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Maryland

Fishing

Fishing

Fish Identification

For information on more species of fish in Maryland

Learn more about some of Maryland's species of sharks. Learn more about Invasive Species identification.

The "Species Award" is part of FishMaryland.

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Atlantic Coast

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Nontidal

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Chesapeake Bay

American Eel

Illustration of an American eel (Anguilla rostrata) with an elongated, snake-like body, brownish-green coloration, and a tapered head. The eel is depicted in a curved position, showcasing its streamlined shape and fin structure.
An illustration of the American eel, a migratory fish with a snake-like body found in freshwater and coastal habitats. This catadromous species spawns in the ocean but thrives in rivers and streams.

9" minimum, creel limit 25

Atlantic Spadefish

Illustration of an Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) featuring a deep, laterally compressed body with distinct vertical black stripes on a silver-gray background. This species is commonly found in warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
An illustration of the Atlantic spadefish, a coastal species known for its deep, laterally compressed body and bold vertical black stripes on a silver-gray background.

See Snapper Species in Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    Black Crappie

    Illustration of a black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), a freshwater fish species with a deep, laterally compressed body, speckled black and silver pattern, and large dorsal fin.
    An illustration of the black crappie, a North American freshwater fish known for its deep, laterally compressed body and distinctive black-speckled pattern.

    No minimum size, nontidal creel limit 15
    FishMaryland Award Size 15"

    Black Drum

    Illustration of a black drum (Pogonias cromis), a large, deep-bodied saltwater fish with a high-arched back, barbels under its chin, and a silver-gray to dark-colored body.
    An illustration of the black drum, a robust saltwater fish recognized for its high-arched back, chin barbels, and silver-gray to dark body coloration.

    16" minimum, creel limit 1
    FishMaryland Award Size 48"

    Black Sea Bass

    Illustration of a black sea bass (Centropristis striata), a saltwater fish with a stout body, dark coloration, and light speckling.
    An illustration of the black sea bass, a saltwater species known for its stout body, dark coloration with light speckling, and spiny dorsal fin.

    13" minimum (excluding tail filament), creel limit 15/person/day
    FishMaryland Award Size 20"

    Bluefish

    Illustration of a bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), a sleek, fast-swimming predatory fish with a bluish-green back, silver sides, and a forked tail.
    An illustration of the bluefish, a fast-swimming predatory species with a bluish-green back, silver sides, and a forked tail.

    8" minimum, Shore or Private Boat: Daily—3,
    For-Hire Boat: Daily—5, FishMaryland Award Size 34"

    Brook Trout

    Illustration of a brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), a freshwater fish with a dark green body, distinctive light spots, and reddish-orange fins with white edges.
    Illustration of a brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), a freshwater fish with a dark green body, distinctive light spots, and reddish-orange fins with white edges.

    No minimum size*, creel limit 2* (combined)
    FishMaryland Award Size 12"

    Brown Trout

    Illustration of a brown trout (Salmo trutta), a freshwater fish with a golden-brown body, black and red spots, and a streamlined shape.
    Illustration of a brown trout (Salmo trutta), a freshwater fish with a golden-brown body, black and red spots, and a streamlined shape.

    No minimum size*, creel limit 2* (combined)
    FishMaryland Award Size 21"

    Chain Pickerel

    Illustration of a chain pickerel (Esox niger), a freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, greenish coloration, and a distinctive chain-like pattern along its sides.
    Illustration of a chain pickerel (Esox niger), a freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, greenish coloration, and a distinctive chain-like pattern along its sides.

    14" minimum, creel limit 5 (nontidal); 10 (tidal)
    FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    Channel Catfish

    Illustration of a channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a freshwater fish with a slender body, forked tail, and whisker-like barbels around its mouth.
    Illustration of a channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a freshwater fish with a slender body, forked tail, and whisker-like barbels around its mouth.

