This program supports private pond stocking by providing fish for programs designed to assist landowners in providing recreational fishing opportunities on their property. The Fisheries Service will provide landowners with the appropriate fish species and numbers to provide for sportfishing. This service costs $10.00 per species and requires that the landowner allow reasonable public access for fishing.

Fish will only be provided to ponds that meet the following criteria: (1) newly constructed or reclaimed ponds which do not contain fish and (2) ponds which are expected to support healthy fish populations. Stocking ponds containing established fish populations is likely to disrupt a balanced population or result in failure due to predation on the stocked fingerlings.

We are also available to provide technical advice to pond owners that currently have ponds with fish populations and want to improve or manage their ponds for recreational fishing. Unless stocking is for corrective purposes or is part of a recommended stocking program, fish should not be added to a pond that already has fish in it without the advice of a fisheries manager.

Questions concerning this program can be addressed to the appropriate Regional Manager:

Eastern Region:
Sid Compton
(410) 928-3643
or
Rick Schaefer
(410) 827-6245

Central Region:
Charlie Gougeon
(410) 442-2080
(301) 854-6060

Southern Region:
Mary Groves
(301) 888-2423

Western Region:
Alan Klotz - Allegany & Garrett Counties
(301) 334-8218
John Mullican - Frederick & Washington Counties
(301) 898-5443

Private Sources of Fish

According to Maryland State Law, it is unlawful to stock live fish not indigenous to waters of the State without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. You may obtain a permit from Richard Bohn, Fisheries Service, B-2, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call him at 410-260-8317. The only species you may stock in Maryland without a permit are bluegill sunfish, channel catfish, golden shiner and fathead minnows. It is undesirable to stock a pond with fish from another pond, lake or stream due to the potential introduction of disease and nuisance weeds.

The Maryland Seafood & Aquaculture maintains a list of fish vendors located in Maryland. For an updated list of vendors located out of the State of Maryland please contact Richard Bohn.

Other Pond Questions

General Questions - contact a University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Agent

Information concerning the eradication of excess algae/vegetation - contact a University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Agent

Building a pond - for design and permit information contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service).

To obtain a permits for chemical eradication of aquatic vegetation click the Maryland Department of Environment.