crab regulations for the Potomac River Click here to get a more detailed description of the Crab Regulations in Ocean City and seaside Bays. |
| 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. (License is required to set pots) |
| Flounder, Summer | 15" |
2 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 | 3¼" carapace | Open year round | Proposed 3 3/8" and Max 5 1/2" Female |
| 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" | Single, barbless hooks required Feb 1 - Mar 15 5/person/day |
CLOSED Watersheds: Magothy, Nanticoke, Patapsco, Severn, South and West Rivers |
| Scup | 8" |
50/person/day Jan 1-Feb 28 and Jul 1-Oct 31 |
Closed Mar 1 - Jun 30 and Nov 1 - Dec 31in EEZ |
| Sea Trout, Spotted | 14" | Open year round 10 fish/person/day |
|
| 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 Nov 30 5 fish/person/day |
Closed month of December |
| Terrapin |
6" | Aug 1 thru April 30 | Measured along bottom shell. May not possess, destroy or disturb diamond-back terrapin eggs. Provisions relating to size do not apply to anyone who owns not more than 3 diamond-back terrapins kept as pets. |
| Weakfish | 13" |
Open year round 8 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. Call the National Marine Fisheries Service for more information.
Shark - (301)713 -2347
Tuna (888)872-8862
http://www.nmfspermits.com/
