Tidal - Recreational Regulations
Species Gear Type Season Sizes Limits Comments
Tidal
American Eel		 Eel pot 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 6'' or greater 25/person/day

If pot mesh <½ x ½, escape panel required made of 1/2" x 1/2" mesh measuring at least 16 sq. in.
With a recreational crab license-10 pots for bait for personal use.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:57 AM.
Tidal
American or Hickory Shad		 [SEASON CLOSED]
-

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:06:07 PM.
Tidal
Black Drum		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 16'' or greater 1/person/day and not more than 6/boat/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:59 AM.
Tidal
Black Sea Bass		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 2/28/2013

 12 1/2" or greater 15/person/day

Last updated on 1/8/2013 11:05:25 AM.
Tidal
Blue Crab (Hard)		 Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private) 4/1/2013 - 7/14/2013
Wednesdays cannot use traps, rings or trotlines
 5" or greater 2 dz/unlicensed person/day (from shore)
4 dz/unlicensed boat/day (regardless of the number of people on boat)
1 bu/licensee/day (max of 2 bushels from boat with 2 or more licensees)

Apr, Oct Nov and Dec:
1/2 hour after sunrise - 5:00 PM main Bay;
1/2 hour after sunrise - sunset in tributaries

May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep:
1/2 hour before sunrise - 5:00 PM main Bay;
1/2 hour before sunrise - sunset in tributaries

NO female hard crabs.
A private pier owner may crab two pots off their pier (cull rings and turtle reduction devices required)
Trotline floats must have same size, shape and color.
May not set or fish a trotline, crab net ring or collapsible crab trap within 100 feet of another individual's trotline.
Crabbing will be permitted on Jul 4, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012
See regulation for trotline length.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:54:19 AM.
Tidal
Blue Crab (Hard)		 Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private) 7/15/2013 - 12/15/2013
Wednesdays cannot use traps, rings or trotlines
 5 1/4" or greater 2 dz/unlicensed person/day (from shore)
4 dz/unlicensed boat/day (regardless of the number of people on boat)
1 bu/licensee/day (max of 2 bushels from boat with 2 or more licensees)

Apr, Oct, Nov and Dec:
1/2 hr after sunrise-5:00 pm in main Bay
1/2 hr after sunrise - sunset in tributaries

May, Jun,Jul, Aug and Sep:
1/2 hour before sunrise - 5:00 PM main Bay
1/2 hour before sunrise - sunset in tributaries

NO female hard crabs.
A private pier owner may crab two pots off their pier (cull rings and turtle reduction devices required)
Trotline floats must have same size, shape and color.
May not set or fish a trotline, crab net ring or collapsible crab trap within 100 feet of another individual's trotline.
Crabbing will be permitted on Jul 4, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012
See regulation for trotline length.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:54:34 AM.
Tidal
Blue Crab (Soft & Peeler)		 Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private) 4/1/2013 - 12/15/2013
Wednesdays cannot use traps, rings or trotlines
 See to Comment 2 dozen/person/day of soft crabs or male peelers OR a combination of soft crabs and peelers

Crabbing will be permitted on Jul 4, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012
See regulation for trotline length.
3 1/2" - Soft
3 1/4" - Peeler April 1 - July 14
3 1/2" - Peeler July 15 - Dec 31

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:56:01 AM.
Tidal
Bluefish		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 8" or greater 10/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:09 AM.
Tidal
Catfish (All Species except Bullhead)		 Hook & Line, Jug 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 10" or greater None

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:12 AM.
Tidal
Chain Pickerel		 Hook & Line 5/1/2012 - 3/14/2013

 14" or greater 10/person/day

Season Closed: 3/15 to 4/30

Last updated on 1/8/2013 10:58:15 AM.
Tidal
Conch		 Hand 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 6'' or greater None

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:17 AM.
Tidal
Croaker		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 9'' or greater 25/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:20 AM.
Tidal
Hard Clam		 Rake, Tong 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 Transverse 1'' or greater 250/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:24 AM.
Tidal
Herring		 [SEASON CLOSED]
-

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:18:02 PM.
Tidal
Largemouth Bass		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 12"/15" See comments for details or greater 5/person/day

12" from Jun 16 thru last day of Feb
15" from Mar 1 - Jun 15

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:25 AM.
Tidal
Oysters		 Hand, Shaft Tong, Rake, Dive 10/1/2012 - 3/31/2013
Mon thru Sat
Monday-Friday: Sunrise- 3:00 p.m. Saturday: Sunrise - Noon		 3'' or greater 1 bushel/person/day
Several Areas CLOSED. Consult Public Notices

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:24:54 PM.
Tidal
Red Drum		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 18'' to 27" 1/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:34 AM.
Tidal
Scup		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 8" or greater 50/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:37 AM.
Tidal
Sharks		 Handline, Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 See comments or greater SHORE FISHING:
1/person/day of the species listed in comments
VESSEL LIMIT:
1/vessel/trip of the species listed in comments regardless of the number of people on board
IN ADDITION TO THE LIMITS ABOVE, a person may catch:
1 additional Smooth Dogfish and
1 additional Atlantic sharpnose and
1 additional Bonnethead

