dnr.maryland.gov MARYLAND GUIDE TO FISHING 2021 AND CRABBING STATE Photo by George Monk Photo by Karon Hickman RECORDS Photo by James McWhinney page 47 Also inside... • License Information • Seasons, Sizes Photo by Eric Packard Photo by Trey Lewis and Limits • Fish Identification • Public Lakes and Ponds • Tidal/Nontidal Dividing Lines Thomas Detrick, age 15 Photo by Eva Register Photo by Brett Poffenberger Elizabeth Lee Photo by R. Lee • Oysters and Clams ATLANTIC OCEAN | CHESAPEAKE BAY | COASTAL BAYS | NONTIDAL We Take Nervous OutWe of Take Breakdowns Nervous Out of Breakdowns $165* for Unlimited Towing...JOIN TODAY! $165* for Unlimited Towing...JOIN TODAY! With an Unlimited Towing Membership, breakdowns, running out GET THE APP IT’S THE of fuel and soft ungroundings don’t have to be so stressful. For a FASTEST WAY TO GET A TOW With anyear Unlimited of worry-free Towing boating, Membership, make TowBoatU.S. breakdowns, your backuprunning plan. out GET THE APP IT’S THE of fuel and soft ungroundings don’t have to be so stressful. For a FASTEST WAY TO GET A TOW year of worry-free boating,BoatUS.com/Towing make TowBoatU.S. or your 800-395-2628 backup plan. *One year Saltwater MembershipBoatUS.com/Towing pricing. Details of services provided can be found online at orBoatUS.com/Agree. 800-395-2628 TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service. In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately. *One year Saltwater Membership pricing. Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree. TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service. In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately. dnr.maryland.gov Anglers Brennan Horton, age 10 and 38 Jace Horton, age 7 Photo by Eric Packard Photo by Steven Wolinski 24 page 40 Photo by Nathan Horton Photo by Martin Fish Company 43 CONTENTS Photo by Brandon Yancey 44 What’s New����������������������������������������������6 Special Management Areas Blue Crabs���������������������������������������40–41 Trout������������������������������������������24–25 Department of Natural Resources Artificial Reefs��������������������������������������42 Addresses and Phone Numbers�����������8 AllSpecies��������������������������������������26 Oysters and Clams�������������������������������43 Natural Resources Police Information���8 Bass Fishing������������������������������������������28 Highly Migratory Species Maryland Wildlife Crimestoppers���������8 Potomac River Boating and Sharks�������������������������������������� 44–45 and Safety Information������������������������29 License Information�������������������������10–13 FishMaryland������������������������������������������ 46 Fish Identification���������������������������30–31 Recreational Crab License AwardSpecies andMinimumSizes�����������������������46 and Crab Pot Registration��������������������13 Public Lakes and Ponds�����������������32–33 Sport Fish State Records Rules License Free Fishing Areas������������������13 Tidal/Nontidal and Procedures������������������������������������� 47 Dividing Lines�������������������������������������� 34–35 General Definitions��������������������������������14 State Records���������������������������������������� 47 Invasive Species�����������������������������36–37 Sport Fishing Regulations Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles�����48 Nontidal��������������������������������������������16 Striped Bass����������������������������������� 38–39 ChesapeakeBay,coastalbays, AtlanticOcean���������������������������������17 Angler Karee DuVall caught a 24" Brown Trout Seasons, Sizes and Limits in Wills Creek on July 3, 2020 Nontidal��������������������������������������������18 LICENSE FREE FISHING DAYS! ChesapeakeBay Photo by Karee DuVall andTidaltributaries����������������������20 In Maryland, anyone may fish without a recreational AtlanticOcean,coastalbays fishing license on June 5, June 12 and July 4, 2021. andtributaries����������������������������������� 21 All other fishing regulations apply. Put-and-Take Trout Fishing Areas� � 22–23 Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission This commission is comprised of individuals from across the state who represent the interests of various recreational fishing constituencies. The meeting schedule, agenda, summaries of past meetings, member affiliations and contact information are at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries. Commissioners Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL Larry Hogan, Governor Mr. Jason Andrick Mr. Eric Packard Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Secretary Trout Unlimited, Nontidal, Tidal Coldwater Fisheries Fisheries Maryland Department of Ms. Beverly Fleming Mr. David Sikorski Natural Resources Marine and Ocean Coastal Conservation Fishing and Boating Services Surf Fisheries, Association Assateague Mobile Mr. David M. About this Guide Tawes State Office Building Sportsfishermen's Sutherland 580 Taylor Avenue, B-2 Association Annapolis, MD 21401-2352 Marine Conservation Mr. Sewell Frey and Economics This high-quality regulation guide is 410-260-8300 Aquaculture Industry offered to you by the Maryland Department 800-688-3467 Mr. Roger Trageser Captain Edward Green Nontidal, Tidal of Natural Resources through its unique dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries Tidal Fisheries, Largemouth & partnership with J.F. Griffin Publishing. [email protected] Charter Boat Captain Smallmouth Bass Fisheries, Maryland The revenue generated through ad sales Captain Phil Langley significantly lowers production costs and Background photo by Eric Packard Bass Nation Tidal Fisheries, generates savings. These savings trans- St. Mary's Lake in Southern MD Charter Boat Captain Mr. James Wommack late into additional funds for other impor- Tidal, Marine Fisheries Mr. Steven R. Lay tant agency programs. Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission Liaison If you have any feedback or are inter- ested in advertising, please contact us Mr. Scott Lenox at 413.884.1001 or at www.JFGriffin.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE Marine Fisheries DEPARTMENT'S Dr. Raymond P. Graphic Design: Morgan II Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, EMAIL LIST Nontidal Fisheries Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski Western Maryland dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/email.aspx Mr. John Neely Nontidal Coldwater, Tidal Fisheries This publication is intended as a guide only. Rules are subject to change. It is the The Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is a publication of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and angler's responsibility to know and abide Boating Services. Political advocacy ads, ads promoting alco- by all rules. For statutes see the Natu- hol or tobacco and ads of a sexual nature will not be accepted. ral Resources Article of the Annotated The department is not responsible for advertising claims Code of Maryland. For regulations see contained herein. The department disclaims any liability the Code of Maryland Regulations, Title regarding product pricing, claims, descriptions, availability, or condition. No warranty is expressed or implied concern- 08. Maryland statutes and regulations ing product errors, omissions or misprints. can be found at the following web sites: This program receives Federal financial assistance from • Statutes: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the mgaleg.maryland.gov/2021RS/Statute_ 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Web/gnr/gnr.pdf Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. • Regulations: Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhome.html basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against STAY CONNECTED! in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more • Follow Fishing and Boating Services: information, please write to: • Twitter— twitter.com/mddnrfish Office of Fair Practice Department of Natural Resources This guide is also • Facebook—facebook.com/ 580 Taylor Ave., C-3 - Annapolis MD 21401 marylanddnrfisheries/ Telephone: (410)260-8058 Email: [email protected] available online at • Share your fishing story on the Office of Civil Rights Angler’s Log—dnr.maryland.gov/fish- Dept. of Interior 1849 C Street, NW eries/pages/recreational/anglers_log.aspx Washington, D.C., 20240 2 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing 2021 Outfitting Maryland Anglers Since 1997 OutfittingOutfittingOutfittingFISH, SNAP MarylandMarylandMaryland & TAG Anglers Anglers Anglers #HookedOnTD Since SinceSince 1997 19971997 FISH,FISH, SNAPSNAP SNAP & & &TAG TAG TAG #H #H #HookedOnTDookedOnTDookedOnTD WIDE ADJUSTABLE DRAG WIDEWIDEWIDE ADJUSTABLE ADJUSTABLE DRAGDRAGDRAG NEW SIZES 20II & 25II NEWNEWBuiltNEW to SIZES provideSIZES SIZES high 20II 20II end 20II performance & & & 25II 25II 25II and dependability in a compact lightweight BuiltBuilt Builtto to provide provide to provide high high high end end end performance performance performance and and and frame,dependability the Shimano in a compact SpeedMaster lightweight II Lever dependabilitydependability in in a acompact compact lightweight lightweight Dragframe, Reel the is Shimano an absolute SpeedMaster fish fighting II Lever frame,frame, the the Shimano Shimano SpeedMaster SpeedMaster II IILever Lever machine.Drag Reel These is an absolutetwo-speed fish lever fighting drag DragDrag Reel Reel is is an an absolute absolute fish fish fightingfighting reelsmachine. feature These the two-speedsame sleek