Recreational Striped Bass Regulations by State

In recent times, leisure striped bass rules have grown extra advanced to guard the species from overfishing following years of poor recruitment within the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware and Hudson rivers. Whereas there’s a coast-wide slot restrict—issued by the ASMFC—that requires any retained striped bass to measure between 28 and 31 inches in Atlantic marine waters, state fisheries businesses are in command of setting their very own rules in choose bays and tidal rivers. To make this info extra digestible to leisure striper anglers, we compiled the seasons, bag limits, slot sizes, and particular rules for striped bass in 2025 from Maryland to Maine.

Take into account that these rules are topic to alter. All the time double-check together with your state’s regulatory company.

Maryland

Chesapeake Bay & Tidal Tributaries

January 1 – February 28: All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and the Potomac River are open to catch and launch fishing solely.

No harvest; catch and launch solely.
Directed catch and launch of striped bass within the Potomac requires barbless hooks.
Eels will not be used as bait.

March 1 – March 31: Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line between Abbey Level and Worton Level to the Virginia line together with Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.

No harvest; catch and launch solely.
Stinger (trailing) hooks prohibited.
Barbless hooks required when trolling.
Non-offset circle hooks or J hooks with a spot of lower than ½ inch required for pure baits.
Not more than 6 strains allowed whereas trolling, whatever the variety of anglers on board.
Spawning rivers and the Higher Bay spawning space are off limits till June 1 to striped bass fishing.
Eels will not be used as bait.
See Striped Bass Laws Maps

April 1 – Could 15: All areas closed to striped bass fishing.

No catch and launch fishing. Making an attempt to catch striped bass is prohibited throughout this time interval.

Could 16 – Could 31: Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line drawn from the south nook of Hart-Miller Island Dike to the top of MD Route 21 at Tolchester and south to the MD/VA line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers. EXCEPT: Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound; Chester River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Hail Level to Lengthy Level to Ferry Level; Patuxent River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Level Persistence to the west level of land on the entrance of Little Kingston Creek; and Choptank River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Holland Level to some extent of land on the west entrance of Chapel Creek are open.

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is nineteen inches–lower than 24 inches.
Eels will not be used as bait.
Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when utilizing fish, crabs or worms as bait and concentrating on striped bass, or when utilizing processed baits and concentrating on striped bass.
See Striped Bass Laws Maps

June 1 – July 15: All areas open.

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is nineteen inches–lower than 24 inches.
Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when utilizing fish, crabs or worms as bait and concentrating on striped bass, or when utilizing processed baits and concentrating on striped bass.
See Striped Bass Laws Maps

July 16 – July 31: All areas closed to striped bass fishing.

No possession allowed.
No catch and launch fishing for striped bass allowed. Making an attempt to catch striped bass is prohibited throughout this time interval.

August 1 – December 10: All areas open.

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is nineteen inches–lower than 24 inches.
Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers should use non-offset circle hooks when utilizing fish, crabs or worms as bait and concentrating on striped bass, or when utilizing processed baits and concentrating on striped bass.
See Striped Bass Laws Maps

December 11 – December 31: All areas are open to catch and launch fishing solely.

No harvest; catch and launch solely.
Eels will not be used as bait.

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Bays and Tributaries

January 1 – December 31: No space restrictions in state waters.

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.
Striped bass will not be caught, harassed or possessed within the Unique Financial Zone, which stretches from 3–200 miles off the coast.
Should at all times use non-offset circle hooks when utilizing fish, crabs or worms as bait or processed baits (treble hooks are prohibited) when concentrating on striped bass.

» View rules for Susquehanna Flats, Decrease Susquehanna River and Northeast River

» Discover Maryland DNR Chesapeake Bay Fishing Laws

» Discover Maryland DNR Atlantic Fishing Laws

Delaware

January 1 – March 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

April 1 – Could 31: Catch and launch solely on spawning grounds.

June 1 – June 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

July 1 – August 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 20–24 inches solely within the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tributaries.
Atlantic rules proceed at 1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

September 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

» Discover Delaware DFW Saltwater/Tidal Fishing Laws

Pennsylvania

NOTE: When fishing with bait for any species of fish within the tidal Delaware Estuary, using a non-offset (inline) circle hook is required. A non-offset (inline) circle hook is taken into account a fishing gadget with no a couple of level or barb.

» Discover PA Fish & Boat Fee Laws for Delaware River and Estuary

New Jersey

Laws apply to Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.

Atlantic Ocean, 0-3 Nautical Miles from Shore

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

All Different Marine Waters

January 1 – February 28: Closed

No particular person could take, try and take, or have in possession any striped bass from closed waters.

