Maryland regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Maryland 2026
Maryland Smallmouth Bass regulations: Season start Jun 16, Daily bag 5 fish/day, Possession 10 fish. Sourced from DNR.
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Rules (46)
Maryland statewide
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Min size
- 12"
in aggregate or as provided for by special regulations.
Chesapeake BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
May not be used to take largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, all shark species, snapping turtles and any threatened or endangered species
Johnson Pond, Wicomico County
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
may be 15 inches or longer
Johnson Pond, Wicomico County.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
Only one bass in possession may be 15 inches or longer. No bass in possession can measure between 11 and 15 inches long.
Leonard Mill Pond, Wicomico County
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
may be 15 inches or longer
Leonard Mill Pond, Wicomico County.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
Only one bass in possession may be 15 inches or longer. No bass in possession can measure between 11 and 15 inches long.
Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery County
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
may be 15 inches or longer
Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery County.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
Only one bass in possession may be 15 inches or longer. No bass in possession can measure between 11 and 15 inches long.
Monocacy River—From The Potomac River Upstream To Buckeystown DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
You must immediately release any largemouth or smallmouth bass into the water where it was caught.
Monocacy River—From The Potomac River Upstream To Buckeystown Dam.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Patapsco River—From Interstate 70 Downstream To Md Route 144 (Frederick Road)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
You must immediately release any largemouth or smallmouth bass into the water where it was caught.
Patapsco River—From Interstate 70 Downstream To Md Route 144 (Frederick Road).Closed
- Status
- Closed
Potomac River—From Dam No. 2 (Seneca Breaks) Upstream To The Mouth Of The Monocacy RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
You must immediately release any largemouth or smallmouth bass into the water where it was caught.
Potomac River—From Dam No. 2 (Seneca Breaks) Upstream To The Mouth Of The Monocacy River.Closed
- Status
- Closed
St. Mary’s Lake, St. Mary’s County— Located On Md Route 5.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
Only one bass in possession may be 15 inches or longer. No bass in possession can measure between 11 and 15 inches long.
St. Mary’s Lake, St. Mary’s County—Located On Md Route 5
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 15"
may be 15 inches or longer
Tidal Tributaries Of The Chesapeake BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
May not be used to take largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, all shark species, snapping turtles and any threatened or endangered species
Youghiogheny River Lake (Reservoir)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Jun 13
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
No Harvest (Catch and Release) all other dates; No tournaments during closure. in aggregate
Other Maryland fish regulations
Other regulated species in Maryland with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)172 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)107 rules
- Largemouth Bass46 rules
- Black Drum10 rules
- Yellow Perch9 rules
- Tog (Tautog / Blackfish)8 rules
- Channel Catfish8 rules
- White Perch7 rules
- Black Sea Bass5 rules
- Bluefish5 rules
- Weakfish5 rules
- Blue Catfish5 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)4 rules
- Cobia3 rules
- Redfish (Red Drum)2 rules
- Fluke (Summer Flounder)2 rules
- Spanish Mackerel2 rules
- Sheepshead2 rules
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Maryland.
Frequently asked questions
When is Smallmouth Bass season in Maryland?
Smallmouth Bass season in Maryland runs from Jun 13 to Oct 31 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Maryland?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Maryland is 20 inches in Chesapeake Bay Division, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Maryland?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Maryland is 1 fish in Johnson Pond, Wicomico County., per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/26MDFW_LR5.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/bass-fishing
- https://www.eregulations.com/maryland/fishing
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.