Summary of Non-Tidal Fishing Rules
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This is an abridged version of the rules and does not include all regulated species. The printed version of COMAR is the official and enforceable text. Only the official text may be judicially noticed under Courts and Judicial Proceedings, Section 10-203, Annotated Code of Maryland. Consult the Maryland Register, Code of Maryland Regulations and Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for full legal text.

Not sure where Tidal and Non-Tidal regulations apply? Check here for a description of where the Tidal/Non-Tidal lines are.

 

IN NON-TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE IT IS UNLAWFUL:

1. To use more than three (3) rods at one time (except for ice fishing) or more than two (2) hooks per line.

2. To use more than five (5) rods (hand held devices) or tip-ups for ice fishing.

3. To cut a hole through the ice measuring more than ten (10) inches in any direction for the purpose of ice fishing.

4. Bait Fish.

            a.         To use a seine that exceeds six (6) feet in length or four (4) feet in depth to catch bait fish.

            b.         To take or possess more than 35 bait fish per person in any day from nontidal waters of the State. (This does not apply to live bait dealers licensed under Natural Resources Article §4-11A-19.)

            c.         To take bait fish of any description from any Put-and-Take Fishing Areas or Special Management Areas for Trout.

5.         a.         To use a spear or spear gun within 100 yards of any private or public swimming areas, scuba diver’s flag, other than that used by the spear fisherman, vessel in the water or human being without specific advance permission.

            b.         To use a spear or spear gun in State owned ponds, lakes or Put-and-Take Fishing Areas or Special Management Areas for Trout.

            c.         To shoot trout (all species of trout) walleye, striped bass, striped bass hybrid, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, muskellunge or muskellunge hybrids (including tiger musky) with a spear gun and spear in the nontidal waters of the State.

6. To use a trotline:

            a.         Except in the mainstem of the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers.

            b.         In any waters during April, May and June.

            c.         In any waters between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., E.S.T.

            d.         Made of metallic material.

            e.         Having more than 75 single hooks.

            f.          More than 300 feet in length.

            g.         Baited with scale bait.

            h.         To catch walleye, smallmouth bass or largemouth bass.

            i           Not identified with a metal tag securely attached to it showing the name and address of the person operating it.

            j.          Anchored from one shore to the other.

7. In Deer and Swan Creeks in Harford County:

            a.         For a person to catch or attempt to catch fish other than by hook and line only, attached to a pole or rod, with line held in hand, attended in a manner that the fish voluntarily takes bait or lure in its mouth.

            b.         For a person to possess or use minnows for bait while fishing.

8.         a.         For anyone other than a resident to use bush-bobs or bank poles.

            b.         For residents to use more than 25 bush-bobs or bank poles, or any bush-bobs or bank poles having more than 1 (one) hook to a pole or bob.

            c.         To use bush-bobs or bank poles except in the mainstems of the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers within Carroll, Washington and Frederick counties.

            d.         To use bush-bobs or bank poles between sunrise and sunset.

            e.         To use bush-bobs or bank poles on any streams stocked with trout.

9.         a. For anyone other than a resident to use a dip net in:

                        (1) the Susquehanna River in Cecil and Harford counties.

                        (2) Allegany and Washington counties.

                        (3) the Monocacy and Potomac Rivers in Carroll and Frederick counties.

            b.         To use a dip net from April 16 to December 31 inclusive.

            c.         To use a dip net or seine within 50 yards of the mouth of a tributary or the base of any dam.

            d.         To use a dip net in waters of the State stocked with trout. (Landing nets used to land fish are not considered dip nets.)

            e.         For nonresidents to fish in nontidal waters of the State with nets of any description. However, nonresidents may use a net commonly known as a landing net to land fish caught by hook and line.

            f.          To use a dip net to fish for any trout species, walleye, striped bass, striped bass hybrid, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, muskellunge, or muskellunge hybrids (including tiger musky).

            g.         For anyone to use a baited dip net by attaching an attractant to the net material or frame.

10. For a nonresident to gig at any time.

11. To use a gig, to catch all trout species, frogs, walleye, striped bass, striped bass hybrid, northern pike, muskellunge, muskellunge hybrids including tiger muskie and largemouth and smallmouth bass.

12. To snag fish with hooks.

13. To remove the head and tail of fish in possession while at the fishing location. The head and tail shall remain attached in such a manner as to permit identification of fish species and total length.

14. To use a trap in nontidal waters.

15. To disturb, take, destroy or possess any terrapin eggs.

16. For a person to catch snapping turtles from waters of the State by hook and line, trotline, bow and arrow, spear gig or iron or any device capable of piercing any part of the turtle at any time.

17. To use a bow and arrow:

            a.         to shoot or attempt to shoot any fish in a Put-and-Take Fishing Areas or Special Management Areas for Trout.

            b.         to shoot or attempt to shoot any fish in state-controlled community ponds or lakes. However, the Department may permit the taking of carp with bow and arrow, if the angler first obtains a valid freshwater fishing license.
            c.         to use bow and arrow to shoot all trout species, frogs, walleye, striped bass, striped bass hybrid, northern pike, muskellunge, mukellunge hybrids including tiger muskie and largemouth and smallmouth bass.

 

18. To trespass or fish any waters closed to the public for fishing by the Department.

19. To operate any vehicle on any lands owned or controlled by the Freshwater Fisheries Division without written permission from the Division except on those roads, lanes or areas which are open to automobile traffic or which are specifically marked by the Division.

20. To camp on lands owned and controlled by the Freshwater Fisheries Division except on designated sites or with written permission.

21. To swim in any State controlled lake except in designated areas.

22. To cut any brush, trees or shrubbery on the C&O Canal National Historical Park unless authorized by the National Park Service of the

Federal Government.

23.       a. To fish in Battie Mixon Fishing Hole in Allegany County between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.

            b. To use boats propelled by gasoline or diesel power on the waters of Battie Mixon Fishing Hole (electric motors only).

24. To throw, dump, deposit, or cause to be thrown, dumped or deposited any trash, junk or other refuse upon any of the waters of this State.

25. To fish any streams or nontidal waters stocked with trout between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. (This does not apply to freshwater impoundments of five (5) acres or more.)

26. To cull trout (replacing trout in possession with another trout ) (possession refers to any condition where a trout cannot freely swim away.

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