Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) regulations in Maryland

· Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.

Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) size limit, season and daily limit

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

Notes

All bivalves/shellfish in nontidal waters are closed to harvest.
Youghiogheny River Lake also prints 'PADDLEFISH, MUSSELS, CLAMS, AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES | CLOSED'.

Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording

Season: CLOSED
Size: CLOSED
Limit: CLOSED
Nontidal (inland) waters — as printed: “ATLANTIC STURGEON, SHORTNOSE STURGEON, AND BIVALVES/SHELLFISH | CLOSED”

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

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About the freshwater mussels, clams and bivalves

Kind of freshwater mollusc

Freshwater bivalves are molluscs of the class Bivalvia that inhabit freshwater ecosystems. They are one of the two main groups of freshwater molluscs, along with freshwater snails. The majority of bivalve molluscs are saltwater species that live in the marine habitats, but a number of families have evolved to live in fresh water. These belong to two different evolutionary lineages, i.e. freshwater mussels and freshwater clams, and the various groups are not closely related.

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 Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) in Maryland?

No size limit in Maryland state waters.

How many Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) can you keep per day in Maryland?

Possession prohibited.

When is Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) season in Maryland?

Open year-round.

Is my Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) a keeper today?

Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) is closed to harvest. Release it.