Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits

Name: eRegulations
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Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries
Species	Minimum Size Limits	Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American Eel	9 inches	Jan 1–Aug 31, except open year round for spears and baited traps or pots	Daily—25
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	15 inches March 1–June 15	Open Year Round	Daily—5 in aggregate
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	12 inches June 16 through last day in February	Open Year Round	Daily—5 in aggregate
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
Catfish	None	Open Year Round	None
Chain Pickerel (Pike)	14 inches	CLOSED March 15–April 30	Daily—10
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
Northern Snakehead	None	Open Year Round	None	Illegal to possess live snakehead fish.
Red Drum (Channel Bass or Puppy Drum)	18–27 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
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—https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.02.05.29.aspx
Spanish Mackerel	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—15	Must be landed with head and fins intact.
Spot	None	Open Year Round	Daily—50
Spotted Seatrout	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Striped Bass	See Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass
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
Walleye	15 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—5
Weakfish	13 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
White Perch	None if caught with hook and line; 8 inch minimum if caught with other gear	Open Year Round	None
Yellow Perch	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—10
Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, HICKORY SHAD and Shortnose Sturgeon	CLOSED
Areas Closed to Fishing—Feb, March and April: 1. Magothy River from Lake Waterford dam downstream for 3,300 feet. 2. Severn River and Severn Run from the Route 3 Bridge downstream for 2,400 feet.