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Fishing regulations at Happy Valley Branch, 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
Bag limit5
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.
Min size12" (Total Length)
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
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.
Aggregate limit5
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
Additional information
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.
Synonyms
Largemouth bass
Bag limit5
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.
Min size12" (Total Length)
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
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.
Aggregate limit5
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
Additional information
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.
Edibility
Synonyms
Striped bass
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
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 Hooks
Striped 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
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