The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces the following regulations for the 2023 recreational striped bass fishery (private and charter) in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
The 2023 regulations are unchanged from 2022 and are generally described below.
Spring “Trophy” Season:
- April 1 through April 30: Anglers are prohibited from targeting striped bass, which includes catch-and-release.
- May 1 through May 15: Anglers may keep one striped bass per day, with a minimum size of 35 inches, in the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Virginia state line.
Summer-Fall Season:
- May 16 through July 15 and August 1 through December 10: Anglers may keep one striped bass per person, per day, with a minimum size of 19 inches. During a chartered fishing trip, the captain or mate would not be permitted to land or possess striped bass for personal consumption.
- The striped bass season is closed from July 16 through July 31. During this period, anglers are prohibited from targeting striped bass, which includes catch-and-release and charter boats.
FACTS program for Charter Captains:
Charter captains may also participate in a voluntary pilot program. Participating captains will be required to use the FACTS electronic reporting system and will be allowed to keep two (2) fish per person per day. Only one of those two fish may be greater than 28 inches.
Additional information:
For additional details related to fishing for striped bass in Maryland – including the Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna River, Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and their tributaries – please visit the online DNR regulations guide.