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Nontidal Seasons, Minimum Sizes, Daily Creel & Possession Limits

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The following tables summarize rules governing the harvest and possession of fish species that anglers commonly catch in Maryland. This is an abridged summary and does not include all regulated species. Full information and updates are available at: www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/regindex.asp.

Nontidal Hook & Line
Species	Minimum Size Limits		Closed Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American eel	6 inches			Daily – 25 Possession – 25	Eels may not be taken by gig in any Put-and-Take Trout Fishing Areas or Special Trout Fisheries Management Area.
Baitfish (Including madtoms)				Daily – 35 in aggregate Possession – 35 in aggregate
Bass (largemouth & smallmouth)	12 inches or as provided for by special regulations.		March 1– June 15	Daily – 5 in aggregate Possession – 10 in aggregate	Catch & Release is permitted at all times.
Bivalve/shellfish (mussels & clams)			No Open Season
Carp	None			Daily – 15 Possession – 30
Chain pickerel	14 inches			Daily – 5 Possession – 5
Channel catfish	None			Daily – 5 Possession – 10
Crappie	None			Daily – 15 Possession – 30
Herring (alewife & blueback)			No Open Season
Muskellunge & Tiger muskie	36 inches			Daily – 1 Possession – 1
Northern pike	30 inches			Daily – 2 Possession – 2
Shad (American/white & hickory)			No Open Season		Catch & Release is permitted.
Striped bass (rockfish & hybrid striped bass)	18 inches			2 striped bass/striped bass hybrid per day, only one of which may be over 30 inches.	Striped bass and hybrid striped bass in nontidal waters may be taken only from Liberty Reservoir, Piney Run Reservoir, Triadelphia Reservoir, Conowingo Reservoir, Broadford Lake, Jennings Randolph Reservoir and Rocky Gorge Reservoir. See table footer for contact information.
Suckers	None			Daily – 30 Possession – 60
Sunfish, including bluegills & rock bass (commonly known as red eye or goggle-eye)	None			Daily – 15 in aggregate Possession – 30 in aggregate
Trout – statewide (all species of trout)	None — Except as provided in special trout management area regulations.		Open Year Round – Except as provided in special trout management area regulations.	Daily – 2 in aggregate Possession – 2 in aggregate — Except as provided in special trout management area regulations.
Trout – Put-and-Take Areas (all species of trout)	None			Daily – 5 in aggregate Possession – 5 in aggregate	See Put-and-Take Section for specific requirements.
Walleye	Minimum Size: 15 inches year round, and during January 1–April 15 the minimum size is 15 inches with a maximum size of 20 inches, in the Potomac River mainstem approximately 0.5 miles upriver from Chain Bridge to the spillway in Cumberland.		There is no closed season for Walleye, except on Deep Creek Lake and the Youghiogheny River downstream of the Route 42 bridge from March 1–April 15	Daily – 5 Possession – 5
White perch	None			None
Yellow perch –statewide except as noted	9 inches			Daily – 10 Possession – 10	The possession of yellow perch eggs requires prior authorization from DNR.
	Deep Creek Lake	None		Daily – 10 Possession – 20
	Nontidal lakes and ponds	None		None
Special Closures: 1. Magothy River from the base of Lake Waterford Dam downstream for 3,300 feet is closed to all fishing during February, March, and April. 2. Severn River and Severn Run from the Route 3 Bridge downstream for 2,400 feet during February, March, and April.
Contact Information for Restricted Areas: Baltimore City Reservoirs — For Prettyboy and Liberty (boat permits required) information, rules, and regulations, call Watershed Control Division 410-795-6150 or Loch Raven Fishing Center 410-887-7692. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Lakes — Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge fishing by permit only. For permits, rules and regulations call the information center at Brighton Dam 301-774-9124.

Special Fishing Area — Youghiogheny Reservoir
Species	Minimum Size Limits		Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American eel (as bait fish)	8 inches		Open Year Round	50 per day
Baitfish, fish bait (except mud bugs)	None		Open Year Round	50 in aggregate per day
Bass – largemouth, smallmouth & spotted	Open Season	15 inches	Jan. 1 through the day before opening day of regular trout season and Nov.1–Dec. 31	4 in aggregate per day
	No Harvest Season		The opening day of regular trout season through the first Friday after June 11.	None	Catch and immediate release only, no tournaments permitted.
	Summer/ Early Fall Season	12 inches	The first Saturday after June 11–Oct. 31	6 in aggregate per day
Gizzard shad	None		Open Year Round	50 in aggregate per day
Mud bugs (dragonfly nymphs)	None		Open Year Round	Unlimited if taken from lakes, ponds, swamps and adjacent areas. 50 per day if taken from rivers and streams.
Muskellunge & Tiger muskie	40 inches		Open Year Round	1 in aggregate per day
Northern pike	24 inches		Open Year Round	2 per day
Paddlefish			Closed Year Round
Pickerel	18 inches		Open Year Round	4 per day
Sauger	12 inches		Jan. 1–March 14 and the first Saturday in May through Dec. 31.	6 per day
Striped bass & Hybrid Striped bass	20 inches		Open Year Round	2 in aggregate per day
Sunfish, Yellow perch, White perch, Crappies, Catfish, Rock bass, Suckers, Carp & White bass	None		Open Year Round	50 in aggregate per day
Trout & Salmon (all species)	Regular Season	7 inches	8 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 to midnight Labor Day.	5 in aggregate per day
Trout & Salmon (all species)	Extended Season	7 inches	Jan. 1 through the last day of February, and the day after Labor Day through Dec. 31.	3 in aggregate per day
Walleye	15 inches		Jan. 1–March 14 and the first Saturday in May through Dec. 31.	6 per day

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.