Maryland Sport Fishing & Crabbing Licenses

The rules described here are a summary of law. To view current Maryland fishing law please visit COMAR online or the Maryland General Assembly website.

License Term

January 1 through December 31.

Who May Fish Without a License

Individuals under the age of 16 are not required to obtain a license to sport fish/crab. They can, however, purchase a recreational crab license if they want to catch the bushel of crabs allowed with that license.

How to Apply for a License

Download & Print a Sport Fishing & Crabbing License Application

Saltwater Angler Registry

Saltwater anglers who are not required to hold Maryland a Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing license and want to fish the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac River must obtain a free Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration. By registering with Maryland, you will not need to register with NOAA.

Some of the anglers who are eligible for this free registration are guests on a boat with a Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Boat Decal, waterfront property owner and their family members, have a Virginia saltwater license, have a Potomac River Fisheries sport fishing license and are fishing in a free fishing area or on a Maryland Free Fishing Day. A complete list can be found in the chart below.

Obtain your Free Registration today by:

Maryland Fishing Licenses and the Saltwater Angler Registry Eligibility Chart

Registry Information Handout 2011

Resident Senior Consolidated License

Resident Senior Consolidated License (available to MD residents only) allows a Maryland resident who is 65 years of age or older, or will become 65 years of age in the current calendar year, to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland (including trout) and in Maryland's tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, Atlantic coast and coastal bays from January 1 through December 31.

Non-Tidal/Freshwater Licenses

Annual Non-Tidal License

The annual non-tidal license allows licensee to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland from January 1 through December 31.

7-day Non-tidal License

The 7-day Non-tidal License allows licensee to fish the fresh waters of Maryland for 7 consecutive fishing days.

3-day Non-tidal License

The 3-day non-tidal license (available to nonresidents only) allows licensee to fish the fresh waters of Maryland for 3 consecutive fishing days.

Trout Stamp

The Resident Trout Stamp ($5.00) allows Maryland State residents 16 years of age or older to fish in any special catch and return trout management area and to possess trout taken from non-tidal waters of Maryland. (This stamp is not required if you hold a Resident Senior Consolidated License.) The Non Resident Trout Stamp ($10.00) allows non residents of the State of Maryland 16 years of age or older to fish in any special catch and return trout management area and to possess trout taken from non-tidal waters of Maryland. (Non Resident seniors must purchase a trout stamp to possess trout).

Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fish License Description:

The recreational fishing license structure changed in the 2010 session of the General Assembly. These changes become effective on January 1, 2011. A description of the license and registration requirements for the tidal waters of the State are as follows:

Resident and Non-Resident Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport (annual) License allows an individual to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries from January 1 through December 31.

• $15 – Resident Annual
• $22.50 – Non-resident Annual

7-day Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport License allows residents and non-residents to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries for 7 consecutive fishing days.

• $6 – Resident 7-Day
• $12 – Non-resident 7 Day

Resident Senior Consolidated Fishing License allows residents who are 65 years of age or older to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries from January 1 through December 31 at a reduced rate. $5

Consolidated Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Boat License allows everyone on board a vessel used for pleasure to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries in lieu of individual licenses. However, these individuals must register with the Department (see below). A special complimentary Bay & Coastal sport fishing license, which includes recreational crabbing, will be issued to the boat owner purchasing this license. The $50 Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing Decal is NOT valid as a Recreational Crabbing Boat License (though the purchaser of this decal is given one complimentary individual recreational crabbing license).

FREE Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Registration Unless individually licensed, registration is required for MD. waterfront property owners, those fishing in a designated free fishing area, and passengers on a vessel displaying a Boat License (decal) from MD,VA, or PRFC. In the Potomac River a registration is required for passengers on a vessel displaying a Boat License decal from MD, VA, or PRFC, and for the owner or owner’s nonpaying guest fishing from private real property or an attached pier in the tidal waters of the Potomac River.

Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Charter Boat License allows individuals on board chartered vessels operated by MD licensed fishing guides to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries in lieu of individual licenses. There are separate licenses for charter boats that carry 6 passengers or less and those that carry more than 6 passengers.

