2026 regulation year
Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County) 2026 — Maryland Fishing Regulations
Maryland statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County) carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Maryland's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
1,500-acre Baltimore City water supply; shore + registered electric-motor access only (no gas motors); smallmouth + largemouth + holdover trout + chain pickerel; 12 in min black bass
Source: Maryland special-water list
Per-species rules on Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County)
12 in min, 5 / day combined; shore + electric-motor only
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
- Allen's Fresh (Wicomico River, Charles County)
- Antietam Creek
- Atlantic Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean — Ocean City / Assateague
- Beaver Creek Fly-Fishing-Only Catch-and-Return Area
- Beaverdam Run
- Big Hunting Creek
- Casselman River Delayed Harvest Area
- Catoctin Creek Delayed Harvest Area at Doubs Meadow Park
- Chesapeake Bay
- Chesapeake Bay — lower Bay
- Chesapeake Bay — middle Bay
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County)?
- Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Maryland's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "1,500-acre Baltimore City water supply; shore + registered electric-motor access only (no gas motors); smallmouth + largemouth + holdover trout + chain pickerel; 12 in min black bass." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County)?
- Yes. Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County) 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 Prettyboy Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maryland rules.
- Do Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County)'s special rules replace Maryland's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Maryland's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Prettyboy Reservoir 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 Prettyboy Reservoir?
- Largemouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Prettyboy Reservoir (Baltimore County), each linking to its full Maryland regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maryland limits.