FishMaryland

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Last Updated: January 27, 2026

The FishMaryland logo showcases a striped bass, symbolizing Maryland’s fishing resources, angler education, and statewide recreational fishing opportunities.

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 more information about FishMaryland, visit the FishMaryland program page.

FishMaryland Minimum Sizes
Catch and Release Only*
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
* These species are only eligible for the Catch and Release Award ** Invasive species division—only harvested fish are eligible 1 Use fork length measurement. 2 Use lower jaw fork length measurement. 3 Use curved fork length measurement.