No finning
Head, tails and fins attached

Closure Period (applies to species with minimum fork length): May 15 - July 15

No fork length:
(1) Smooth Dogfish; (2) Atlantic sharpnose; (3) Finetooth; (4) Blacknose; (5) Bonnethead

54" fork length:
(6) Tiger; (7) Blacktip; (8) Spinner; (9) Bull; (10) Lemon; (11) Nurse; (12) Scalloped hammerhead; (13) Great hammerhead; (14) Smooth hammerhead; (15) Shortfin mako; (16) Porbeagle; (17) Common thresher; (18) Oceanic whitetip; and (19) Blue

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:43 AM.
Tidal
Smallmouth Bass		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 12"*** 15" from Mar 1 - Jun 15 or greater 5/person/day

Note: Catch and release is permitted during closed seasons

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:44 AM.
Tidal
Snapping Turtles		 Hand 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013
See Comments for Closure
 4" or greater 1/person/day

Closed Period: Charles County closed Apr 15 thru May 31
May not pierce a turtle to capture.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:47 AM.
Tidal
Soft Clam		 Rake, Tong 1/1/2013 - 4/14/2013

Sunrise to Sunset		 2'' or greater 8 bu/boat/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:06:27 AM.
Tidal
Spanish Mackerel		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 14'' or greater 15/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:30 AM.
Tidal
Spotted Sea Trout		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 14" or greater 10/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:46 AM.
Tidal
Striped Bass		 Hook & Line 3/1/2013 - 5/3/2013

 CATCH AND to RELEASE ONLY Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting the Susquehanna State Park Boat Ramp in Lapidum to Twin Rocks to Tomes Wharf in Port Deposit; and Northeast River.

No eels
No stinger hooks
Barbless hooks when trolling
Circle hooks or J hooks (less than 1/2") when using bait
6 lines or less when trolling, regardless of the number of people on board View Map

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:48:53 AM.
Tidal
Striped Bass		 Hook & Line 4/20/2013 - 5/15/2013

5:01am - 11:59pm		 28" or greater 1/person/day
Restricted to the mainstem Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Maryland/Virginia Line, Tangier & Pocomoke Sounds (no Tributaries)

No Eels
Maximum two charter boat trips/day.
 View Map

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:49:18 AM.
Tidal
Striped Bass		 Hook & Line 5/16/2013 - 5/31/2013

5:01am - 11:59pm		 18" to 28" See Comments 2/person/day
1/person/day (Susquehanna & Northeast Rivers)

Restricted to the mainstem Chesapeake Bay from a line between Tolchester to the south point of Hart-Miller Island south to the MD/VA Line plus areas of the Chester, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers.

No eels
2 @ 18"- 28" OR
1 @ 18" - 28" and 1 larger than 28"/person/day.

1/person/day 18" - 26" in Susquehanna Flats & Northeast River.
 View Map

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:49:57 AM.
Tidal
Striped Bass		 Hook & Line 6/1/2013 - 12/15/2013
Mon thru Sun
5:01am - 11:59pm		 18" to 28" See Comments 2/person/day

Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

2 @ 18"- 28" OR
1 @ 18" - 28" and 1 larger than 28"/person/day
 View Map

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:50:11 AM.
Tidal
Sturgeon (Atlantic and Shortnose)		 [SEASON CLOSED]
-

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:39:06 PM.
Tidal
Summer Flounder		 Hook & Line 4/14/2013 - 12/16/2013

 17'' or greater 3/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:51:51 AM.
Tidal
Tautog		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 11/26/2012

 16'' or greater 4/person/day from Jan 1 thru May 15 and Nov 1 thru Nov 14

2/person/day from May 16 thru Oct 31

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:47:11 AM.
Tidal
Walleye		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 15'' or greater 5/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:22 AM.
Tidal
Weakfish		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 13" or greater 1/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:25 AM.
Tidal
White Perch		 Cast Net, Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 8'' - net or greater None

No size limit for Hook & Line

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:26 AM.
Tidal
Yellow Perch		 Hook & Line 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013

 9'' or greater 10/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:43 AM.

This is intended as a summary only. Regulations are subject to change. It is the angler's responsibility to know and abide by all current regulations, notices, and law. Please contact NMFS for regulations pertaining to Tunas, Shark, Swordfish, Billfish, Sailfish, and Marlin (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Compliance_Guide/index.htm).

The EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)- All waters from the seaward boundary of coastal states (3 miles from shore) out to 200 nautical miles. Maryland waters are from the shore to 3 miles.

This and the Maryland Fishing Guide are only intended as summaries. Regulations are subject to change. It is the angler's responsibility to know and abide by all current regulations, notices, and law. Please contact NMFS for regulations pertaining to Tunas, Shark, Swordfish, Billfish, Sailfish, and Marlin.