SlotGaugeCheck a catchOyster regulations in Maryland
Clams & oysters · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Oyster size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland tidal waters (open areas) | October 1 – March 31 | 3 inch minimum | 100 oysters per person per day (Mon–Sat, sunrise to noon) |
Notes
- Maryland residents only. $10 resident oyster license (or free waterfront landowner registration) required. Rakes, diving, hand or shaft tongs only; not from sanctuaries, leases or closed areas.
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- October 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027; Monday through Saturday, sunrise to noon
- Size
- 3 inches hinge to bill
- Limit
- 100 oysters per person per day
- Maryland tidal waters (open areas) — as printed
- “Season: October 1, 2026–March 31, 2027. Catch Limit: 100 oysters/person/day. Days Allowed: Monday through Saturday. Catch Times: Sunrise–Noon. Minimum Size: Three inches measured from hinge to bill along the longest part of the shell.”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the oyster
Species of bivalve
The eastern oyster —also called the Atlantic oyster, American oyster, or East Coast oyster—is a species of true oyster native to eastern North and South America. Other names in local or culinary use include the Wellfleet oyster, Virginia oyster, Malpeque oyster, Blue Point oyster, Chesapeake Bay oyster, and Apalachicola oyster. C. virginica ranges from northern New Brunswick south through parts of the West Indies to Venezuela. It is farmed in all of the Maritime provinces of Canada and all Eastern Seaboard and Gulf states of the United States, as well as Puget Sound, Washington, where it is known as the Totten Inlet Virginica. It was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century and is common in Pearl Harbor.
Read more about Eastern oyster 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 Oyster in Maryland?
3 inch minimum in Maryland state waters.
How many Oyster can you keep per day in Maryland?
100 oysters per person per day (Mon–Sat, sunrise to noon).
When is Oyster season in Maryland?
October 1 – March 31.
Is my Oyster a keeper today?
A oyster is a keeper today if it measures at least 3 inches, with a daily limit of 100.