Maryland saltwater fishing rules
Recreational size, bag and season for Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and the Ocean City coast, from Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services. Open as of Oct 13, 2026: striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefish, red drum, tautog, scup, spotted seatrout, weakfish, black drum, sheepshead, spanish mackerel.
| Species | Size | Bag | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot); Atlantic/Coastal Bays: 28"–31" (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | Chesapeake Bay & tidal tribs (2026): Jan 1–Feb 28 C&R only; Mar 1–Apr 30 C&R only (lower Bay); May 1–15 harvest in limited main-Bay area; May 16–31 harvest in defined areas; Jun 1–Jul 31 open; Aug 1–31 closed (no targeting); Sep 1–Dec 5 open; Dec 6–31 C&R only. Atlantic/Coastal Bays: Jan 1–Dec 31, 2026 | Openas of Oct 13 · Open in part from Dec 6 |
| Summer flounderChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31) | 4 per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black sea bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 12.5" (excluding tail filament) | 15 per day | May 1 – Dec 31 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| BluefishChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 8" minimum | Shore or private boat: 5 per person; for-hire boat: 7 per person | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Red drumChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 18"–26" (slot) | 3 per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| TautogChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 16" minimum | 4/day Jan 1–May 15; 2/day Jul 1–Oct 31; 4/day Nov 1–Dec 31 | Jul 1 – May 15 (catch-and-release only May 16 – Jun 30) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| ScupChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 9" minimum | 30 per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spotted seatroutChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 14" minimum | 4 per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| WeakfishChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 13" minimum | 1 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black drumChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 16" minimum | 1 fish per angler per day; 6 fish per boat | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| SheepsheadChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum | 4 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| CobiaChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 43" minimum total length | 1 fish per person per day, or up to 2 per vessel per day if 2 or more people aboard | June 15 – September 20 (catch-and-release allowed September 21 – June 14) | Catch and release onlyas of Oct 13 |
| Spanish mackerelChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14" minimum | 15 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
This table summarizes Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services pages on the dates shown, and status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season. The agency page controls:Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services ↗
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We publish a row only after checking it against the agency's own page. A species missing here is one we have not verified yet. That does not mean it has no rule. Use the agency link above, and see how we source.
Maryland portsOcean CityAnnapolisPoint Lookout / Lower Potomac