    No size limits, nontidal creel limit—5; no tidal creel limit
    FishMaryland Award Size 30"

    Cobia

    Illustration of a cobia (Rachycentron canadum), a large, fast-swimming saltwater fish with a long, streamlined body, dark brown coloration, and a distinct white underside.
    Illustration of a cobia (Rachycentron canadum), a large, fast-swimming saltwater fish with a long, streamlined body, dark brown coloration, and a distinct white underside.

    43 inches (total length) minimum, see Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits for creel limit
    FishMaryland Award Size 44"

    Croaker (hardhead)

    Illustration of an Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), a small to medium-sized saltwater fish with a silvery body, faint vertical stripes, and a slightly rounded belly.
    Illustration of an Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), a small to medium-sized saltwater fish with a silvery body, faint vertical stripes, and a slightly rounded belly.

    9" minimum, creel limit 25
    FishMaryland Award Size 18"

    Fallfish

    Illustration of a fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), a large freshwater minnow with a streamlined body, silvery scales, and a slightly forked tail.
    Illustration of a fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), a large freshwater minnow with a streamlined body, silvery scales, and a slightly forked tail.

    No minimum size or creel limit

    Largemouth Bass

    Illustration of a largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a freshwater game fish with an elongated body, dark green coloration, and a distinctive large mouth extending past its eyes.
    Illustration of a largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a freshwater game fish with an elongated body, dark green coloration, and a distinctive large mouth extending past its eyes.

    See tables in Freshwater Seasons, Sizes & Limits,Youghiogheny River Lake Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits

    FishMaryland Award Size 21"

    Muskellunge

    Illustration of a muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), a large freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, light-colored vertical markings on a greenish-brown background, and sharp teeth.
    Illustration of a muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), a large freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, light-colored vertical markings on a greenish-brown background, and sharp teeth.

    36" minimum, creel limit 1
    FishMaryland Award Size 40"

    Northern Pike

    Illustration of a northern pike (Esox lucius), a large freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, olive-green coloration, and light oval-shaped spots along its sides.
    Illustration of a northern pike (Esox lucius), a large freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, olive-green coloration, and light oval-shaped spots along its sides.

    30" minimum, creel limit 2
    FishMaryland Award Size 38"

    Rainbow Trout

    Illustration of a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a freshwater fish with a streamlined body, iridescent silver scales, a pinkish lateral stripe, and black spots across its back and fins.
    Illustration of a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a freshwater fish with a streamlined body, iridescent silver scales, a pinkish lateral stripe, and black spots across its back and fins.

    No minimum size*, creel limit 2* (combined)
    FishMaryland Award Size 20"

    Red Drum (channel bass, puppy drum)

    Illustration of a red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), a saltwater fish with a reddish-bronze body, a slightly elongated shape, and a distinctive black spot near the base of its tail.
    Illustration of a red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), a saltwater fish with a reddish-bronze body, a slightly elongated shape, and a distinctive black spot near the base of its tail.

    18" minimum & 27" max slot limit, creel limit 1
    FishMaryland Award Size 36", Catch & Release Only

    Sheepshead

    llustration of a sheepshead fish (Archosargus probatocephalus), a saltwater species with a deep, laterally compressed body, silver-gray coloration, and distinctive black vertical stripes.
    llustration of a sheepshead fish (Archosargus probatocephalus), a saltwater species with a deep, laterally compressed body, silver-gray coloration, and distinctive black vertical stripes.

    12" minimum, creel limit 4
    FishMaryland Award Size 24" in Chesapeake, 20" in Atlantic

    Smallmouth Bass

    Illustration of a smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a freshwater game fish with a bronze to greenish-brown body, dark vertical bars, and a slightly smaller mouth compared to its largemouth counterpart.
    Illustration of a smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a freshwater game fish with a bronze to greenish-brown body, dark vertical bars, and a slightly smaller mouth compared to its largemouth counterpart.

