What special fishing regulations apply at Conowingo Dam tailwater?

Conowingo Dam tailwater carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Maryland's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish), Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish (invasive), Walleye, and 1 more. One of them reads: "East Coast's premier spring striped bass + walleye + smallmouth + flathead + blue catfish tailwater; PA boundary upstream; trophy migration April – May; striped bass C&R below dam April 1 – May 15 paired with Susquehanna Flats." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Conowingo Dam tailwater?

Yes. Conowingo Dam tailwater is in Maryland, so a valid Maryland fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Conowingo Dam tailwater; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maryland rules.

Do Conowingo Dam tailwater's special rules replace Maryland's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Maryland's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Conowingo Dam tailwater by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Conowingo Dam tailwater?

Striped bass (rockfish), Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish (invasive), Walleye, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Conowingo Dam tailwater, each linking to its full Maryland regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maryland limits.

2026 regulation year

Conowingo Dam tailwater 2026 — Maryland Fishing Regulations

Maryland statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Conowingo Dam tailwater carries 6 special-regulation overlays on top of Maryland's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass (rockfish), Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish (invasive), Walleye, and 1 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Conowingo Dam tailwater (MD) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

East Coast's premier spring striped bass + walleye + smallmouth + flathead + blue catfish tailwater; PA boundary upstream; trophy migration April – May; striped bass C&R below dam April 1 – May 15 paired with Susquehanna Flats
Source: Maryland special-water list

Per-species rules on Conowingo Dam tailwater

Striped bass (rockfish) regulations →
Spring striped bass migration; C&R below dam April 1 – May 15 paired with Susquehanna Flats
Smallmouth bass regulations →
12 in min, 5 / day combined; spring migration April – May
Blue catfish (invasive) regulations →
No closed season, no minimum, no bag limit; trophy blue catfish year-round
Walleye regulations →
15 in min, 5 / day; East Coast premier spring walleye migration run March – May
Channel catfish regulations →
No minimum size, 5 / day (nontidal); strong channel-cat numbers below the dam year-round

Official source

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) publishes the authoritative 2026 Maryland fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Maryland fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in Maryland

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Conowingo Dam tailwater?: Conowingo Dam tailwater carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Maryland's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish), Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish (invasive), Walleye, and 1 more. One of them reads: "East Coast's premier spring striped bass + walleye + smallmouth + flathead + blue catfish tailwater; PA boundary upstream; trophy migration April – May; striped bass C&R below dam April 1 – May 15 paired with Susquehanna Flats." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Conowingo Dam tailwater?: Yes. Conowingo Dam tailwater is in Maryland, so a valid Maryland fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Conowingo Dam tailwater; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maryland rules.
Do Conowingo Dam tailwater's special rules replace Maryland's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Maryland's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Conowingo Dam tailwater by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Conowingo Dam tailwater?: Striped bass (rockfish), Smallmouth bass, Blue catfish (invasive), Walleye, and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Conowingo Dam tailwater, each linking to its full Maryland regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maryland limits.

← Back to Maryland regulations overview