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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	13 inches	May 15 - December 11	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—54	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)	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—50
Sharks	See Highly Migratory Species
Sheepshead	None	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	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 Section— Striped Bass
Summer Flounder (Fluke)	16.5 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4	To maximize summer flounder survivability, use a 3/0 or larger hook and be prepared to release undersized fish (pliers, wet rag, and a ruler).
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.