How to Measure Your Catch
Place the fish on a measuring board or stick with the tip of the jaw or snout (the mouth closed) at the end of the instrument. Hold the head down with one hand to keep the fish in place, pinch the upper and lower lobes of the tail together while swiping the tail back and forth across the board. Note the measurement of the longest part of the tail*; that is the “total length”. Keep in mind that fish which barely make the minimum length may shrink after being on ice for an hour or more. Sometimes it is possible to get an accurate measurement while the fish is still in the landing net.
*When measuring black sea bass do not include the long caudal fin filament in your measurement of total length.
Maryland DNR
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
