Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
Maryland
Fishing
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–December 31 | Daily—15 | |
Bluefish | 8 inches | Open Year Round | Shore or Private Boat: Daily—3 For-Hire Boat: Daily—5 | |
Cobia | 40 inches | June 15 – September 15 | 1 cobia per person per day; or up to 2 cobia per vessel per day if there are 2 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 | 33⁄8–5¼ 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 | See Highly Migratory Species | |||
Sheepshead | None | Open Year Round | Daily—4 | |
Snapper Species (includes many species, please see list) | None | Open Year Round | Daily—20 | 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 | Subject to change. Refer to online regulations for updates eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/ | |||
Spotted Seatrout | 14 inches | Open Year Round | Daily—4 | |
Striped Bass | See Atlantic 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 | Tilefish species—www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/getfile.aspx?file=08.02.05.29.htm Must follow federal limits and season 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, Hickory Shad and Shortnose Sturgeon | CLOSED | |||
* Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagic and Charter/Headboat Permits for Spanish and king mackerel as well as the Atlantic Charter/Headboat Dolphin/Wahoo For Hire Fishing Permit are available through the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Permits Office. |