    See tables in Freshwater Seasons, Sizes & Limits,Youghiogheny River Lake Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits
    FishMaryland Tidal & Nontidal Award Size 20"

    Spanish Mackerel

    Illustration of a Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), a sleek, fast-swimming saltwater fish with a silvery body, a greenish-blue back, and distinctive golden spots along its sides.
    Illustration of a Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), a sleek, fast-swimming saltwater fish with a silvery body, a greenish-blue back, and distinctive golden spots along its sides.

    14" minimum, creel limit 15
    FishMaryland Award Size 22"

    Spot

    Illustration of a spot fish (Leiostomus xanthurus), a small saltwater species with a silvery body, faint golden stripes, and a distinctive dark spot near its gill cover.
    Illustration of a spot fish (Leiostomus xanthurus), a small saltwater species with a silvery body, faint golden stripes, and a distinctive dark spot near its gill cover.

    No minimum size limit, creel limit 50
    FishMaryland Award Size 12"

    Spotted Seatrout

    Illustration of a spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), a saltwater fish with an elongated, silver-gray body, black spots along its back and dorsal fins, and a slightly forked tail.
    Illustration of a spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), a saltwater fish with an elongated, silver-gray body, black spots along its back and dorsal fins, and a slightly forked tail.

    14" minimum, creel limit 4
    FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    Striped Bass (rockfish)

    Illustration of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis), a large migratory fish with a streamlined silver body, dark horizontal stripes along its sides, and a slightly forked tail.
    Illustration of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis), a large migratory fish with a streamlined silver body, dark horizontal stripes along its sides, and a slightly forked tail.

    See Striped Bass section for season and limits.
    FishMaryland Award Size 40", Catch & Release Only

    Summer Flounder (Fluke)

    Illustration of a summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), a flatfish with an oval-shaped body, both eyes on the left side of its head, and a brownish coloration with scattered dark spots.
    Illustration of a summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), a flatfish with an oval-shaped body, both eyes on the left side of its head, and a brownish coloration with scattered dark spots.

    See tables in Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
    FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    Tautog

    Illustration of a tautog (Tautoga onitis), a stout-bodied saltwater fish with a dark, mottled coloration, thick lips, and strong teeth adapted for crushing shellfish.
    Illustration of a tautog (Tautoga onitis), a stout-bodied saltwater fish with a dark, mottled coloration, thick lips, and strong teeth adapted for crushing shellfish.

    See tables in Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits
    FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    Walleye

    Illustration of a walleye (Sander vitreus), a freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, golden-brown coloration, and large, reflective eyes adapted for low-light hunting.
    Illustration of a walleye (Sander vitreus), a freshwater predatory fish with an elongated body, golden-brown coloration, and large, reflective eyes adapted for low-light hunting.

    See Freshwater Seasons, Sizes & Limits and Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits for season and limits
    FishMaryland Award Size 26"

    Weakfish

    Illustration of a weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), a saltwater fish with a slender, silver-gray body, dark spots along its back, and a slightly forked tail.
    Illustration of a weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), a saltwater fish with a slender, silver-gray body, dark spots along its back, and a slightly forked tail.

    13" minimum, creel limit 1
    FishMaryland Award Size 24"

    White Perch

    Illustration of a white perch (Morone americana), a small to medium-sized freshwater and estuarine fish with a silvery body, dark dorsal fin, and slightly compressed shape.
    Illustration of a white perch (Morone americana), a small to medium-sized freshwater and estuarine fish with a silvery body, dark dorsal fin, and slightly compressed shape.

    No minimum size or creel limit if caught hook & line;
    8" minimum if caught with any other gear
    FishMaryland Award Size 13"

    Yellow Perch

    Illustration of a yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a freshwater fish with a golden-yellow body, dark vertical stripes, and orange-tinted fins.
    Illustration of a yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a freshwater fish with a golden-yellow body, dark vertical stripes, and orange-tinted fins.

    9" minimum in tidal waters and nontidal rivers and streams; no minimum size in lakes and ponds; creel limit 10
    FishMaryland Award Size 14"

    * except where otherwise indicated in nontidal limits

    Fish illustrations by Duane Raver and Kevin Ensor, MD DNR