2026 regulation year
Susquehanna Flats 2026 — Maryland Fishing Regulations
Maryland statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Susquehanna Flats carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Maryland's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass (rockfish). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
World-famous shallow-water trophy striped bass catch-and-release ONLY April 1 – May 15 — no harvest permitted, MD-distinctive trophy C&R season; non-tidal Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam tailwater carries spring run striper + walleye + smallmouth
Source: Maryland special-water list
Per-species rules on Susquehanna Flats
Striped bass (rockfish) regulations →
April 1 – May 15 catch-and-release ONLY; world-famous trophy C&R light-tackle / fly-rod destination
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 Susquehanna Flats?
- Susquehanna Flats carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Maryland's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish). One of them reads: "World-famous shallow-water trophy striped bass catch-and-release ONLY April 1 – May 15 — no harvest permitted, MD-distinctive trophy C&R season; non-tidal Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam tailwater carries spring run striper + walleye + smallmouth." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Susquehanna Flats?
- Yes. Susquehanna Flats 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 Susquehanna Flats; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maryland rules.
- Do Susquehanna Flats' special rules replace Maryland's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Maryland's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Susquehanna Flats 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 Susquehanna Flats?
- Striped bass (rockfish) has a water-body-specific rule on Susquehanna Flats, each linking to its full Maryland regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maryland limits.