SlotGaugeCheck a catchHickory Shad regulations in Maryland
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Hickory Shad size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- CLOSED
- Size
- CLOSED
- Limit
- CLOSED
- Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays — as printed
- “Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, Hickory Shad and Shortnose Sturgeon | CLOSED”
- Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries — as printed
- “Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, Hickory Shad and Shortnose Sturgeon | CLOSED”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the 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.
Read more about Hickory shad on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Hickory Shad in Maryland?
CLOSED in Maryland state waters.
How many Hickory Shad can you keep per day in Maryland?
CLOSED.
When is Hickory Shad season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
Is my Hickory Shad a keeper today?
Hickory Shad is closed to harvest. Release it.