Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
The following tables summarize rules governing the harvest and possession of fish species that anglers commonly catch in Maryland. This summary does not include all regulated species. Full information and updates are available on the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) website.
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: 5 per person, For-Hire Boat: 7 per person |
|
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 |
Regulations for grouper species are available on the Maryland grouper species regulations page. |
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 |
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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) |
Regulations for snapper species are available on the Maryland snapper species regulations page. |
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 |
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 |
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Tautog |
16 inches |
July 1–May 15 |
January 1–May 15: Daily—4 |
May catch-and-release May 16–June 30 |
Tilefish (Blueline, Golden, Sand) |
Must follow federal limits and season, permit, and reporting requirements as outlined in the federal snapper-grouper regulations. |
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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 |
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* 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. |
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Private Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting
All private recreational vessels targeting or retaining golden or blueline tilefish from Virginia to Maine are subject to certain permitting and reporting requirements.
Permitting
Any recreational vessel that intends to fish for blueline or golden tilefish north of the North Carolina/Virginia border must have a Federal private recreational tilefish vessel permit before taking a trip. Apply for a permit through the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Fish Online system.
Reporting
Recreational vessel operators must report all trips that either targeted or retained tilefish within 24 hours of returning to port using an approved electronic vessel trip reporting (eVTR) system. Learn more about electronic vessel trip report (eVTR) options on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council eVTR page.
