SlotGaugeCheck a catchNorthern Snakehead (nontidal) regulations in Maryland
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Northern Snakehead (nontidal) size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nontidal (inland) waters | Open year-round | No size limit | No daily limit |
Notes
- No size or creel limit anywhere in Maryland; you must kill the fish immediately - possessing a live snakehead carries fines up to $2,500 per fish.
- Legal bowfishing target; dip nets may be used for snakehead in the Potomac, Monocacy and Conococheague within Allegany, Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties.
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- Open year round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- None
- Nontidal (inland) waters — as printed
- “Anglers are encouraged to catch and keep Chesapeake Channa year round. There is no minimum size or creel limit for Chesapeake Channa.”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the northern snakehead
Species of fish
The northern snakehead also known as Chesapeake Channa in Maryland U.S is a species of snakehead fish native to temperate East Asia, in China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea. Their natural range goes from the Amur River watershed in Siberia and Manchuria down to Hainan. It is an important food fish and one of the most cultivated in its native region, with 510,000 tonnes annual production worldwide. Due to this, the northern snakehead has been exported throughout the world and has managed to establish non-native populations in Central Asia and North America. In the United States, it is found in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi.
Read more about Northern snakehead 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 Northern Snakehead (nontidal) in Maryland?
No size limit in Maryland state waters.
How many Northern Snakehead (nontidal) can you keep per day in Maryland?
No daily limit.
When is Northern Snakehead (nontidal) season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
Is my Northern Snakehead (nontidal) a keeper today?
Northern Snakehead (nontidal) has no size limit today, with no daily limit.