Size, bag and season for recreational spotted seatrout in Maryland waters, as published by Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services.
Also on the agency page: Identical on Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic/Coastal Bays tables (Bay table adds 'Cannot be used as bait').
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.
Seatrout rules often combine a slot or minimum with a one-fish allowance over a set length. A hard winter cold snap can bring an emergency closure with little notice.
Maryland rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Spotted seatrout are managed by the states through ASMFC. The fishery is almost entirely in estuaries and nearshore state waters. ASMFC · spotted seatrout ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 12" minimum | No daily limit | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | 14" minimum | 4 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 14" minimum | 5 per person, only 1 may exceed 24" | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 14"–20" total length slot; may keep one fish over 26" | 3 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
All 7 states for spotted seatrout →
Attributed operator claims, not verified catches. The full Bite Wire →
FishTalk's October 2 lower-bay report had Eric Packard catching six striped bass near Point Lookout on shad-head jigs with soft plastics, and editor Dillon Waters reporting slot fish and overs to 26 inches at a lower Potomac creek mouth. Water at 68 degrees; speckled trout running 10-12 inches across the lower bay.
