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Maryland

Fishing

Fishing

Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and tributaries

Species

Minimum Size Limits

Open 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

13 inches (excluding tail filament)

May 15–Sept. 30 and Oct. 10–Dec. 31

Daily—15

Bluefish

8 inches

Open Year Round

Shore or Private Boat: Daily—3, For-Hire Boat: Daily—5

Cobia

43 inches (total length)

June 15–Sept. 20

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

May catch-and-release Sept. 21–June 14

Croaker (Hardhead)

9 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—25

Dolphinfish (Mahi-Mahi)*

None

Open Year Round

Daily—10, Boat limit—54

Only applies to federal waters.

Grouper Species

None

Open Year Round

Daily—1

Grouper species—Maryland Division of State Documents

Lobster

33⁄8–5¼ inches
carapace length

April 1–January 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)

9 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—30

Sharks

See Highly Migratory Species Section, page 44

Sheepshead

12 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—4

Shrimp (brown, white)

None

Open Year Round

None

Must use authorized gear.

Snapper Species (includes many species, please see list)

None

Open Year Round

Daily—20 of any combination of species (No more than 10 of any single species)

Snapper species—Maryland Division of State Documents

Spanish Mackerel*

14 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—15

Spot

None

Open Year Round

Daily—50

Spotted Seatrout

14 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—4

Striped Bass

See Atlantic Striped Bass Section—Page 39

Cannot be used as bait.

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

Jan. 1–May 31: 16 inches

Open Year Round

Daily—4

June 1–Dec. 31: 17-1/2 inches

Tautog

16 inches

July 1–May 15

January 1–May 15: Daily—4
July 1–October 31: Daily—2
November 1–December 31: Daily—4

May catch-and-release May 16–June 30

Tilefish (Blueline, Golden, Sand)

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

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