Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits

Maryland Fishing

ATLANTIC OCEAN, COASTAL BAYS and TRIBUTARIES
Species	Minimum Size Limits	Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American eel	9 inches	January 1–August 31, except open year round for spears and baited traps or pots	Daily—25
Black Drum	16 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1 Boat limit—6
Black sea bass	12.5 inches	May 15–Dec 31	Daily—15
Bluefish	8 inches	Open Year Round	Shore or Private Boat: Daily–3 For-Hire Boat: Daily–5
Cobia	40 inches	June 1 – September 30	1 cobia per person per day; or up to 3 cobia per vessel per day if there are 3 or more individuals on the vessel
Croaker (Hardhead)	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—25
Dolphinfish (Mahi-Mahi)	None	Open Year Round	Daily—10 Boat limit—60	Only applies to federal waters.
Grouper species	None	Open Year Round	Daily—1	Grouper species—www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/getfile.aspx?file=08.02.05.29.htm
Lobster	3 3⁄8–5 ¼ inches carapace length	CLOSED Feb. 1–March 31	100/person/24 hour period or 500 for a 5-day or longer trip when using gear other than lobster traps	Must be landed whole. Spearing is prohibited. No egg-bearing females.
Red drum (Channel Bass or Puppy Drum)	18–27 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
Scup (Porgy)	8 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—50
Sharks	New Rules – See Highly Migratory Species
Sheepshead	None	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Snapper species (includes many species, please see list)	Subject to change. Refer to online regulations for updates eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/			Snapper species—www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/getfile.aspx?file=08.02.05.29.htm
Spanish Mackerel*	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—15
Spot	None	Open Year Round	None
Spotted seatrout	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Striped Bass	See Atlantic Striped Bass Section— Striped Bass
Summer Flounder (Fluke)	16.5 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Tautog	16 inches	CLOSED May 16–June 30	January 1–May 15: Daily—4 July 1–October 31: Daily—2 November 1–December 31: Daily—4
Tilefish (Blueline, Golden, Sand)	Tilefish species—www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/getfile.aspx?file=08.02.05.29.htm Must follow federal limits and season and permit and reporting requirements.
Wahoo	None	Open Year Round	Daily—2	Only applies to federal waters.
Weakfish	13 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic sturgeon, Blueback Herring and shortnose STURGEON	CLOSED
* Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagic Charter/Headboat Permits for Spanish and king mackerel are available through the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Permits Office.