Striped Bass

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Striped bass swimming underwater over a sandy bottom, showing a silver body with multiple dark horizontal stripes, streamlined shape, and forked tail, used for species identification. — A striped bass underwater displaying its silver body, bold horizontal striping, and streamlined profile—distinctive features anglers use to identify this iconic migratory fish found in Maryland’s rivers, bays, and coastal waters. Photo by Michael Eversmier.

It is Illegal:

To possess any cut up or filleted striped bass at any time aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland. Striped bass must be landed whole.
To use more than two hooks or two sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered 1 set of hooks.
To cull striped bass.
To possess striped bass while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from midnight to 5 a.m.
To remove a striped bass from the water with a gaff or a cast net.
To take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state.
To fish for striped bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of striped bass in designated spawning areas from March 1–May 31.
To intentionally snag a striped bass.
To use striped bass as bait.

Striped bass may not be caught, harassed or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone, which stretches from 3–200 miles off the coast.

Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Tributaries (excluding the Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River and Northeast River)
SEASON	FISHING LOCATIONS ALLOWED	CREEL AND SIZE LIMITS	RESTRICTIONS AND REMARKS
JAN. 1– FEB. 28, 2026	All areas open to catch and release fishing only.	No harvest.	Catch and release only. Circle hook rules remain the same. Eels may not be used as bait.
MAR. 1–APR. 30, 2026	Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line between Abbey Point and Worton Point to the Virginia line including Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.	No harvest.	Catch and release only. Stinger (trailing) hooks are prohibited. Barbless hooks are required when trolling. No more than 6 lines may be employed while trolling. Circle hook rules remain the same. Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are off limits. Eels may not be used as bait. See maps in Section V
MAY 1–MAY 15, 2026	Chesapeake Bay from the Brewerton Channel to the Virginia line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers, except Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds and all Potomac River tributaries downstream of the Nice Memorial Bridge (U.S. 301).	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Stinger (trailing) hooks are prohibited. Barbless hooks are required when trolling. No more than 6 lines may be employed while trolling. Circle hook rules remain the same. Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are off limits. Eels may not be used as bait. See maps in Section V
MAY 16–MAY 31, 2026	Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line drawn from the south corner of Hart-Miller Island Dike to the end of MD Route 21 at Tolchester and south to the MD/VA line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers. EXCEPT: Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound; Chester River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Hail Point to Long Point to Ferry Point; Patuxent River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Point Patience to the west point of land at the entrance of Little Kingston Creek; Choptank River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Holland Point to a point of land at the west entrance of Chapel Creek; and all Potomac River tributaries downstream of the Nice Memorial Bridge (U.S. 301) are open.	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Circle hook rules remain the same. Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are off limits. See maps in Section V
JUNE 1–JULY 31, 2026	All areas open.	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Circle hook rules remain the same.
AUG. 1–AUG. 31, 2026	All areas closed to striped bass fishing.	CLOSED	No targeting. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
SEPT. 1–DEC. 5, 2026	All areas open.	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Circle hook rules remain the same.
DEC. 6–DEC. 31, 2026	All areas open to catch and release fishing only.	No harvest.	Catch and release only. Circle hook rules remain the same. Eels may not be used as bait.

Nontidal
Season	Fishing Locations Allowed	Creel and Size Limits	Regulations	Restrictions and Remarks
Reservoirs	All nontidal reservoirs, lakes, and ponds.	18 inch minimum size; 2 fish per person per day—only one of those fish may be larger than 30 inches		Open Year Round
Nontidal Rivers and Streams	Closed at all times

Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River, and Northeast River
SEASON	FISHING LOCATIONS ALLOWED	CREEL AND SIZE LIMITS	RESTRICTIONS AND REMARKS
JAN. 1–FEB. 28, 2026	All areas open to catch and release fishing only.	No harvest.	Catch and release only. Circle hook rules remain the same. Eels may not be used as bait.
MAR. 1–MAR. 31, 2026	Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting the Susquehanna State Park boat ramp at Lapidum (defined by Lat. 39°35.86' N and Long. 76°07.67' W) to Twin Rocks (defined by Lat. 39°36.17' N and Long. 76°07.56' W) to Tomes Wharf in Port Deposit (defined by Lat. 39°36.23' N and Long. 76°06.99' W); and the Northeast River. Note: The "Tomes Wharf" coordinate is closest to Lee's Landing Dock Bar.	No harvest.	Catch and release only. Stinger (trailing) hooks are prohibited. Barbless hooks are required when trolling. No more than 6 lines may be employed while trolling. Circle hook rules remain the same. Eels may not be used as bait. See maps in Section V.
APR. 1–MAY 31, 2026	All waters upstream of a line from Abbey Point to Worton Point closed to striped bass fishing.	CLOSED	No targeting. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
JUNE 1–JULY 31, 2026	All areas open.	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Circle hook rules remain the same.
AUG. 1–AUG. 31, 2026	All areas closed to striped bass fishing.	CLOSED	No targeting. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
SEPT. 1–DEC. 5, 2026	All areas open.	1 fish per person per day. Must be at least 19" and cannot exceed 24".	Circle hook rules remain the same.
DEC. 6–DEC. 31, 2026	All areas open to catch and release fishing only.	No harvest	Catch and release only. Circle hook rules remain the same. Eels may not be used as bait.

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and their Tributaries
Season	Fishing Locations Allowed	Creel and Size Limits	Regulations	Restrictions and Remarks
Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026	No area restrictions in state waters	1 fish per person per day, 28–31 inches	Striped bass may not be caught, harassed or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone, which stretches from 3–200 miles off the coast.	Must always use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait or processed baits (treble hooks are prohibited) when targeting striped bass.

Promotional graphic explaining that artificial reefs create habitat and fishing opportunities in Maryland Bay and ocean waters, featuring an underwater fish near reef structure, program partner logos, and a QR code for more information. — Maryland’s artificial reefs provide critical habitat and create new fishing opportunities in both Bay and ocean waters, supporting healthy fish populations and recreational angling through partnerships led by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.