When is largemouth bass season in Maryland?

Year-round on most waters; tidal Potomac River March 5 – June 15 catch-and-release ONLY pre-spawn window; standard 12 in min + 5 / day combined statewide. Those are the 2026 Maryland dates; always confirm against Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Maryland bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Maryland daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide; 0 / day tidal Potomac Mar 5 – Jun 15. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size largemouth bass can you keep in Maryland?

The Maryland size rule for largemouth bass is 12 in min statewide; 15 in min Potomac River tidal section.

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Maryland?

Yes. In Maryland, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Tidal Potomac March 5 – June 15: catch-and-release ONLY (PRFC compact + MD DNR pre-spawn rule); Baltimore + WSSC water-supply reservoirs (Loch Raven, Liberty, Prettyboy, Triadelphia, Rocky Gorge): shore + registered electric-motor only — no gas motors, no body contact, Watershed Use Permit required; Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (MD DNR).

Do specific Maryland waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 7 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Deep Creek Lake, Loch Raven Reservoir (Baltimore County), Liberty Reservoir (Baltimore / Carroll Counties), and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Maryland Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus nigricans

Last updated May 26, 2026

Maryland's largemouth fishery splits between the western mountain reservoirs (Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County), the Baltimore + Washington DC water-supply reservoir tier (Loch Raven + Liberty + Prettyboy + Triadelphia + Rocky Gorge — all shore + electric-motor-only watershed reservoirs), the Eastern Shore tidal tributaries (Choptank + Nanticoke + Wicomico + Pocomoke), and the tidal Potomac River (Maryland's premier tidal largemouth fishery — 15-inch minimum + 5 / day with a March 5 – June 15 catch-and-release pre-spawn window under the PRFC compact). MD's standard rule: 12-inch statewide minimum + 5-fish daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth, but the tidal Potomac runs a separate 15-inch + 5 / day rule with pre-spawn C&R. Loch Raven (2,400 acres on Gunpowder Falls — Baltimore DPW water supply) holds the state's reputation as the eastern MD trophy largemouth reservoir despite shore + electric-motor-only access. The tidal Potomac at Mattawoman Creek + Pomonkey Creek + Piscataway Creek + Mallows Bay regularly produces 5+ lb largemouth from the spring pre-spawn migration to the upper tidal flats.

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Season

Year-round on most waters; tidal Potomac River March 5 – June 15 catch-and-release ONLY pre-spawn window; standard 12 in min + 5 / day combined statewide.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round; 12 in min + 5 / day combined
Mar 5 – Jun 15Potomac River tidal section + listed Eastern Shore tidal tributaries
Catch-and-release ONLY pre-spawn window per PRFC + DNR rule

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide; 0 / day tidal Potomac Mar 5 – Jun 15
Possession: 10 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 12 in min statewide; 15 in min Potomac River tidal section

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
Tidal Potomac March 5 – June 15: catch-and-release ONLY (PRFC compact + MD DNR pre-spawn rule)
Baltimore + WSSC water-supply reservoirs (Loch Raven, Liberty, Prettyboy, Triadelphia, Rocky Gorge): shore + registered electric-motor only — no gas motors, no body contact, Watershed Use Permit required
Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (MD DNR)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Maryland waters:

Deep Creek Lake
12 in min, 5 / day combined; MD's largest inland water body; 2,462 ft elevation Allegheny Mountain reservoir
Loch Raven Reservoir (Baltimore County)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; shore + electric-motor only; trophy largemouth — MD Baltimore-area flagship
Liberty Reservoir (Baltimore / Carroll Counties)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; shore + electric-motor only; trophy largemouth + walleye
Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; shore + electric-motor only
Triadelphia Reservoir (Howard / Montgomery Counties)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; WSSC Watershed Use Permit required; shore + electric-motor only
Rocky Gorge Reservoir / T. Howard Duckett Reservoir
12 in min, 5 / day combined; WSSC Watershed Use Permit required
Potomac River — tidal
15 in min, 5 / day; March 5 – June 15 catch-and-release ONLY pre-spawn window per PRFC + MD rule

Official source

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) publishes the authoritative 2026 Marylandfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Maryland fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Maryland trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Maryland?: Year-round on most waters; tidal Potomac River March 5 – June 15 catch-and-release ONLY pre-spawn window; standard 12 in min + 5 / day combined statewide. Those are the 2026 Maryland dates; always confirm against Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Maryland bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Maryland daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide; 0 / day tidal Potomac Mar 5 – Jun 15. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Maryland?: The Maryland size rule for largemouth bass is 12 in min statewide; 15 in min Potomac River tidal section.
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Maryland?: Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Maryland?: Yes. In Maryland, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Tidal Potomac March 5 – June 15: catch-and-release ONLY (PRFC compact + MD DNR pre-spawn rule); Baltimore + WSSC water-supply reservoirs (Loch Raven, Liberty, Prettyboy, Triadelphia, Rocky Gorge): shore + registered electric-motor only — no gas motors, no body contact, Watershed Use Permit required; Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (MD DNR).
Do specific Maryland waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 7 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Deep Creek Lake, Loch Raven Reservoir (Baltimore County), Liberty Reservoir (Baltimore / Carroll Counties), and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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