• $240.00 -- up to 6 passengers
• $290.00 -- more than 6 passengers

Commercial Fishing Pier License provides for a fee pier to have unlicensed and unregistered individuals fish from the pier. The licensee must submit contact information on all pier anglers as prescribed by the Department. $240.00

Do I need a License?

Natural Resources Article §4-745 Annotated Code of Maryland requires all persons recreationally fishing in the tidal waters of the State to be licensed, except as follows:

If a person;

• is less than 16 years of age;
• is a registered angler with the State of Maryland and is fishing from a boat holding a valid tidal/salt water license issued by Potomac River Fisheries Commission, the Commonwealth of Virginia or the State of Maryland.
• possesses a valid commercial tidal fish license;
• is fishing from a licensed commercial fishing pier;
• is a registered angler with the State of Maryland and is fishing on a free fishing pier;
• is the owner or the owners non-paying guest fishing from private real property or an attached pier in the Potomac River;
• is fishing from a licensed charter boat;
• is fishing on a free fishing day – the first two Saturdays in June and July 4;
• is a registered angler with the State of Maryland and possesses a Virginia Saltwater recreational fishing license; or
• possesses a Potomac River Fisheries Commission recreational fishing license.
• Is a resident of MD, on active duty with the armed forces, on leave with official leave orders;

Reciprocity

Virginia saltwater recreational fishing licenses with a Maryland/PRFC registration honored in Maryland tidal waters are:

Maryland saltwater recreational fishing licenses with a Virginia registration honored in Virginia tidal saltwaters are:

Potomac River Fisheries Commission recreational fishing licenses honored in Virginia tidal saltwaters:

Potomac River Fisheries Commission recreational fishing licenses honored in Maryland tidal saltwaters:

Maryland and Virginia saltwater recreational fishing licenses and their registrations are honored in the tidal saltwaters of the Potomac River.

Crabbing Licenses
Crab season: April 1 to December 15

A recreational crabber may crab without a license 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week from docks, piers, bridges, boats and shorelines using dip nets and any number of handlines. A property owner may set a maximum of 2 crab pots per privately owned pier at their property.

Recreational Crabbing License

Recreational Crabbing License is required of persons catching crabs for recreational purposes in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries using (a) trotline not to exceed 1,200 feet in length (baited portion), (b) 11 to 30 collapsible traps or rings, or (c) up to 10 eel pots for catching the individual’s own bait.

Recreational Crabbing Boat License

The Recreational Crabbing Boat License allows everyone on board a vessel to catch crabs for recreational purposes anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, and is in lieu of individual licenses. The following limits on gear apply to the vessel: (a) trotline not to exceed 1,200 feet in length (baited portion), (b) maximum 30 collapsible traps or rings, or (c) any number of handlines and dip nets.

Complimentary Licenses

BLIND
Complimentary annual tidal and non-tidal licenses are available to residents and nonresidents who are blind.

DAV/POW
A complimentary lifetime license is available to Maryland residents who are 100% service connected disabled veterans or former prisoners of war. The license incorporates both the non-tidal angler’s license and the Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license. It does not, however, include the trout stamp. Applicant must furnish a letter of disability or a letter of certification from the Veterans Administration with their initial application.

Replacement Licenses

If you provided your email address during the purchase of your license, a copy will be emailed 30 minutes after purchase. This electronic version of your license will allow you to print another copy should your original be lost or damaged.

All licenses can be reprinted for free within 24 hours of purchase. After this time period, you can reprint your license for a reduced fee at any time by logging into your COMPASS account, or by visiting a Sports License Agent or a DNR Service Center http://www.dnr.state.md.us/service/.

The following is the pricing for Replacement and Reprinted Licenses after the initial 24 hour period:

Holders of a Resident Bay Sport Fishing License or a Resident Senior Consolidated Fishing License may obtain this license for $2.00

NOTE: Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article, Section 4-205(l)(1) mandates the collection of Social Security numbers from all recreational fishing license applicants. Under the Department's Privacy Policy, your Social Security number cannot be displayed on any documents accessible to the general public and can only be used by the Department in carrying out its governmental functions. It cannot be released to anyone else without your express permission.