We know everyone is itching to get out on the Chesapeake Bay and catch some striped bass, but before doing so, you must check the regulations by season and in your region of the Bay.
Maryland
In Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay, it is illegal to:
- To possess any cut up or filleted striped bass at any time aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland. Striped bass must be landed whole.
- To use more than two hooks or two sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered one set of hooks.
- To use eels as bait while fishing for striped bass with hook and line from Dec. 16–May 15, inclusive, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
- To cull striped bass.
- To possess striped bass while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from midnight to 5 a.m.
- To use a gaff to land striped bass.
- To take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state.
- To fish for striped bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of striped bass in designated spawning areas from March 1–May 31.
- To intentionally snag a striped bass.
January 1 - February 28: All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and the Potomac River are open to catch and release fishing only; no harvest.
Restrictions and remarks:
- Directed catch and release of striped bass in the Potomac requires barbless hooks.
- Eels may not be used as bait.
March 1 - March 31: Fishing allowed in the Chesapeake Bay from the Brewerton Channel to the Virginia line including Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds; no harvest.
Regulations:
- Stinger (trailing) hooks are prohibited.
- Barbless hooks are required when trolling.
- Non-offset circle hooks or J hooks with a gap of less than half inch are required when using natural bait.
- No more than six lines may be employed while trolling regardless of the number of anglers on board.
Restrictions and remarks:
- Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are off limits until June 1 to striped bass fishing.
- Eels may not be used as bait.
- See maps at: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/sb_2020_regs.aspx
April 1 - April 30: All areas closed to striped bass fishing; CLOSED. No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
May 1 - to May 15: Fishing allowed in the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the MD-VA Line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks, and rivers, except Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound.
Regulations: one fish per person per day, minimum size 35 inches.
Restrictions and remarks:
- Eels may not be used as bait.
- See maps at: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/sb_2020_regs.aspx
May 16 - May 31: Fishing allowed in the Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line drawn from the south corner of Hart-Miller Island Dike to the end of MD Route 21 at Tolchester and south to the MD/VA line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks, and rivers. EXCEPT: Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound; Chester River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Hail Point to Long Point to Ferry Point; Patuxent River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Point Patience to the west point of land at the entrance of Little Kingston Creek; and Choptank River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Holland Point to a point of land at the west entrance of Chapel Creek are open.
Regulations: one fish per person per day, minimum size is 19 inches.
Restrictions and remarks:
- See Maps at: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/SB_2020_regs.aspx
- Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.
June 1 - June 15: All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and tributaries open to fishing.
Regulations: one fish per person per day, minimum size 19 inches.
Restrictions and remarks:
- See Maps at: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/SB_2020_regs.aspx
- Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.
July 16- July 31: All areas CLOSED to striped bass fishing. No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
August 1 - December 10: All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and tributaries open to fishing.
Regulations: one fish per person per day, minimum size 19 inches.
Restrictions and remarks:
- See Maps at: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/SB_2020_regs.aspx
- Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.
December 11 - December 31: Catch and release only.
The 2018 benchmark stock assessment for striped bass indicated declines, so the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has determined that conservation measures are needed to reduce the amount of striped bass being removed. This includes dead discards, which are fish that die after being caught and returned to the water.
Maryland has coordinated with the ASMFC to develop regulations in compliance with its coastwide fishery management plan. After a midseason closure was inaugurated during the 2020 season, data collected by the department determined that the water quality and temperatures are more potentially harmful to striped bass during the last two weeks of July than proposed closure dates later in the season.
For the full Maryland regulations, visit the Maryland Fishing and Crabbing eregulations page.
Virginia
In Virginia's portion of the Chesapeake Bay the seasons are as follows:
Coastal: January 1 through March 31 and May 16 through December 31
Minimum Size Limit: 28 inches
Maximum Size Limit: 36 inches
Possession Limit: one per person
Spring Season: May 16 through June 15
Minimum Size Limit: 20 inches
Maximum Size Limit: 28 inches
Possession Limit: one per person
Fall Season: October 4 through December 31
Minimum Size Limit: 20 inches
Maximum Size Limit: 36 inches
Possession Limit: one per person
Other restrictions:
- You may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or you fish in multiple jurisdictions.
- Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.
- Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the three mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
- Potomac River striped bass regulations: Different regulations apply in the Potomac River. These areas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, P.O. Box 9, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, (804) 224-7148; (800) 266-3904; For further information on PRFC rules contact PRFC directly or visit PRFC.