2013 Maryland Code
NATURAL RESOURCES
§ 4-617 - Restrictions on fishing in nontidal waters [Effective until July 1, 2013.]

§4-617.

(a) Except when fishing through ice, a person may not angle with more than three rods and lines with two hooks to each line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple or gang hooks are considered one unit.

(b) A slat basket, commonly known as the Chesapeake Bay eel pot, may not be used to catch eels.

(c) A State resident who has secured a resident angler’s license may fish by use of a dip net only from January 1 through April 15 only in the following nontidal waters:

(1) The Susquehanna River in Cecil and Harford counties;

(2) In Allegany and Washington counties; and

(3) The Monocacy and Potomac rivers in Carroll and Frederick counties. However, dip nets may not be used within 50 yards of the mouth of any tributary or the breast of any dam of these rivers. A dip net may not be used in any of the waters of the State which are stocked with trout.

(d) (1) Only a person with a resident angler’s license may use a bush-bob or bank pole;

(2) Bush-bobs or bank poles not exceeding a total of 25 in all and not exceeding one hook to a pole or bob may be used only in the waters of the Potomac or Monocacy River within Carroll, Washington, and Frederick counties.

(3) Bush-bobs or bank poles may not be used on any streams stocked with trout.

(4) A bush-bob or bank pole which has been baited with scale bait or live bait may not be used to catch suckers, catfish, carp, eels, gudgeons and every species of sunfish, including bluegills and rock bass, commonly known as redeye.

(5) A bush-bob or bank pole may not be used except between sunset and sunrise.

(e) The Department may regulate, supervise, and control ice-fishing.

(f) White shad, hickory shad, and herring may be caught or taken only by angling, unless otherwise provided.

(g) A person may catch large or small mouth black bass from nontidal waters of the State only by angling. An artificial lure is legal.

§ 4-617 - Restrictions on fishing in nontidal waters [Effective July 1, 2013].

(a) Use of slat baskets for catching eels. -- A slat basket, commonly known as the Chesapeake Bay eel pot, may not be used to catch eels.

(b) Use of dip nets. -- A State resident who has secured a resident angler's license may fish by use of a dip net only from January 1 through April 15 only in the following nontidal waters:

(1) The Susquehanna River in Cecil and Harford counties;

(2) In Allegany and Washington counties; and

(3) The Monocacy and Potomac rivers in Carroll and Frederick counties. However, dip nets may not be used within 50 yards of the mouth of any tributary or the breast of any dam of these rivers. A dip net may not be used in any of the waters of the State which are stocked with trout.

(c) Restrictions on use of bush-bobs or bank poles. --

(1) Only a person with a resident angler's license may use a bush-bob or bank pole;

(2) Bush-bobs or bank poles not exceeding a total of 25 in all and not exceeding one hook to a pole or bob may be used only in the waters of the Potomac or Monocacy River within Carroll, Washington, and Frederick counties.

(3) Bush-bobs or bank poles may not be used on any streams stocked with trout.

(4) A bush-bob or bank pole which has been baited with scale bait or live bait may not be used to catch suckers, catfish, carp, eels, gudgeons and every species of sunfish, including bluegills and rock bass, commonly known as redeye.

(5) A bush-bob or bank pole may not be used except between sunset and sunrise.

(d) Ice-fishing. -- The Department may regulate, supervise, and control ice-fishing.

(e) White shad, hickory shad, and herring. -- White shad, hickory shad, and herring may be caught or taken only by angling, unless otherwise provided.

(f) Black bass. -- A person may catch large or small mouth black bass from nontidal waters of the State only by angling. An artificial lure is legal.