Size, bag and season for recreational striped bass in Maryland waters, as published by Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services.
Also on the agency page: Split: Chesapeake Bay vs Atlantic Ocean/Coastal Bays. Susquehanna Flats/Lower Susquehanna/Northeast River have their own schedule (C&R Jan–Mar, closed Apr 1–May 31, then same as Bay). No possession midnight–5 a.m. in the Bay; must land whole; no gaffs/cast nets; no use as bait (new 2026). Atlantic: non-offset circle hooks required with bait. EEZ closed.
This rule has area, mode or permit conditions that do not fit in a summary. Read the agency page before you keep a fish.
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.
Striped bass rules along the coast are built around a slot. A fish below the minimum or above the maximum goes back, so a measuring device on board is part of the rig.
Maryland rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Possession of striped bass is prohibited in federal waters (the EEZ, beyond 3 nautical miles). Fishing for them there is also prohibited. Only state waters can be fished. 50 CFR Part 697 · eCFR ↗
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 | 28"–31" (slot) | 1 fish | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Delaware | 28"–31" (slot); 20"–24" only Jul 1–Aug 31 in DE Bay, River and tributaries | 1 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot); Atlantic/Coastal Bays: 28"–31" (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 · Open in part from Dec 6 |
| Virginia | Coastal: 28"–31" (slot); Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot) | 1 fish per person | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 28"–31" total length (slot) — Atlantic Ocean | 1 fish per person per day — Atlantic Ocean | Openas of Oct 13 |
All 13 states for striped bass →
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.
