SlotGaugeCheck a catchMaryland fish species, A to Z
All 92 species named in the 2026 Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services regulations. Regulations opens the size limit, season and daily limit for every zone; About opens the species' Wikipedia article (identification, range, habits). Updated 2026-10-04.
Saltwater
Alewife and Blueback Herring · closed to harvest
American Eel · 9 inch minimum
American Shad · closed to harvest
Atlantic Croaker · 9 inch minimum
Atlantic Menhaden · No size limit
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark and Bonnethead SharkSharks · No size limit
Atlantic Sturgeon · closed to harvest
Black Drum · 16 inch minimum
Black Sea Bass · 12.5 inch minimum
Bluefish · 8 inch minimum
Cobia · 43 inch minimum
Dolphin · No size limit
Grouper · None
Hammerhead Sharks (Great, Scalloped, Smooth)Sharks · 78 inch minimum
Hickory Shad · closed to harvest
Highly Migratory Species - Tunas, Billfish and Swordfish (Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Sailfish, Swordfish)Highly Migratory Species · No size limit- no photoProhibited Sharks (Sandbar, Dusky, Sand Tiger, Oceanic Whitetip, Shortfin Mako and all unlisted species)Sharks · closed to harvest
Red Drum · 18–26 inch slot
Scup · 9 inch minimum- no photoSharks - 54 inch group, closed May 15 to July 15 (Blacktip, Bull, Lemon, Nurse, Spinner, Tiger)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
- no photoSharks - 54 inch group, open year round (Blacknose, Blue, Common Thresher, Finetooth, Porbeagle)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
Sheepshead · 12 inch minimum
Shortnose Sturgeon · closed to harvest
Shrimp · No size limit
Smooth DogfishSharks · No size limit
Snapper · None
Spanish Mackerel · 14 inch minimum
Spiny DogfishSharks · No size limit
Spot · No size limit
Spotted Seatrout · 14 inch minimum
Striped Bass · 28–31 inch slot
Summer Flounder · 16 inch minimum (January 1 – May 31); 17.5 inch minimum (June 1 – December 31)
Tautog · 16 inch minimum
Tilefish · Federal limits
Wahoo · No size limit
Weakfish · 13 inch minimum
White Perch · no minimum by hook and line (8 in with other gear)
Freshwater
Alewife and Blueback Herring (nontidal) · closed to harvest
American Eel (nontidal) · 9 inch minimum- American Eel (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 9 inch minimum
American Shad (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit- no photoAmerican Shad and Hickory Shad (nontidal) · closed to harvest
- no photoBaitfish (including madtoms) · No size limit
- no photoBaitfish (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit
- no photoBass - Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 12 inch minimum
Brook TroutTrout · closed to harvest
Brown TroutTrout · closed to harvest
Carp · No size limit
Catfish · No size limit- Chain Pickerel · 14 inch minimum
- Chain Pickerel (nontidal) · 14 inch minimum
Channel Catfish · No size limit
Crappie · No size limit
Crayfish (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit- no photoGizzard Shad (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit
Largemouth Bass · 15 inch minimum (March 1 – June 15); 12 inch minimum (June 16 – February 29)- Largemouth Bass (nontidal) · 12 inch minimum
Longnose Gar · None- no photoMud Bugs (Dragonfly Nymphs) (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit
Muskellunge · 36 inch minimum- no photoMuskellunge and Tiger Muskie (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 40 inch minimum
Northern Pike · 30 inch minimum
Northern Pike (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 24 inch minimum
Northern Snakehead · None- Northern Snakehead (nontidal) · No size limit
- no photo
- no photo
- Pickerel (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 18 inch minimum
- River Herring (Youghiogheny River Lake) · No size limit
Sauger (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 12 inch minimum
Saugeye · 15 inch minimum
Smallmouth Bass · 15 inch minimum (March 1 – June 15); 12 inch minimum (June 16 – February 29)
Striped Bass (lakes and ponds) · 18 inch minimum- Striped Bass (nontidal rivers and streams) · closed to harvest
- Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 20 inch minimum
Suckers · No size limit
Sunfish · None
Trout · None
Trout (Put-and-Take, Delayed Harvest and Catch-and-Return areas)Trout · No size limit- no photoTrout and Salmon (all species) (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 7 inch minimum
Walleye · 15 inch minimum- Walleye (nontidal) · 15 inch minimum
- no photoWalleye and Hybrids (Youghiogheny River Lake) · 15 inch minimum
White Perch (nontidal) · No size limit
Yellow Perch · 9 inch minimum- Yellow Perch (nontidal) · 9 inch minimum
Shellfish & crabs
American Lobster · 3.375–5.25 inch slot
Blue CrabCrabs · 5 inch minimum (April 1 – July 14); 5.25 inch minimum (July 15 – December 15)
Freshwater Mussels, Clams and Bivalves (nontidal) · closed to harvest
Hard ClamClams & oysters · 1 inch minimum
OysterClams & oysters · 3 inch minimum
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