Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) regulations in Maryland

Highly Migratory Species · Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) has no size limit today, with Federal HMS limits; see hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Federal waters (3-200 mi) - NOAA Atlantic HMS rules apply	Open year-round	No size limit	Federal HMS limits; see hmspermits.noaa.gov

Notes

Maryland does not print its own limits for tunas, marlin, spearfish, sailfish or swordfish - follow NOAA Atlantic HMS retention limits (https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/).
An Atlantic HMS permit is required to fish for or keep these species in federal waters.
Effective Dec 22, 2025 HMS permit holders must electronically report landed bluefin tuna, dead discards, and non-tournament billfish/swordfish landings within 24 hours of the trip.

Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording

Season: See federal (NOAA HMS) rules
Size: See federal (NOAA HMS) rules
Limit: See federal (NOAA HMS) rules
Federal waters (3-200 mi) - NOAA Atlantic HMS rules apply — as printed: “A valid Atlantic HMS permit is required to fish for or keep Atlantic tunas, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks in federal waters.”

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

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About the highly migratory species - tunas, billfish and swordfish

Group of ray-finned fishes

The billfish are saltwater predatory ray-finned fish from the superfamily Xiphioidea, characterised by prominent pointed bills (rostra), and by their large size; some are longer than 4 m (13 ft). Extant billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae; and swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are often apex predators which feed on a wide variety of smaller fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.

Read more about Billfish on Wikipedia →

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 Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) in Maryland?

No size limit in Maryland state waters.

How many Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) can you keep per day in Maryland?

Federal HMS limits; see hmspermits.noaa.gov.

When is Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) season in Maryland?

Open year-round.

Is my Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) a keeper today?

Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish) has no size limit today, with Federal HMS limits; see hmspermits.noaa.gov.