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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland prohibits striped bass catch-and-release season, sets fixed charter and recreational dates, and mandates economic impact statements
Last action · February 10, 2026: Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsors: Anthony Muse and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland bans the Department of Natural Resources from establishing a recreational catch-and-release striped bass season while establishing fixed annual summer, fall, and trophy fishing seasons with specific catch limits and bait rules. The Department must also complete and submit an for major fisheries regulations at least 15 days before publication. As an emergency measure, these changes take effect immediately upon enactment.
Recreational anglers, charter boat operators, and commercial fishing stakeholders face mandatory catch limits of one to two fish daily, strict bait and gear specifications during summer and fall seasons, and defined date ranges for trophy striped bass fishing starting in 2026.
- Striped bass, commonly known as rockfish, are a highly regulated and culturally significant fish species in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland coastal waters. context
- The Department of Natural Resources is the principal Maryland state agency responsible for managing the state's natural resources and recreational fishing rules. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Recreational anglers
Recreational anglers face a ban on catch-and-release fishing, strict daily catch limits of one fish, and defined calendar dates and bait rules for summer, fall, and trophy seasons.
Charter boat operators
Charter boat operators must adhere to specific daily possession limits of two fish per person, line counts, planer board distance restrictions, and bait caps.
Department of Natural Resources
The Department is prohibited from establishing catch-and-release seasons, required to set specific annual fishing dates, and mandated to produce economic impact statements for major regulations.
Key Facts
- The Department of Natural Resources is prohibited from establishing a recreational catch-and-release season for striped bass, also known as rockfish.
- An annual recreational and charter boat summer and fall striped bass season must be established beginning May 16 and ending December 10 each year.
- Individual recreational fishers are limited to catching or possessing no more than one striped bass per day during the summer and fall season, using only shad or artificial lures designed to mimic shad.
- Charter boats during the summer and fall season are limited to a daily possession of two striped bass per person, a maximum of 12 lines in the water at once, planer boards extending no more than 75 feet on either side, and no more than 75 spot fish per person on board for bait.
Show all 11 facts
- The 2026 trophy season for catching striped bass is scheduled for April 17-19, April 24-26, and May 1-3 inclusively.
- Starting in 2027, the annual trophy season will consist of two 3-consecutive-day periods in late April and one 3-consecutive-day period in late April or early May.
- During the trophy season, caught or possessed striped bass must be at least 28 inches in length.
- During the trophy season, bait is restricted to shad or artificial lures designed to mimic shad that are at least 9 inches long and have no more than one trailer hook.
- The Department of Natural Resources must complete and submit an economic impact statement for any proposed fisheries regulation identified as having a major impact on interested stakeholders at least 15 days before submitting it to the Maryland Register.
- Economic impact statements must be submitted to the Committee, the Department of Legislative Services, and the Administrator for review.
- This Act takes effect immediately as an emergency measure upon being supported by a three-fifths vote of all members elected to each house.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the general summer and fall striped bass season run?
What are the daily catch limits for recreational fishers versus charter boats?
What are the specific dates for the 2026 striped bass trophy season?
What new requirement applies to major fisheries regulations proposed by the Department of Natural Resources?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Economic Review for Major Fisheries Rules
The legislation establishes a formal requirement for the Department of Natural Resources to submit economic impact statements for major fisheries regulations prior to Maryland Register publication.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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