March 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

Delaware River & tributaries (Calhoun St. Bridge to Salem River & tributaries)

March 1 – March 31 AND June 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

Delaware River & tributaries (upstream of Calhoun St. Bridge)

March 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

NOTE: No particular person could take, try and take, or have in possession any striped bass from closed waters.

Anglers collaborating within the Striped Bass Bonus Program could harvest one striped bass per allow at 24″ to lower than 28″ in size from Could 15 to December 31. It’s unlawful to take, try and take, catch or kill any striped bass from or in any marine waters of this state, via a internet of any description, or by any strategies aside from angling with a hook and line or by spear fishing. Sale of striped bass in New Jersey is prohibited.

It’s unlawful to gaff or try and gaff, any striped bass at any time. Non-offset circle hooks are required when fishing with bait. See Striped Bass Bonus Program for extra info.

» Discover NJ Fish & Wildlife Saltwater Fishing Laws

New York

Hudson River (north of George Washington Bridge)

April 1 – Nov 30: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 23–lower than 28 inches.

December 1 – March 31: Closed

Fishing for striped bass (together with catch and launch) is prohibited from December 1 by way of March 31 within the Hudson River above the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

Non-offset (inline) circle hooks should be used when recreationally fishing for striped bass utilizing pure bait. Exemption: Circle hooks aren’t required when fishing with a synthetic lure, whether or not or not they’re tipped with bait. (i.e. tube and worm rig)

Marine Waters (starting on the Hudson River south of George Washington Bridge) & Delaware River

April 15 – December 15: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

December 16 – April 14: Closed

Catch and launch solely. No particular person could take, try and take, or have in possession any striped bass from closed waters.

Non-offset (inline) circle hooks should be used when recreationally fishing for striped bass utilizing bait outlined as any stay or useless, entire or a part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. Exemption: Circle hooks aren’t required when fishing with a synthetic lure, whether or not or not they’re tipped with bait. (i.e. tube and worm rig)

NOTE: NYSDEC prohibits the use or tried use of gaffs when recreationally fishing for Atlantic striped bass in all state waters. A “gaff” means any implement or gadget used, after a fish has been caught by different means, to puncture, hook, or penetrate the fish in the course of the touchdown, retrieval or launch of the fish. “Gaff” additionally means the act of utilizing a gaff.

» Discover NYSDEC Saltwater Fishing Laws

Connecticut

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

NOTE: An inline circle hook is required when fishing with pure bait (doesn’t apply to synthetic lures).

» Discover CT DEEP Saltwater Fishing Laws

Rhode Island

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

NOTE: An inline circle hook is required when fishing with pure bait (doesn’t apply to synthetic lures).

» Discover Rhode Island DEM Marine Fisheries Laws

Massachusetts

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

NOTE: Striped bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail. The discard of useless authorized sized striped bass is illegal.

The follow of high-grading, whereby authorized sized striped bass are launched in favor of bigger fish caught subsequently is illegal. Accordingly, additionally it is illegal to maintain a striped bass alive in water by attaching a line or chain to the fish (stringer), or inserting it in a stay effectively or holding automotive.

Striped bass retained by leisure shore or personal vessel anglers are to be stored entire—aside from evisceration, bleeding, or descaling—whereas on the waters of this state or any adjoining parcel of land, construction, portion of roadway, or car parking zone. An exception is granted for striped bass being ready for fast consumption, akin to on the personal vessel or on the shore-side campground from which a fish was caught.

For-hire operators or crew could fillet striped bass for his or her patrons at any time in the course of the for-hire journey previous to the patrons departing the vessel, offered: (1) the racks are retained in a fashion that doesn’t intrude with species identification or complete size measurement till such time because the vessel has docked and all prospects from that journey have departed the vessel and the racks could subsequently be disposed of in any authorized method; (2) at the least two sq. inches of pores and skin is left intact and not more than two fillets, representing the equal of 1 fish, could also be possessed by every buyer.

All leisure anglers are required to make use of inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with entire or reduce pure baits, besides when fishing with a pure bait hooked up to a synthetic lure (e.g., tube and worm). The use non-lethal gadgets to take away striped bass from the water is required; gaffing striped bass is prohibited.

» Discover Massachusetts DMF Saltwater Fishing Laws

New Hampshire

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–lower than 31 inches.

NOTE: Gaffing and culling are prohibited; No sale allowed, no matter origin.

Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required if angling with bait.

Head and tail should be intact whereas on or leaving the waters or shores of the state besides could possess as much as 2 fillets with pores and skin intact if additionally possess fish rack ≥ 28″ and fewer than 31″ complete size with head/tail intact that fillets got here from.

» Discover NH Fish & Recreation Saltwater Fishing Laws

Maine

January 1 – December 31: Open Season (besides the Kennebec watershed)

1 fish per particular person per day. Slot measurement is 28–31 inches.

NOTE: Hook and line solely, no gaffing of striped bass.

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