Freshwater Seasons, Sizes & Limits

Name: eRegulations
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The following tables summarize rules governing the harvest and possession of fish species that anglers commonly catch in Maryland. This summary does not include all regulated species. Full information and updates are available on the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) website.

Nontidal
Species	Minimum Size Limits		Open Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American Eel	9 inches		Open Year Round	Daily—25 Possession—25
Baitfish (Including Madtoms)	None		Open Year Round	Daily—35 in aggregate Possession—35 in aggregate
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	12 inches or as provided for by special regulations.		June 16–Last Day of February	Daily—5 in aggregate Possession—10 in aggregate	Catch and Release is permitted at all times. Cannot be used as bait.
Carp	None		Open Year Round	Daily—15 Possession—30
Chain Pickerel	14 inches		Open Year Round	Daily—5 Possession—10	Cannot be used as bait.
Channel Catfish	None		Open Year Round	Daily—5 Possession—10
Crappie	None		Open Year Round	Daily—15 Possession—30
Herring (Alewife and Blueback)			CLOSED		Catch and Release is permitted at all times.
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskie	36 inches		Open Year Round	Daily—1 Possession—2	Cannot be used as bait.
Northern pike	30 inches		Open Year Round	Daily—2 Possession—4	Cannot be used as bait.
Saugeye	15 inches		Open Year Round	Daily—5 Possession—10
Shad (American/White and Hickory)			CLOSED		Catch and Release is permitted at all times.
Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass (lakes and ponds)	18 inches		Open Year Round	2 striped bass/hybrid striped bass per day, only one of which may be over 30 inches. Possession—4, only one of which may be over 30 inches	It is illegal to keep striped bass and hybrid striped bass caught in nontidal streams and rivers. Cannot be used as bait.
Suckers	None		Open Year Round	Daily—30 Possession—60
Sunfish, including Bluegills and Rock Bass (commonly known as Red Eye or Goggle-Eye)	None		Open Year Round	Daily—15 in aggregate Possession—30 in aggregate
Trout—statewide (all species of trout)	None		Open Year Round	Daily—2 in aggregate Possession—4 in aggregate	Different rules apply for Put-and-Take Areas and Special Trout Management Areas. See Put-and-Take Trout Fishing Areas. Brown and Brook Trout cannot be used as bait.
Walleye	15 inches year round, except in Potomac River and Deep Creek Lake Potomac River minimum size is 15 inches year round, with a 20 inch maximum size from January 1–April 15 in the mainstem approximately 0.5 miles upriver from Chain Bridge to the spillway in Cumberland Deep Creek Lake has a minimum size of 15 inches year round, with a protected slot between 18 inches and 21 inches. All fish in the slot must be released.		Open year round—Except on Deep Creek Lake and the Youghiogheny River downstream of Route 42 bridge where it is closed from March 1 through April 15.	Daily—5 Possession—10	Cannot be used as bait.
White Perch	None		Open Year Round	None
Yellow Perch	Nontidal rivers and streams	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—5 / Possession—10	The possession of yellow perch eggs requires prior authorization from the department.
Yellow Perch	Nontidal lakes and ponds	None	Open Year Round	Daily—10 / Possession—20
Atlantic Sturgeon, Shortnose Sturgeon, and Bivalves/Shellfish	CLOSED
Special Closures: 1. Magothy River from the base of Lake Waterford Dam downstream for 3,300 feet is closed to all fishing during February, March and April. 2. Severn River and Severn Run from the Route 3 Bridge downstream for 2,400 feet during February, March and April.
Contact Information for Restricted Areas: Baltimore City Reservoirs—for Prettyboy and Liberty (boat permits required) information, rules, and regulations, call 410-795-6150. For Loch Raven call 410-887-7692. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Lakes—Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge fishing by permit only. For permits, rules and regulations call the information center at Brighton Dam 301-774-9124.

Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day

March 21, 2026 in all Closure 1 Areas

Times: 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Creel limit: 2 trout per child younger than 16 years of age (no brook trout allowed)

Individuals 16 years of age or older may not fish in these areas on this day.

Take a Child Fishing!

Angler Vivian Hall participated in our loaner rod program at the Patapsco Trailfest event on 9/14/2025. She caught two bluegills with her dad and couldn’t wait to show DNR staff!

Young angler standing in shallow water holding a fishing rod and a freshly caught sunfish, smiling and making a peace sign during a youth fishing activity in Maryland. — A young participant proudly shows off a sunfish caught during a youth fishing event, highlighting hands-on outdoor education and family-friendly fishing opportunities in Maryland.

Photo by Ian Hall

My First Fish Certificate: Recognize a child with a certificate for their first fish.
Youth Fishing Rodeos: Events which enable and encourage kids to catch a fish.
Youth Angler’s Log: Share Your Catch!
Youth Fishing Club: Membership is free and open to ages from 5 to 15. All members receive a newsletter and gifts for joining.

Learn more about these and other youth fishing programs on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources youth fishing programs page.