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Maryland

Fishing

Fishing

Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and tributaries

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

Please refer to the current public notices for this species, (https://dnr.maryland.gov/fishe...)

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—https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.02.05.29.aspx

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 Section

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—https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.02.05.29.aspx

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

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

16 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– https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-648/subpart-N/section-648.296

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

How to Measure a Fish

Size limits are generally based on the total length of a fish. The total length of a fish is the maximum length with the mouth closed and the tail pinched together measured from the snout to the tip of the tail. The best way to obtain this straight line measurement is to push the fish’s snout against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and with the fish lying along a tape measure and then pinch the tail fin closed to determine the total length.

Fork length refers to the length from the snout of a fish to the end of the middle caudal fin rays. This is the measurement for determining the legal size of a shark.

The girth of a fish is best measured with a fabric ruler. Measuring the girth is helpful in trying to determine if you have a possible record fish, which is determined by total weight. By using the total length and girth of a fish in inches you can get a rough estimate of the weight in pounds with this formula:

((Girth in inches x Girth in inches) x Length in inches) / 800 = Approximate weight in pounds

Illustration showing how to correctly measure a fish.

Illustration ©Diane Rome Peebles