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Maryland

Fishing

Fishing

FishMaryland

FishMaryland logo featuring a stylized striped bass (Morone saxatilis), Maryland’s state fish and a popular species among anglers. The FishMaryland program promotes recreational fishing, responsible angling practices, and conservation efforts across Maryland's waterways.
FishMaryland logo featuring a stylized striped bass (Morone saxatilis), the official state fish and a prized catch for Maryland anglers. The FishMaryland program encourages recreational fishing, responsible angling, and conservation efforts to protect Maryland’s fisheries.

Recreational fishing offers opportunities for families and friends to spend quality time together, enjoying the abundant natural resources Maryland has to offer. FishMaryland is Maryland’s recreational fishing award program and is a fun way to explore year-round recreational fishing and enjoy Maryland’s affordable, accessible, diverse and high quality fishing opportunities.

Components:

  • Species Award (includes catch and release)—Any angler fishing legally in Maryland may catch and report a trophy sized fish by landing any of more than 60 eligible species in three categories at or above a certain minimum size. If you catch a fish that meets or exceeds the official award size, simply lay the fish on a tape measure and photograph so that the species and size can be verified (HMS species cannot be removed from the water unless being kept. A photograph in the water is acceptable as long as the species can be identified). Submit your catch through our online registration process. Once your catch is verified, you will receive your award certificate within 45 days.
  • Invasive Species Award—Recognizes anglers for reporting their harvest of certain eligible invasive fish species. “Invasive” describes a species that, when introduced into an ecosystem, aggressively establishes itself and has the potential to negatively impact native plants, animals, or habitat. Currently there are three invasive fish species which naturally reproduce or migrate into Maryland waters and are eligible for the Invasive Species Award: blue catfish, northern snakehead and flathead catfish. Fish must be kept or harvested to qualify.
  • Milestone Award—Milestone awards (Angler Award, Expert Angler Award and Master Angler Award) recognize those skillful anglers who catch multiple species, each milestone is marked with a certificate and a corresponding sticker. To qualify, anglers can only submit eligible catches caught from 2019 to present.

For details on FishMaryland, including rules and registration, visit the FishMaryland Challenge page.

FishMaryland Minimum Sizes

Catch and Release Division*

American Shad*

24 inches

Blue Marlin*

any size

Blue Shark*

any size

Hammerhead Shark*

any size

Hickory Shad*

18 inches

Red Drum*

36 inches

Sailfish*

any size

Sand Tiger Shark*

any size

Striped Bass*

40 inches

Swordfish*

any size

Thresher Shark*

any size

Tiger Shark*

any size

White Marlin*

any size

Nontidal Division

Bluegill

11 inches

Brook Trout

12 inches

Brown Trout

21 inches

Bullhead Catfish

15 inches

Carp

36 inches

Chain Pickerel

24 inches

Channel Catfish

30 inches

Crappie, Black

15 inches

Cutthroat Trout

20 inches

Largemouth Bass

21 inches

Muskellunge

40 inches

Northern Pike

38 inches

Pumpkinseed

10 inches

Rainbow Trout

20 inches

Redbreast Sunfish

8 inches

Redear Sunfish

11 inches

Rock Bass

10 inches

Smallmouth Bass

20 inches

Tiger Muskie

40 inches

Walleye

26 inches

White Catfish

20 inches

White Perch

13 inches

Yellow Perch

14 inches

Chesapeake Bay Division

Black Drum

48 inches

Blue Crab

8 inches

Bluefish

34 inches

Carp

36 inches

Chain Pickerel

24 inches

Channel Catfish

30 inches

Cobia

44 inches

Crappie, Black

15 inches

Croaker (Hardhead)

18 inches

Florida Pompano

17 inches

Longnose Gar

36 inches

Largemouth Bass

21 inches

Northern Whiting (Kingfish)

14 inches

Pumpkinseed

10 inches

Rock Bass

10 inches

Sheepshead

24 inches

Smallmouth Bass

20 inches

Spanish Mackerel

22 inches

Spot

12 inches

Spotted Seatrout

24 inches

Summer Flounder

24 inches

Tautog

24 inches

Walleye

26 inches

Weakfish

24 inches

White Catfish

20 inches

White Perch

13 inches


Yellow Perch

14 inches

Invasive Species Division

Blue Catfish**

40 inches

Flathead Catfish**

34 inches

Chesapeake Channa

30 inches

Atlantic Coast Division

Amberjack1

45 inches

Atlantic Cod

36 inches

Atlantic Spadefish

24 inches

Black Drum

48 inches

Black Sea Bass

20 inches

Bluefish

34 inches

Blueline Tilefish

25 inches

Cobia1

44 inches

Croaker (Hardhead)

18 inches

Dolphin Fish (Mahi-Mahi)1

45 inches

False Albacore1

24 inches

Florida Pompano1

17 inches

Golden Tilefish

35 inches

Grey Triggerfish

18 inches

King Mackerel1

40 inches

Northern Whiting (Kingfish)

14 inches

Pollock

32 inches

Sheepshead

20 inches

Snowy Grouper

31 inches

Spanish Mackerel

22 inches

Spot

12 inches

Spotted Seatrout

24 inches

Summer Flounder

24 inches

Swordfish2

47 inches

Tautog

24 inches

Tuna, Albacore (Longfin)3

36 inches

Tuna, Bigeye3

60 inches

Tuna, Blackfin3

30 inches

Tuna, Bluefin3

55 inches

Tuna, Yellowfin3

50 inches

Wahoo1

60 inches

Weakfish

24 inches

Winter Flounder

17 inches