Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) regulations in Maryland

· Freshwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.

Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Nontidal (inland) waters	Closed to harvest	—	—

Notes

Harvest closed in nontidal waters; catch and release is allowed.
Exception: Youghiogheny River Lake prints 'RIVER HERRING | None | Open Year Round | Daily—50 in aggregate' (see separate row).

Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording

Season: CLOSED
Size: CLOSED
Limit: CLOSED
Nontidal (inland) waters — as printed: “HERRING (ALEWIFE AND BLUEBACK) | | CLOSED | | Catch and Release is permitted at all times.”

Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).

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About the alewife and blueback herring

Species of North American shad

The alewife or river herring is a species of herring found in North America. It is commonly anadromous but there are also significant landlocked populations. It is one of the smaller species of shad, of the subgenus Pomolobus. As an adult it is a marine species found in the northern West Atlantic Ocean, moving into estuaries before swimming upstream to breed in freshwater habitats, but some populations live entirely in fresh water.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) in Maryland?

No size limit in Maryland state waters.

How many Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) can you keep per day in Maryland?

Possession prohibited.

When is Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) season in Maryland?

Open year-round.

Is my Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) a keeper today?

Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.