Snapper regulations in Maryland

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Snapper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 20.

Snapper size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Atlantic Ocean & coastal bays	Open year-round	None	20 combined, max 10 of one species
Chesapeake Bay & tidal tributaries	Open year-round	None	20 combined, max 10 of one species

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' aliases/notes. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/08.02.05.29

Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: Daily—20 of any combination of species (No more than 10 of any single species)
Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays — as printed: “Snapper Species | None | Open Year Round | Daily—20 of any combination of species (No more than 10 of any single species)”
Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries — as printed: “Snapper Species | None | Open Year Round | Daily—20 of any combination of species (No more than 10 of any single species)”

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

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About the snapper

Family of fishes

Lutjanidae, the snappers and fusiliers, are a family of percomorph fishes, mainly marine but with some members inhabiting estuaries and, in some cases, fresh water. The family includes about 113 species. Most species are used for food and many are of high economic importance. Many species around the world are known in local languages as red snapper, including species from different genera

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 Snapper in Maryland?

None in Maryland state waters.

How many Snapper can you keep per day in Maryland?

20 combined, max 10 of one species.

When is Snapper season in Maryland?

Open year-round.

Is my Snapper a keeper today?

Snapper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 20.