SlotGaugeCheck a catchMaryland fishing regulations, 2026
Size limits, seasons and daily limits for every species Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services regulates, rewritten in plain English and rechecked against the official pages automatically. Last captured 2026-10-04.
Most searched
Striped BassSummer FlounderBlack Sea BassTautogBluefishWeakfishLargemouth BassBlue CrabRed DrumScupAll 92 species A–Z →
Saltwater →
Alewife and Blueback HerringCLOSEDAmerican Eel9 inch minimumAmerican ShadCLOSEDAtlantic Croaker9 inch minimumAtlantic MenhadenNo size limitAtlantic Sharpnose Shark and Bonnethead SharkNo size limitAtlantic SturgeonCLOSEDBlack Drum16 inch minimumBlack Sea Bass12.5 inch minimumBluefish8 inch minimumCobia43 inch minimumDolphinNo size limitGrouperNoneHammerhead Sharks (Great, Scalloped, Smooth)78 inch minimumHickory ShadCLOSEDHighly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish)No size limitProhibited Sharks (Sandbar, Dusky, Sand Tiger, Oceanic Whitetip, Shortfin Mako and all unlisted species)No size limitRed Drum18–26 inch slotScup9 inch minimumSharks - 54 inch group, closed May 15 to July 15 (Blacktip, Bull, Lemon, Nurse, Spinner, Tiger)54 inch minimumSharks - 54 inch group, open year round (Blacknose, Blue, Common Thresher, Finetooth, Porbeagle)54 inch minimumSheepshead12 inch minimumShortnose SturgeonNo size limitShrimpNo size limitSmooth DogfishNo size limitSnapperNoneSpanish Mackerel14 inch minimumSpiny DogfishNo size limitSpotNo size limitSpotted Seatrout14 inch minimumStriped Bass28–31 inch slotStriped Bass (Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River and Northeast River)19–24 inch slotSummer Flounder16 inch minimum (January 1 – May 31); 17.5 inch minimum (June 1 – December 31)Tautog16 inch minimumTilefishFederal limitsWahooNo size limitWeakfish13 inch minimumWhite Perchno minimum by hook and line (8 in with other gear)
Freshwater →
Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal)No size limitAmerican Eel (nontidal)9 inch minimumAmerican Eel (Youghiogheny River Lake)9 inch minimumAmerican Shad (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitAmerican Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal)No size limitBaitfish (including madtoms)No size limitBaitfish (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitBass - Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted (Youghiogheny River Lake)12 inch minimumBrook TroutNo size limitBrown TroutNo size limitCarpNo size limitCatfishNo size limitChain Pickerel14 inch minimumChain Pickerel (nontidal)14 inch minimumChannel CatfishNo size limitCrappieNo size limitCrayfish (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitGizzard Shad (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitLargemouth Bass15 inch minimum (March 1 – June 15); 12 inch minimum (June 16 – February 29)Largemouth Bass (nontidal)12 inch minimumLongnose GarNoneMud Bugs (Dragonfly Nymphs) (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitMuskellunge36 inch minimumMuskellunge and Tiger Muskie (Youghiogheny River Lake)40 inch minimumNorthern Pike30 inch minimumNorthern Pike (Youghiogheny River Lake)24 inch minimumNorthern SnakeheadNoneNorthern Snakehead (nontidal)No size limitPaddlefish, Mussels, Clams and Threatened/Endangered Species (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitPanfish aggregate - Sunfish, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Crappies, Catfish, Rock Bass, Suckers, Carp and White Bass (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitPickerel (Youghiogheny River Lake)18 inch minimumRiver Herring (Youghiogheny River Lake)No size limitSauger (Youghiogheny River Lake)12 inch minimumSaugeye15 inch minimumSmallmouth Bass15 inch minimum (March 1 – June 15); 12 inch minimum (June 16 – February 29)Striped Bass (lakes and ponds)18 inch minimumStriped Bass (nontidal rivers and streams)No size limitStriped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass (Youghiogheny River Lake)20 inch minimumSuckersNo size limitSunfishNoneTroutNoneTrout (Put-and-Take, Delayed Harvest and Catch-and-Return areas)No size limitTrout and Salmon (all species) (Youghiogheny River Lake)7 inch minimumWalleye15 inch minimumWalleye (nontidal)15 inch minimumWalleye and Hybrids (Youghiogheny River Lake)15 inch minimumWhite Perch (nontidal)No size limitYellow Perch9 inch minimumYellow Perch (nontidal)9 inch minimum
Shellfish & crabs →
American Lobster3.375–5.25 inch slotBlue Crab5 inch minimum (April 1 – July 14); 5.25 inch minimum (July 15 – December 15)Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal)No size limitHard Clam1 inch minimumOyster3 inch minimum
Is it a keeper?
Say what you caught, snap a photo, or type it. SlotGauge checks today's rules and answers KEEP or RELEASE.
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