Black sea bass rules in Maryland
Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in Maryland waters, as published by Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services.
- Size
- 12.5" (excluding tail filament)
- Bag
- 15 per day
- Season
- May 1 – Dec 31
Also on the agency page: Identical on Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic/Coastal Bays tables.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 10, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
What to know before you keep one
Black sea bass seasons often come in several windows with different bag limits. Read the whole season line, not the first date.
State water or federal water
Maryland rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. North of Cape Hatteras, federal recreational measures come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass is a South Atlantic snapper-grouper species with its own federal rules. NOAA Fisheries · black sea bass ↗
Across the state line
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 12.5" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 10 fish (May 15–Jun 21); 1 fish (Jun 22–Sep 22); 10 fish (Sep 23–Oct 31); 15 fish (Nov 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Delaware | 12.5" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | 12.5" (excluding tail filament) | 15 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 13" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 13" total length minimum (excluding tail filament) | North of Cape Hatteras: 15 per person per day; South of Cape Hatteras: 7 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |