Maryland Administrative Code

.09 Areas Reserved for Hand Tonging, Exceptions. Except in areas established as oyster sanctuaries in Regulation .15A of this chapter or power dredge areas in Regulation .12B of this chapter, oysters may be taken only by hand tongs in the following areas, except that scooping, dr…

.10 Dredging with an Auxiliary Yawl Boat. A. A dredge boat may be propelled by means of an auxiliary yawl boat carried on the dredge boat to catch oysters in areas where dredge boats are permitted, except in: (1) The waters upstream of a line in the Choptank River extending from …

.11 General Provisions. A. Definitions. (1) In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (2) Terms Defined. (a) Bushel means an amount of oysters that would fill a container that meets the requirements of Regulation .04A of this chapter. (b) “Marketable oyste…

.12 Power Dredging. A. General. (1) Notwithstanding Natural Resources Article, §4-1012(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, a power dredge may only be used in the following areas: (a) Leased areas; (b) Power Dredge Zones established in §B of this regulation; (c) Power Dredge Study Are…

.13 Repealed. Cross References 08.02.13.03C 08.02.13.03E 08.02.13.03H 08.02.13.03I

.14 Repealed. Cross References 08.02.13.03C 08.02.13.03E 08.02.13.03H 08.02.13.03I 08.02.13.05F

.15 Oyster Sanctuaries. A. Oyster Sanctuaries of the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries (September 2010) designates oyster sanctuaries in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries and is hereby incorporated by reference. B. Harvest from a Sanctuary. (1) A person may not …

.16 Recording the Catching and Disposal of Oysters. —Repealed. Cross References 08.02.13.10F 08.02.13.10J

.17 Public Shellfish Fishery Area. A. Public Shellfish Fishery Areas of the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries (October 2025) designates public shellfish fishery areas in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries and is hereby incorporated by reference. B. Declassificati…

.01 Methods of Fishing in Tidal Waters - Repealed

.02 General Fishing Prohibitions. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a person may not set or fish gill nets, including but not limited to anchor gill nets, staked gill nets, and drift gill nets, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. B. A person may set and…

.03 Spot. A. Definitions. (1) In this regulation, the following term has the meaning indicated. (2) Term Defined. “Fishing party” means the combined total number of people on a guided fishing trip consisting of the licensed guide, the individuals under the guidance of the fishing…

.04 Legal Size of White Perch. In the waters of the State, a person may not catch, sell, offer to buy or sell, expose for sale, or possess white perch less than 8 inches, if caught other than by hook or line. Cross References 08.02.13.05D 08.02.13.05E 08.02.13.05F

.05 American Shad. A. Prohibition of Catching, Possession, or Sale of American Shad; Exceptions. (1) A person may not catch, offer for sale, purchase, or possess any American shad or any parts of American shad, including roe, caught in Maryland waters except as permitted here. (2…

.06 Hickory Shad. A. Prohibition of Catching, Possession, or Sale of Hickory Shad; Exceptions. (1) A person may not catch, offer for sale, purchase, or possess any hickory shad or any parts of hickory shad, including roe, caught in Maryland waters except as permitted here. (2) Ex…

.07 Atlantic Menhaden. A. Commercial Quota. (1) The annual total allowable landings of Atlantic menhaden for the commercial fishery is set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and shall be published through a public notice issued in accordance with §G of this regula…

.08 Eels. A. Commercial. (1) Except as permitted under COMAR 08.02.14, a person may not catch, possess, land, or sell eels for commercial purposes which are less than 9 inches total length. (2) The annual quota for the commercial fishery is set by the Atlantic States Marine Fishe…

.09 River Herring. A. Definition. (1) In this regulation, the following term has the meaning indicated. (2) Term Defined. “River herring” means both alewife herring (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis). B. An individual may not possess river herring with…

.10 Bluefish. A. Commercial Minimum Size. A person licensed to catch finfish for sale may not catch or possess bluefish less than 8 inches in total length. B. Commercial Catch Limit. A coastwide quota and daily catch limit to be shared by Atlantic states will be established and p…

.11 Sturgeon. Except for purposes of scientific investigation and aquaculture activities under a permit issued by the Department, a person may not catch or possess Atlantic sturgeon. Cross References 08.02.13.03G 08.02.13.05F 08.02.13.08I

.12 Summer Flounder. A. Recreational Fishery. The recreational size limit, catch limit, and season for summer flounder shall be established and may be modified through a public notice issued in accordance with §F of this regulation. B. Commercial Fishery. (1) Quotas. (a) The annu…

.13 Weakfish and Spotted Sea Trout. A. Minimum Size. (1) A recreational angler may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length. (2) A recreational angler may not catch or possess weakfish less than 13 inches in total length. (3) A person licensed to…

.14 Spanish Mackerel. A. Recreational Fishery. (1) Minimum Size. An individual may not catch or possess a Spanish mackerel less than 14 inches total length. (2) Catch Limit. An individual may not catch or possess more than 15 Spanish mackerel per day. (3) Season. The recreational…

.15 Black Drum. A. Recreational Fishery. (1) The daily catch and possession limit per individual is one black drum. (2) The daily catch and possession limit per boat is six black drum. (3) A person may not catch or possess black drum less than 16 inches in total length. B. Commer…

.16 Red Drum. A. Recreational Fishery. (1) A person may not catch or possess red drum less than 18 inches in total length or greater than 27 inches in total length. (2) A person may not catch or possess more than one red drum per day. B. Commercial Fishery. (1) A commercial licen…

.17 Cobia. A. Recreational. The recreational size limit, catch limit, and season for cobia shall be established and may be modified through a public notice issued in accordance with §C of this regulation. B. Commercial. (1) Minimum Size. An individual who harvests cobia for comme…

.18 Croaker. A. Minimum Size. (1) A recreational angler may not catch or possess a croaker less than 9 inches total length. (2) A person licensed to catch finfish for sale may not catch or possess a croaker less than 9 inches total length. B. Recreational Catch Limit. Except for …

.19 Black Bass — Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass. A. Size Limit. The minimum size for black bass is: (1) 12 inches total length from June 16 through the end of February; and (2) 15 inches total length from March 1 through June 15. B. Catch Limit. An individual may not possess…

.20 Tautog. A. An individual may not catch or possess: (1) A tautog less than 16 inches total length; and (2) A tautog from May 16 through June 30. B. Season and Creel Limit. (1) From July 1 through October 31, an individual may not catch and possess more than two tautog per day.…

.21 Black Sea Bass. A. Recreational. The recreational size limit, catch limit, and season for black sea bass shall be established and may be modified through a public notice issued in accordance with §F of this regulation. B. Commercial. (1) Minimum Size. An individual who harves…

.22 Scup. A. Minimum Size. (1) Recreational. A recreational angler may not catch or possess a scup less than 8 inches in total length. (2) Commercial. A commercial tidal fish licensee may not catch or possess scup less than 9 inches in total length. B. Commercial Gear Restriction…

.23 Bluefin Tuna. A. A person may not catch, possess, or land bluefin tuna when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determines that the quota has been attained and closes the fishery in accordance with 50 CFR 635. B. A person may not catch, possess, or land bluefi…

.24 Spiny Dogfish. A. Finning Prohibition. (1) “Finning” means removing only the fins of a spiny dogfish and returning the remainder of the dogfish to the sea. (2) Finning is prohibited. (3) Spiny dogfish shall be landed with the tail and fins attached naturally to the correspond…

.25 Monkfish. An individual may not catch or land monkfish (Lophius americanus) for commercial purposes when the Regional Administrator for National Marine Fisheries Service determines that the quota has been attained and closes the fishery as permitted in accordance with 50 CFR …

.26 Billfish. A. In this regulation, “billfish” means the following species: (1) Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans); (2) Atlantic White Marlin (Kajikia albidus); (3) Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus); and (4) Roundscale Spearfish (Tetrapturus georgii). B. A person…

.27 Swordfish. A. In this regulation, “swordfish” means the Atlantic Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). B. A person may not catch, possess, or land swordfish when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration closes the fishery in accordance with 50 CFR 635. C. A person may not c…

.28 Walleye. A. Recreational Fishery. (1) Size Limit. An individual may not catch or possess, in tidal waters, walleye less than 15 inches total length. (2) Season. Recreational fishing of walleye is permitted year round in tidal waters. B. Commercial Fishery. (1) Size Limit. An …

.29 Snapper Grouper Complex. A. Snapper Grouper Management Groups. (1) Grouper. The following species of the snapper grouper complex are defined as grouper: (a) Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci); (b) Coney (Cephalopholis fulva); (c) Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis); (d) Go…

.30 Tilefish. A. Species. The following species are defined as tilefish: (1) Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps); (2) Golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps); and (3) Sand tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri). B. A person may not catch, possess, or land tilefish in violat…

.31 Longnose Gar. A person may not catch or possess more than: A. One longnose gar per day from April 15 through June 30; or B. Five longnose gar per day from July 1 through April 14. Cross References 08.02.13.03C 08.02.13.03D 08.02.13.03E 08.02.13.03F 08.02.13.03H 08.02.13.05D 0…

.01 Snapping Turtles. A. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Carapace” means the top shell of a turtle. (2) “The wild” means any land or water in the State, either natural or altered, upon which a snapping turtle can exist i…

.01 Recreational Fishery. A. Catch Limit. (1) Except as described in §A(2) of this regulation, an individual may not catch more than one standard U.S. bushel of hard-shell clams per day. (2) An individual may not catch more than 250 hard-shell clams (M. mercenaria) per day for pe…

.02 Use of Hard-Shell Clam Dredges in Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound. A. Size of Dredge. A person may not catch hard-shell clams in the waters of Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound with a hydraulic dredge or mechanical dredge more than 36 inches in width. B. Areas Where Hard-Shel…

.03 Commercial Fishery. A. An individual may not catch hard-shell clams for commercial purposes on Sunday. B. An individual may not possess more than 10 percent of hard-shell clams per container with a transverse dimension of less than 1 inch. C. Times for Harvesting, Landing, an…

.04 Container and Tagging Requirements. A. Definition. (1) In this regulation, the following term has the meaning indicated. (2) Term Defined. “Growing area” means the location, defined by the specific NOAA code for the area in which the harvest occurred. B. Containers. Hard-shel…

.05 General. A. Size Limit. Except as provided in Regulation .03B of this chapter, a person may not possess hard-shell clams harvested from State waters with a transverse dimension of less than 1 inch. B. Gear. The use of hand-held gear is permitted in the Atlantic Ocean and Coas…

.01 Importation of Shellfish. A. Definition. (1) In this regulation, the following term has the meaning stated. (2) Term Defined. “Shellfish” means live bivalves and bivalve shells. B. Permit Required. A person may not import or possess within the State shellfish taken from water…

.02 Buying Station. A. Definitions. (1) Notwithstanding Natural Resources Article, §4-1007, Annotated Code of Maryland, in this subtitle, the following term has the meaning indicated. (2) Term Defined. “Buying station” means a location where a person buys, processes, packs, or ot…

.03 Commercial License Requirement. A. In this regulation, the following term has the meaning indicated. B. Term Defined. “Shellfish” means: (1) All clams of the scientific Order Myoida; (2) All clams of the scientific Order Veneroida; (3) All crabs of the scientific Order Decapo…

.04 Bay Scallop. A. Prohibition of Catching, Possession, or Sale of Bay Scallops; Exceptions. (1) A person may not catch, offer for sale, purchase, or possess any bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), or any parts of bay scallop caught in Maryland waters except as permitted in this…