Maryland Guide To
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dnr.maryland.gov MARYLAND GUIDE TO 2017 – FISHING 2018 & CRABBING WHAT’S NEW See page 6 Also inside... • License Information • Seasons, Sizes & Limits •Fish Identification • Public Lakes & Ponds • T idal/Non tidal dividing lines •Oysters & Clams NONTIDAL | CHESAPEAKE BAY | COASTAL BAYS | ATLANTIC OCEAN You Are Here So Are We NOT EVERY TOWING SERVICE HAS A FLEET STANDING BY TO BACK UP THEIR PROMISES. We do. TowBoatU.S. has over 600 red boats from coast to coast, so you’re never far from help when you need it. Our Captains are licensed professionals that will get you and your boat underway and where you need to go in no time. CALL OR GO ONLINE NOW TO JOIN FOR JUST $149 ALL YEAR. 1-800-395-2628 BoatUS.com/towing Towing details can be found online at BoatUS.com/towing or by calling. dnr.maryland.gov Photo courtesy Dee Kolobow 38 Courtesy of Sherry Bishop 40 Photo courtesy of Steve Peperak page 24 43 CONTENTS 44 What’s New���������������������������������������������� 6 Put-and-Take Sport Fish State Records Rules Trout Fishing Areas������������������������22–23 & Procedures�����������������������������������������39 DNR Addresses & Phone Numbers���������������������������������� 8 Special Management Areas Blue Crabs���������������������������������������40–41 Trout������������������������������������������24–25 Natural Resource Police Artificial Reefs��������������������������������������42 Information���������������������������������������������� 8 AllSpecies��������������������������������������26 Oyster & Clams�������������������������������������43 Catch A Poacher������������������������������������� 8 Bass Fishing������������������������������������������28 Highly Migratory Species License Information�������������������������10–13 Potomac River Boating & Sharks�������������������������������������������44-45 & Safety Information����������������������������29 Recreational Crab License License Free Fishing Areas�����������������46 & Crab Pot Registration�����������������������13 Fish Identification���������������������������30–31 Maryland Fishing Challenge����������46–47 General Definitions��������������������������������14 Public Lakes & Ponds��������������������32–33 AnglerAwardSpecies &MinimumSizes��������������������������� 47 Sport Fishing Regulations Tidal/Nontidal Dividing Lines�������������������������������������� 34–35 AnglerAwardCenters������������������� 47 Nontidal��������������������������������������������16 ChesapeakeBay,CoastalBays, Invasive Species�����������������������������36–37 Marine Mammals & Sea Turtles���������48 AtlanticOcean���������������������������������17 Striped Bass����������������������������������� 38–39 Seasons, Sizes & Limits Nontidal��������������������������������������������18 LICENSE FREE FISHING DAYS! ChesapeakeBay &TidalTributaries�������������������������20 In Maryland, anyone may fish without a recreational fishing license on June 3, June 10, and July 4, 2017. AtlanticOcean,CoastalBays &Tributaries�������������������������������������� 21 All other fishing regulations apply. Photo courtesy of Tim Campbell Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission This commission is comprised of individuals from across the state who represent the inter- ests of various recreational fishing constit- uencies. The meeting schedule, agenda, summaries of past meetings, member affili- ations and contact information are online at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries. Larry Hogan, Governor Commissioners Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL Boyd K. Rutherford, Lieutenant Governor Mr. David Sikorski Mr. Valentine Lynch Mark Belton, Secretary Chairman Tidal/Marine Marine Fisheries, Ocean Fisheries, Coastal City Marlin Club Maryland Department of Conservation Dr. Raymond P. Association of MD Natural Resources Morgan II Fishing & Boating Services Mr. Micah Dammeyer Nontidal Fisheries About this Guide Tawes State Office Building Nontidal/Tidal Fisheries Western MD Freshwater Guide 580 Taylor Avenue, B-2 Mr. John Neely This high-quality regulation guide is Annapolis, MD 21401-2352 Mr. Mark DeHoff Nontidal Coldwater/ offered to you by the Maryland Department 410-260-8300 Nontidal/Tidal/Marine Tidal Fisheries Fisheries of Natural Resources through its unique 800-688-3467 Captain Edward partnership with J.F. Griffin Publishing. