American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) regulations in Maryland

· Freshwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.

American Shad and Hickory Shad (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 'AMERICAN SHAD | None | Open Year Round | Daily—3' (see separate row).

Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording

Season: CLOSED
Size: CLOSED
Limit: CLOSED
Nontidal (inland) waters — as printed: “SHAD (AMERICAN/WHITE AND HICKORY) | | 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 american shad and hickory shad

Species of fish

The hickory shad, fall herring, mattowacca, freshwater taylor or bonejack is a member of the family Alosidae, ranging along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to the Gulf of Maine. It is an anadromous fish species, meaning that it spawns in freshwater portions of rivers, but spends most of its life at sea. It is subject to fishing, both historic and current, but it is often confused with or simply grouped together with American shad in catch statistics.

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 American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) in Maryland?

No size limit in Maryland state waters.

How many American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) can you keep per day in Maryland?

Possession prohibited.

When is American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) season in Maryland?

Open year-round.

Is my American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) a keeper today?

American Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.