2026 regulation year
Maryland Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Maryland's smallmouth fishery is anchored by Deep Creek Lake (Garrett County's 3,900-acre mountain reservoir) in the western mountains, the Potomac River non-tidal main stem (Little Falls upstream through Great Falls, Seneca, Point of Rocks, Brunswick, Williamsport, to the West Virginia line — one of the East Coast's classic stream smallmouth fisheries with 100+ river miles of MD-side bronzeback water), the Conowingo Dam tailwater on the Susquehanna (Cecil + Harford Counties — spring smallmouth migration), and the Youghiogheny Reservoir on the MD/PA boundary. Great Falls of the Potomac + Mather Gorge regularly produce 4+ lb fish from the rocky pocket water. The Potomac non-tidal section requires the MD non-tidal freshwater licence (the VA freshwater licence does NOT cover the non-tidal Potomac — non-tidal Potomac is MD-only jurisdiction under the 1632 Royal Charter, even though the river forms the boundary). MD's rule: 12-inch statewide minimum + 5-fish daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth.
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Season
Year-round on most waters; Susquehanna Flats + tidal Susquehanna pre-spawn rules per current DNR notice; non-tidal Potomac River premier stream smallmouth year-round.
– Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round; 12 in min + 5 / day combined
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide
- Possession
- 10 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 12 in min statewide; 12 in min Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny Reservoir + Potomac non-tidal
- Trophy rule
- Potomac River non-tidal Great Falls + Mather Gorge regularly produces 4+ lb smallmouth from rocky pocket water; Conowingo tailwater spring migration
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
- Non-tidal Potomac: MD non-tidal freshwater licence required (VA freshwater does NOT cover — MD-only jurisdiction)
- Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (MD DNR)
- Susquehanna Flats + tidal Susquehanna spring pre-spawn restrictions per current DNR notice
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Maryland waters:
Deep Creek Lake
12 in min, 5 / day combined; rocky shorelines + drop-offs; mountain-reservoir smallmouth
Youghiogheny Reservoir / Yough Lake
12 in min, 5 / day combined; MD/PA joint-management compact
Jennings Randolph Lake
12 in min, 5 / day combined; MD/WV joint-management
Potomac River — non-tidal
12 in min, 5 / day combined; MD-only jurisdiction (VA freshwater does NOT cover); Great Falls + Mather Gorge trophy
Conowingo Dam tailwater
12 in min, 5 / day combined; spring migration April – May
Liberty Reservoir (Baltimore / Carroll Counties)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; shore + electric-motor only; trophy smallmouth on rocky shorelines
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
Smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass season in Maryland?
- Year-round on most waters; Susquehanna Flats + tidal Susquehanna pre-spawn rules per current DNR notice; non-tidal Potomac River premier stream smallmouth year-round. 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 smallmouth bass?
- The Maryland daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) statewide. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size smallmouth bass can you keep in Maryland?
- The Maryland size rule for smallmouth bass is 12 in min statewide; 12 in min Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny Reservoir + Potomac non-tidal. Trophy rule: Potomac River non-tidal Great Falls + Mather Gorge regularly produces 4+ lb smallmouth from rocky pocket water; Conowingo tailwater spring migration.
- Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in Maryland?
- Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass in Maryland?
- Yes. In Maryland, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; Non-tidal Potomac: MD non-tidal freshwater licence required (VA freshwater does NOT cover — MD-only jurisdiction); Tournament special-event permit required for events above 20 boats (MD DNR); Susquehanna Flats + tidal Susquehanna spring pre-spawn restrictions per current DNR notice.
- Do specific Maryland waters have different smallmouth bass rules?
- Yes. 6 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Deep Creek Lake, Yough Lake, Jennings Randolph Lake, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.