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Fishing regulations at Potomac River, 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
Smallmouth bass
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.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
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.
Possession limit = 10 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in aggregate.
Exceptions:
St. Mary's Lake, Maryland Route 5, St. Mary's County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Johnson Pond, Wicomico County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Leonard Mill Pond, Wicomico County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Lake Hashawha in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Upper John Owings Pond in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Waterworks Park in Anne Arundel County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Potomac River from Dam No. 2 (Seneca Breaks) upstream to the mouth of the Monocacy River: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Monocacy River from the Potomac River upstream to Buckeystown Dam: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Patapsco River from Interstate 70 downstream to Maryland Route 144 (Frederick Road): All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
North Branch of the Potomac River, from the spillway in Cumberland upstream 25 miles to the U.S. Route 220 Bridge at Keyser, West Virginia: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Youghiogheny River Lake:
From January 1 through the day before the first Saturday after April 11:
- minimum size = 15-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
From 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 through 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11:
- season is closed (no harvest)
From the first Saturday after June 11 through October 31:
- minimum size = 12-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 6 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
From November 1 through December 31:
- minimum size = 15-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
Channel catfish
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.
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.
No closed season. No size limit.
Possession limit = 10 channel catfish
Largemouth bass
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.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
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.
Possession limit = 10 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in aggregate.
Exceptions:
St. Mary's Lake, Maryland Route 5, St. Mary's County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Johnson Pond, Wicomico County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Leonard Mill Pond, Wicomico County:
- A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
- A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
- A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.
Lake Hashawha in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Upper John Owings Pond in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Waterworks Park in Anne Arundel County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.
Potomac River from Dam No. 2 (Seneca Breaks) upstream to the mouth of the Monocacy River: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Monocacy River from the Potomac River upstream to Buckeystown Dam: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Patapsco River from Interstate 70 downstream to Maryland Route 144 (Frederick Road): All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
North Branch of the Potomac River, from the spillway in Cumberland upstream 25 miles to the U.S. Route 220 Bridge at Keyser, West Virginia: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas.
Youghiogheny River Lake:
From January 1 through the day before the first Saturday after April 11:
- minimum size = 15-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
From 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 through 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11:
- season is closed (no harvest)
From the first Saturday after June 11 through October 31:
- minimum size = 12-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 6 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
From November 1 through December 31:
- minimum size = 15-inches total length;
- daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.
FAQ about Potomac River fishing
- Smallmouth bass - 906 members reported to have caught this fish
- Channel catfish - 554 members reported to have caught this fish
- Largemouth bass - 269 members reported to have caught this fish
- @Cusimano20 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @Cusimano20 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @Cusimano20 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @Cusimano20 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @Cusimano20 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
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