Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
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 |
None | Open Year Round | Daily—50 | |
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 (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 |
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. | ||||
