In the State of Maryland it is Unlawful ...

1) To use more than three (3) rods (except for ice fishing) or more than two (2) hooks per line.

2) To use a seine that exceeds six (6) feet in length or four (4) feet in depth.

3) To use more than five (5) rods (hand held devices) or tip-ups for ice fishing.

4) To cut a hole through the ice measuring more than ten (10) inches for the purpose of ice fishing.

5) To shoot trout (all species of trout) walleye, striped bass, striped bass hybrid, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, with a spear gun and speak in the non-tidal waters of the State.

6) To use a trotline:

• Except in the mainstream of the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers.
• In any water during April, May and June.
• In any waters between 9 AM and 4 PM, E.S.T.
• Made of metallic material.
• Having more than 75 single hooks.
• More than 300 feet in length.
• Baited with scale bait.
• To catch walleyes, smallmouth bass or largemouth bass.
• Not identified with a metal tag securely attached to it showing the name and address of the person operating it.
• Anchored from one shore to the other.

7) For a person to catch or to attempt to catch fish in Deer and Swan Creeks other than by hook and line only, attached to a pole or rod, with line in hand, attended in a manner that the fish voluntarily takes bait or lure in its mouth.

8) To use a trap to catch turtles unless the top portion is exposed above the surface of water to prevent mortality.

9) For anyone other than a resident to use bush-bobs or bankpoles.

• For residents to use more than 25 bush-bobs or bank poles, or any bush-bobs or bank poles having more than one (1) hook to a pole or bob.
• To use bush-bobs or bank poles except in the mainstem of the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers within Carroll, Washington and Frederick counties.
• To use bush-bobs or bank poles between sunrise and sunset.

10) For any one other than a resident to use a dip net.

• To use a dip net except in the Susquehanna River in Cecil Harford counties, in Allegany and Washington counties and the Monocacy and Potomac Rivers in Carroll and Frederick counties.
• To use a dip net from April 16 to December 31 inclusive.
• To use a dip net within 50 yards of the mouth of a tributary or the breast of any dam.

11) To trespass or fish any waters closed to the public for fishing by the Department.

12) For nonresidents of Maryland to fish in non-tidal waters of the State with nets of any description. However, nonresidents may use a net commonly known as a landing net to land fish caught by hook and line.

13) To use a gig, gig iron, nets, seines, fish pots or other fishing rigs, except as provided for by law or regulation.

14) To snag fish with hooks.

15) To remove the head and tail of a fish in possession while at the fishing location. The head and tail shall remain attached in such a manner as to permit identification of fish species and total length.

16) To use a dip net in water of the State stocked with trout. (Landing nets used to land fish are not considered dip nets.)

17) To take baitfish of any description from any designated trout stream or its tributaries.

18) To shoot or attempt to shoot any fish with a bow and arrow in a Designated Trout Stream at any time.

19) To disturb, take or destroy or possess any terrapin eggs.

20) For a person to catch snapping turtles from waters of the State by hook and line, trotline, bow and arrow, spear gig or iron or any device capable of piercing of any part of the turtle at any time.

21) To take or possess more than 35 baitfish per person in any day from non-tidal waters of the State. (This does not apply to live bait dealers.) 22) For a person to possess or use minnows for bait while fishing in Deer Creek and Swan Creek in Harford County.

23) To shoot or attempt to shoot any fish with a bow and arrow in state-controlled community ponds or lakes. However, the Department may permit the taking of carp in community ponds and lakes when it deems advisable.

24) To use a spear or spear gun within 100 yards of any private or public swimming areas, scuba divers flag, other than that used by the spear fishermen, vessel in the water or human being without specific advance permission.

25) To use a spear or spear gun in State owned ponds, lakes or Designated Trout Streams.

26) To operate any vehicle on any lands owned or controlled by the Freshwater Fisheries Division without written permission from the Division except on those roads, lanes or areas which are open to automobile traffic or which are specifically marked by the Division.

27) To camp on lands owned and controlled by the Freshwater Fisheries Division except on designated sites or with written permission.

28) To swim in any State controlled lake except in designated areas.

29) To cut any brush, trees or shrubbery on the C&O Canal reservation unless authorized by the National Park Service of the Federal Government.

30) To fish in Battie Mixon Fishing Hole in Allegany County between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.

31) To use boats propelled by power on the waters of Battie Mixon Fishing Hole.

32) To throw, dump, deposit, or cause to be thrown, dumped or deposited any trash, junk or other refuse upon any of the waters of this State.

33) For a nonresident to gig at any time.

34) To fish any streams or non-tidal waters stocked with trout between the hours of 10 PM and 5:30 AM. (This does not apply to freshwater inpoundments of five (5) acres or more.)

35) To use bush-bobs or bank poles on any streams stocked with trout.

36) To introduce any fish species except largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, golden shiner, fathead minnow, channel catfish, and baitfish on a hook for the purpose of angling without written approval of the Freshwater Fisheries Division.