Chesapeake Bay · Maryland · Virginia · Stripers
Chesapeake Bay Stripers Fishing Regulations 2026
Chesapeake Bay stripers season runs Apr 1 – May 31 in 2026. Sourced from DNR / DWR.
Rules (189)
Maryland (107)
All AreasCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Gear
- Angling Only
DEC. 6–DEC. 31 • No harvest • Circle hook rules remain the same. • Eels may not be used as bait. SEPT. 1–DEC. 5 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.
All Areas Closed To Striped Bass Fishing. (Chesapeake Bay And Tidal Tributaries)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
No targeting. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
All Areas Closed To Striped Bass Fishing. (Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River, And Northeast River)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
No targeting. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
All Areas Open To Catch And Release Fishing Only. (Chesapeake Bay And Tidal Tributaries)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Dec 6
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
No harvest. Eels may not be used as bait.
All Areas Open To Catch And Release Fishing Only. (Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River, And Northeast River)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Dec 6
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
No harvest Eels may not be used as bait.
All Areas Open. (Chesapeake Bay And Tidal Tributaries)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 5
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
All Areas Open. (Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River, And Northeast River)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 5
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
All Nontidal Reservoirs, Lakes, And Ponds.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Max size
- 30"
only one of those fish may be larger than 30 inches
All State Waters (Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays And Their Tributaries)Open year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 31"
- Gear
- No Live Bait
treble hooks are prohibited
Any Tidal Waters
- Gear
- Non Offset Circle Hook
When using fish, crabs, or worms as bait, or processed bait
Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays And Their Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 31"
- Gear
- Circle Hooks
Jan. 1–Dec. 31 Must always use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait or processed baits (treble hooks are prohibited) when targeting striped bass. Jan. 1–Dec. 31
Catch And Release Only*Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Min size
- 40"
These species are only eligible for the Catch and Release Award
Chesapeake Bay
- Season opens
- 00-00
- Gear
- Spear Gun And Spear
Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from midnight to 5 a.m. To take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state
Chesapeake Bay And Tidal TributariesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Gear
- No Live Bait
DEC. 6–DEC. 31 SEPT. 1–DEC. 5 Eels may not be used as bait. DEC. 6–DEC. 31
Chesapeake Bay Downstream From A Line Between Abbey Point And Worton Point To The Virginia Line Including Tangier And Pocomoke Sounds.Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- No Live Bait
No harvest. Eels may not be used as bait.
Chesapeake Bay Downstream From A Line Drawn From The South Corner Of Hart-Miller Island Dike To The End Of Md Route 21 At Tolchester And South To The Md/Va Line, Excluding All Bays, Sounds, Tributaries, Creeks And Rivers. Except: Tangier Sound And Pocomoke Sound; Chester River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Hail Point To Long Point To Ferry Point; Patuxent River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Point Patience To The West Point Of Land At The Entrance Of Little Kingston Creek; Choptank River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Holland Point To A Point Of Land At The West Entrance Of Chapel Creek; And All Potomac River Tributaries Downstream Of The Nice Memorial Bridge (U.s. 301) Are Open.
- Season opens
- May 16
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Chesapeake Bay From The Brewerton Channel To The Virginia Line, Excluding All Bays, Sounds, Tributaries, Creeks And Rivers, Except Tangier And Pocomoke Sounds And All Potomac River Tributaries Downstream Of The Nice Memorial Bridge (U.s. 301).Out of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- May 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Eels may not be used as bait.
Chesapeake Bay Or Its Tidal Tributaries
- Gear
- Spear Gun Prohibited
To take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state.
Chester River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Hail Point To Long Point To Ferry Point
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Choptank River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Holland Point To A Point Of Land At The West Entrance Of Chapel Creek
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Designated Spawning AreasClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Mar 1
To fish for striped bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of striped bass from March 1–May 31.
No Area Restrictions In State Waters
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
JAN. 1–DEC. 31 Must always use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait or processed baits (treble hooks are prohibited) when targeting striped bass.
Nontidal (Lakes And Ponds)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 4 fish
- Min size
- 18"
only one of which may be over 30 inches. only one of which may be over 30 inches
Patuxent River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of A Line Drawn From Point Patience To The West Point Of Land At The Entrance Of Little Kingston Creek
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Pocomoke Sound
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Potomac River Tributaries Downstream Of The Nice Memorial Bridge (U.s. 301)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River, And Northeast RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Gear
- No Live Bait
DEC. 6–DEC. 31 SEPT. 1–DEC. 5 Eels may not be used as bait. DEC. 6–DEC. 31
Susquehanna Flats, Upstream Of A Line From Sandy Point To Turkey Point And The Susquehanna River Downstream From A Line Connecting The Susquehanna State Park Boat Ramp At Lapidum (Defined By Lat. 39°35.86' N And Long. 76°07.67' W) To Twin Rocks (Defined By Lat. 39°36.17' N And Long. 76°07.56' W) To Tomes Wharf In Port Deposit (Defined By Lat. 39°36.23' N And Long. 76°06.99' W); And The Northeast River.Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Gear
- No Live Bait
No harvest. Eels may not be used as bait.
Tangier Sound
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
MAY 16–MAY 31
Tidal Tributaries Of The Chesapeake BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
May not be used to take striped bass
Maryland statewideOut of season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
Virginia (82)
All Coastal Rivers Of The Chesapeake Bay Above The Fall LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters
All Coastal Rivers Of The Chesapeake Bay And Crane Lake (City Of Suffolk)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
seasonal fishery, run out of Lake Chesdin
Atlantic Ocean Waters Beyond The 3 Mile LimitClosed
- Status
- Closed
closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
Back BayCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
No possession
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
limited numbers
Chesapeake Bay Fall SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 4
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Chesapeake Bay Spring SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Jun 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
sometimes caught in lower stretches, migrate out of Norris Reservoir in Tennessee
Dan RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
run begins in late April run continues through May
Leesville ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 53 lbs. 7 oz. on 3-16-2000
Meherrin RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
North Landing RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest Rivers And Their Tributaries Plus Back BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
No possession
Nottoway RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Virginia Coastal SeasonsIn season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
Also known as
Rules above match the following common names in our regulations database: Striped Bass, Anadromous (Coastal) Striped Bass.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stripers season on Chesapeake Bay?
Stripers season on Chesapeake Bay runs from Aug 1 to Aug 31 (varies by state) per DNR / DWR.
What is the size limit for Stripers on Chesapeake Bay?
Minimum size for Stripers on Chesapeake Bay is 19 inches in All Areas. Slot or maximum sizes may apply elsewhere on the water; see the table above.
What is the daily bag limit for Stripers on Chesapeake Bay?
Daily bag limit for Stripers on Chesapeake Bay is 1 fish/day in All Areas.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.