Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
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 |
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 |
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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) |
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. |
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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 |
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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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