Top fish species at Watson Creek

App Section

Check which species have trophy potential in Watson Creek

Watson Creek fishing reports

Loading...

Striped bass

length · weight

Loading...

Striped bass

length · weight

Loading...

Black crappie

length · weight

Fishbrain
Have you been fishing here?

Log your catch and check out other catches from the community in the Fishbrain app.

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

General info

Watson Creek is a stream located in Harford County, Maryland, United States. It is most popular for fishing Striped bass and Black crappie.

Location

39°20′39.5″N 76°17′26″W
Directions

When are Striped Bass biting on Watson Creek?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Watson Creek. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

Bite time image

Fishing regulations at Watson Creek, MD

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Maryland can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Striped bass

Striped bass

Regulation boundaryMaryland State Waters
Restrictions & requirements

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Multiple Hooks

Harvest of this species by or with the use of any multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited.

MD Snagging

It is illegal to intentionally snag a striped bass.

MD Spawning Areas

It is illegal to fish for striped bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of striped bass in designated spawning areas from March 1–May 31.

MD Spear

It is illegal to take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state.

MD Gaff

It is illegal to remove a striped bass from the water with a gaff or a cast net.

MD Midnight to 5 am

It is illegal to possess striped bass while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from midnight to 5 a.m.

MD Culling

It is illegal to cull striped bass.

MD Eels as Bait

It is illegal to use eels as bait while fishing for striped bass with hook and line from Dec. 11–May 15, inclusive, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.

MD Multiple Hooks

It is illegal to use more than two hooks or two sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered 1 set of hooks.

MD Land Whole

It is illegal to possess any cut up or filleted striped bass at any time aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland. Striped bass must be landed whole.

Required licenses
If you catch a tagged fish, please follow the instructions printed on the tag, or call Fishing & Boating Services at 800-688-3467. Please record the tag number, capture date, fishing location, and total length.
Additional information
IMPORTANT!: YOU MUST SEE Maryland Striped Bass Map for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River. Effective 12:01 a.m. January 17, 2025, the minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 24 inches. This rule is effective for the 2025 striped bass summer and fall season, which runs from May 16, 2025, through July 15, 2025, and August 1, 2025, through December 10, 2025. For the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays and their tributaries: Effective 12:01 a.m. January 17, 2025: Anglers may keep one striped bass per person per day from the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays, and their tributaries. The minimum size for striped bass is 28 inches.The maximum size is 31 inches. You must use an inline circle hook while using bait to fish for striped bass. For more information, see Striped Bass and Circle HooksStriped bass may not be caught, harassed or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which stretches from 3 to 200 miles off the coast.
Synonyms
Morone saxatilis
Season open: year-round
Black crappie

Black crappie

Regulation boundaryMaryland State Waters
Bag limit15

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit15

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Keep-Whole

Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore - head and tail must be intact.

MD Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing in Nontidal Waters.A person may fish through the ice in any nontidal waters of the State during the lawful open season if an angler's license first is obtained.A person may not cut a hole through the ice for the purpose of ice fishing that measures more than 10 inches across in any direction.It will be lawful for any person who is ice fishing to use up to five tip ups or rods (hand held devices) when ice fishing.All tip ups and rods used by a person engaged in ice fishing shall be under the immediate control of the person.

Required licenses
A person may not catch or attempt to catch game or freshwater fish without first obtaining an angler's license in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-604, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Additional information
No closed season. No size limit.Possession limit = 30 crappie in aggregate.
Edibility
Excellent! Catch, Clean, Cook Black Crappie aka Speckled Perch
Synonyms
Calico bass, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Speckled Perch
License Icon
Local laws and licenses

Maryland fishing license

Get license

Cities nearby

Edgewood

5.3 miles away

Bowleys Quarters

5.4 miles away

Joppatowne

6.1 miles away

Middle River

7.6 miles away

Abingdon

8.2 miles away

Honeygo

8.5 miles away

Chesapeake Landing

8.7 miles away

Essex

8.8 miles away

Perryman

9.2 miles away

White Marsh

9.3 miles away

Riverside

9.7 miles away

Rossville

10.0 miles away

Kingsville

10.1 miles away

Perry Hall

10.9 miles away

Pleasant Hills

11.2 miles away

Bel Air South

11.2 miles away

Betterton

11.9 miles away

Overlea

12.2 miles away

Carney

13.1 miles away

Aberdeen

13.3 miles away

Bel Air

13.5 miles away

Bel Air North

15.2 miles away

Fallston

15.4 miles away

Anything missing or inaccurate?

Suggest changes to improve what we show.

Suggest changes

FAQ about Watson Creek fishing

📍 Where is the Watson Creek located?
the Watson Creek is a stream located in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Its coordinates are:
39°20′39.5″N 76°17′26″W
.
🎣 Where on the Watson Creek is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Watson Creek by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Watson Creek?
The most common species in the Watson Creek are:
📢 What are the latest Watson Creek fishing reports?
The latest Watson Creek fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the Watson Creek right now?
According to fishing regulations at the Watson Creek, some of the species in season this November include: Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Blacktip shark, Black sea bass, and Bull shark. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Watson Creek?

Fishing in Maryland requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident, non-resident, daily, and annual licenses, purchasable online or at authorized vendors.

In Maryland, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license
App Section
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.

Free trial available

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...