Maryland Chesapeake striped bass reopen Sept. 1 after the August closure

Chesapeake Bay striped bass are legal again in Maryland. DNR’s 2026 tables closed all Bay and tidal-river areas to striped bass fishing — including targeting — from Aug. 1–31. The fall season opened Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 5: one fish per person per day, at least 19 inches and not over 24 inches. Circle-hook rules on bait did not change.

That is a different fishery from the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries, where the recreational limit is one fish 28–31 inches. Do not mix the two slots. Gaffs, culling, and keeping bass on a stringer or in a live well remain illegal on the Bay side.

Confirm the water you are on against DNR’s 2026 striped bass maps before you leave the dock. The August no-target closure is over; the 19–24 slot is not optional.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Maryland DNR — Striped Bass Regulations Maps (2026). Also: Maryland Fishing — Striped Bass (eRegulations).