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries Ms. Beverly Fleming O'Brien [email protected] Marine Fisheries, Tidal/Marine Fisheries, The revenue generated through ad sales Assateague Mobile Maryland Charter Boat significantly lowers production costs and Cover photos: Sportsfishing Association Association generates savings. These savings trans- Top Left to Bottom Right Mr. James Gracie Mr. Tim Smith late into additional funds for other impor- Karon Hickman, Brad Palmisano, George Nontidal Fisheries, Tidal Fisheries, Fishing tant agency programs. Maddox, Rich Watts, Joseph Eccleston, Mid-Atlantic Council of Guides Trout Unlimited If you have any feedback or are inter- Charles Vinson, Krist Gill-Snyder Mr. Roger Trageser ested in advertising, please contact us Mr. Robert Hardy Black Bass Fisheries, at 413.884.1001 or at www.JFGriffin.com Tidal/Marine Fisheries Maryland Bass Nation This publication is intended as a guide Mr. Phil Langley Mr. James Wommack Graphic Design: only. Regulations are subject to change. Maryland Charter Boat Tidal/Marine Fisheries Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, Association It is the angler's responsibility to know Mr. David M. Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski and abide by all current regulations and Ms. Rachel Dean Sutherland laws. For state laws and regulations, Tidal Fisheries Advisory Marine Conservation see the Natural Resources Article of the Commission and Economics Annotated Code of Maryland and the Vacant Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 08. Aquaculture Industry Maryland laws and regulations can be found at the following web sites: The Maryland Fishing Guide is a publication of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, • Laws: Fishing & Boating Services. Political advocacy www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/mdcode/ ads, ads promoting alcohol or tobacco and ads • Regulations: of a sexual nature will not be accepted. The www.dsd.state.md.us/COMAR/ Maryland Department of Natural Resources ComarHome.html Fishing & Boating Services is not responsible for advertising claims contained herein. The GET INVOLVED! Department disclaims any liability regarding product pricing, claims, descriptions, avail- • Subscribe to the department's ability, or condition. No warranty is expressed Email List— http://dnr.maryland.gov/ or implied concerning product errors, omis- Fisheries/Pages/email.aspx sions or misprints. • Follow the Department of Natural Resources: The facilities of the Department of Natural Resources are available to all without regard • Twitter— twitter.com/MDDNRFISH to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, • Facebook—www.facebook.com/ age, national origin, or physical or mental This guide is also MarylandDNRFisheries/ disability. Accommodations for individuals available online at • Share your fishing story on the with disabilities will be provided upon Angler’s Log—dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/ request. This document is available in alter- fisheries/fishingreport/log.asp native format upon request from a qualified individual with a disability. 2 Maryland Guide to Fishing & Crabbing 2017-2018 JOB: 106661_MABC RAM Hunt&FisH Pg SPECS: 4C – CMYK DATE: 11/04/2016 TRIM: 8 in X 10.5 in LIVE: 7.25 in X 10 in BLEED: 8.25 in X 10.75 in HEADER Larry Hogan Mark Belton Dear Anglers, Maryland is known for its great fishing and rich waterways, featuring brackish, fresh and salt waters — from Deep Creek Lake, to the beaches of the Eastern Shore, to piers near Baltimore or Cambridge. Even better, no location is more than three or four hours from your front door. And the fish are just as diverse: striped bass, white perch, walleye, largemouth bass and three species of trout await your line and lure. Recreational fishing benefits not only anglers like you, but also aids our conservation and management efforts, removing invasive species like snakeheads from Maryland waters. Indeed, Maryland anglers have long been guardians of our state’s aquatic resources. Together, we work to preserve and restore the health of our local waterways while also enjoying all that Maryland has to offer. In addition to helping the environment, the sport also encourages active outdoor recreation and has a posi- tive impact on the economy. Whether this is your first year fishing or your fiftieth, we’d like to thank you for buying a fishing license. It might seem like a simple act, but it’s vital to our conservation efforts. The revenue from your fishing license and trout stamp allows us to manage and maintain the fishing experience in all corners of our state for this generation and the next. Thank you for your support. Best wishes for a memorable year of fishing in Maryland. Sincerely, Larry Hogan Governor of Maryland Mark Belton Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo by John Mullican 4 Maryland Guide to Fishing & Crabbing 2017-2018 TaxidermyLLC SPRING IS HERE! WE ARE HERE FOR ALL YOUR BEAR, TURKEY & FISH NEEDS! OPEN YEAR ROUND Master’s Division Award Winning Ray HitchcockTa xider mist Work 410.987.6990 8261 New Cut Rd. Severn, MD 1 Minute off Route 97 • CALL FOR APPOINTMENT All Major Credit Cards Accepted for Taxidermy Work WHAT'S NEW • Catch–and–Return Trout Fishing Area — • Possession Limits in Nontidal Waters — • New State Records: The upper boundary on the North Branch New limits were