The 2017-2018 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing from the MD DNR is now online. This will be your go-to source for 2017 recreational fishing licenses and fees, crab pot restrictions, general fishing definitions, fish identification, tidal/nontidal dividing lines, sport fishing regulations, and seasons, minimum sizes, daily creel and possession limits. There are also resources on invasive species, artificial reefs, migratory species, marine mammal strandings, and the Maryland Fishing Challenge.

What's New?

  • Catch and Return Trout Fishing Area - The upper boundary on the North Branch Potomac River’s upper catch-and-return trout fishing area has been extended to the point where the Senator Sarbanes Trail meets the river.
  • Dividing Line - A new dividing line separating tidal and nontidal waters was established on Barren Creek at the U.S. 50 bridge.
  • Gear -  Changes have been proposed for bush bobs, bank poles, dip nets, and gigs.
  • Possession Limits in Nontidal Waters - New limits were established to be consistent with other species and to allow extra possession during overnight fishing trips.
  • Trout Closure Periods - The closure periods have been removed from Accident Pond, Georges Creek, Muddy Creek, and Little Youghiogheny River.
  • Yellow Perch - Changes were made to creel and size limits for conservation and consistency.
    • Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries: open year-round. Minimum size limit: 9 inches. Creel limit: 10 (daily)
    • Nontidal: open year round. Creel limit - 10 (daily), 20 (possession). Minimum size limits: rivers and streams (9 inches), nontidal lakes and ponds (none).

New State Records

Photos courtesy MD DNR [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="17808,17812,17811,17810"]

  • Cobia - Atlantic Division, 94.6 pounds by Emma Zajdel (9 years old).
  • Northern Snakehead - Invasive division, 18.42 pounds by Emory (Dutch) Baldwin III.
  • White Perch - Atlantic Division, 1.65 pounds by Ryan Timmons (10 years old).
  • White Perch - Nontidal Division, 1.74 pounds by James Stiars

Invasive Species

Striped Bass

Click to eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/striped-bass-4 for more information.

Blue Crabs - Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries

Season: April 1 through December 15

  • Turtle excluders are required in recreational crab pots in Maryland. These devices prevent terrapins from entering a crab pot without hindering blue crab entry. Without turtle excluders, terrapins can enter crab pots and drown.

This was just a sampling of some of the key sections in the 2017-2018 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing. To read the full catalog, click here.