Md. Code Regs. 08.02.15.09

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 08.02.15.09 - Recreational and Charter Boat Summer and Fall Fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries

A. Early Season.

(1) The recreational and charter boat early summer and fall season for taking striped bass is May 16 through May 31.

(2) Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.

(a) The areas subject to the provisions of §A(2) of this regulation are:

(i) The areas described in Regulation .08D(1) and (2) of this chapter;

(ii) All of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay enclosed by a line beginning at a point at or near North Point, defined by Lat. 39°11.71'N and Long. 76°26.53'W; then running approximately 156° True to a point at or near Buoy "2B" at the mouth of the Patapsco River, defined by Lat. 39°10.71'N and Long. 76°25.95'W; then running approximately 111° True to a point at or near Buoy "10", defined by Lat. 39°10.35'N and Long. 76°24.74'W; then running approximately 110° True to a point at or near Buoy "8", defined by Lat. 39°10.00'N and Long. 76°23.51'W; then running approximately 112° True to a point at or near Buoy "6", defined by Lat. 39°09.61'N and Long. 76°22.30'W; then running approximately 111° True to a point at or near Buoy "4", defined by Lat. 39°09.24'N and Long. 76°21.08'W; then running approximately 111° True to a point at or near Buoy "2BE", defined by Lat. 39°08.92'N and Long. 76°19.98'W; then running approximately 90° True to a point at or near Buoy "12", defined by Lat. 39°08.91'N and Long. 76°19.15'W; then running approximately 91° True to a point at or near Swan Point, defined by Lat. 39°08.88'N and Long. 76°16.69'W, then running northerly along the shore of Kent County to a point at or near the end of Maryland Route 21 at Tolchester, defined by Lat. 39°12.91'N and Long. 76°14.63'W; then running approximately 282° True to a point at or near the south corner of the Hart-Miller Island dike, defined by Lat. 39°14.23'N and Long. 76°22.44'W; then running north and west along the Hart-Miller shoreline to a point at or near the west end of Hart-Miller Island, defined by Lat. 39°14.36'N and Long. 76°23.19'W; then running approximately 206° True to a point at or near the east end of Pleasure Island, defined by Lat. 39°14.23'N and Long. 76°23.27'W; then running southwesterly along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline to a point at or near the West end of Pleasure Island, defined by Lat. 39°13.85'N and Long. 76°23.65'W; then running approximately 245° True to a point at or near the east end of Patapsco River Neck, defined by Lat. 39°13.76'N and Long. 76°23.91'W; then running southwesterly along shore to a point at or near the east entrance of Shallow Creek, defined by Lat. 39°12.25'N and Long. 76°25.95'W; then running approximately 251° True to a point at or near the west entrance of Shallow Creek, defined by Lat. 39°12.19'N and Long. 76°26.20'W; then running southwesterly along shore to the point of beginning, defined by Lat. 39°11.72'N and Long. 76°26.53'W;

(iii) Chester River: All of the waters of Chester River and its tributaries upstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Love Point, defined by Lat. 39°02.40'N and Long. 76°18.16'W; then running approximately 83° True to a point at or near the northwesterly point of Eastern Neck Island, defined by Lat. 39°02.77'N and Long. 76°14.05'W; and downstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Hail Point, defined by Lat. 39°00.76'N and Long. 76°12.00'W; then running approximately 216° True to a point at or near Long Point, defined by Lat. 38°58.81'N and Long. 76°13.80'W; then running approximately 271° True to a point at or near Ferry Point, defined by Lat. 38°58.82'N and Long. 76°14.60'W;

(iv) Choptank River: All of the waters of the Choptank River and its tributaries upstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Cook Point, defined by Lat. 38°37.73'N and Long. 76°17.35'W; then running approximately 317° True to a point at or near Blackwalnut Point, defined by Lat. 38°40.24'N and Long. 76°20.37'W; and downstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Holland Point at the west entrance of Irish Creek, defined by Lat. 38°41.88'N and Long. 76°13.61'W; then running approximately 174° True to a point at or near a point of land at the west entrance of Chapel Creek, defined by Lat. 38°36.59'N and Long. 76°12.91'W; and

(v) Patuxent River: All of the waters of the Patuxent River and its tributaries upstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Drum Point, defined by Lat. 38°19.14'N and Long. 76°25.27'W; then running approximately 119° True to a point at or near Hog Point, defined by Lat. 38°18.59'N and Long. 76°23.99'W; and downstream of a line beginning at a point at or near Point Patience, defined by Lat. 38°19.73'N and Long. 76°29.04'W; then running approximately 236° True to a point at or near the west point of land at the entrance of Little Kingston Creek, defined by Lat. 38°19.40'N and Long. 76°29.67'W.

(b) Catch Restrictions.

(i) A person may not catch or possess more than one striped bass per day.

(ii) A person may not catch or possess striped bass less than 19 inches in total length.

(3) Susquehanna Flats and Northeast River.

(a) The areas subject to the provisions of §A(3) of this regulation are:

(i) Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from a point at or near Sandy Point, defined by Lat. 39°26.96'N and Long. 76°03.63'W; then running in an easterly direction to a point at or near Turkey Point, defined by Lat. 39°27.13'N and Long. 76°00.70'W and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting a point at or near the Susquehanna State Park boat ramp in Lapidum, defined by Lat. 39°35.86'N and Long. 76°07.67'W; then running in a northeasterly direction to a point at or near Twin Rocks, defined by Lat. 39°36.17'N and Long. 76°07.56'W; then running in a northeasterly direction to a point at or near Tomes Wharf in Port Deposit, defined by Lat. 39°36.23'N and Long. 76°06.99'W; and

(ii) Northeast River.

(b) Catch Restrictions,

(i) A person may not catch or possess more than one striped bass per day.

(ii) A person may not use eels as bait.

(iii) A person may catch and possess one striped bass between 19 and 26 inches, inclusive, total length.

B. Summer and Fall Season.

(1) Except for the closure specified in Regulation .121(6) of this chapter, the recreational and charter boat summer and fall season for taking striped bass is June 1 through December 10.

(2) The areas subject to the provisions of §B(1) of this regulation are the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries except for the tributaries of the Potomac River.

(3) Catch Restrictions.

(a) A person may not catch or possess more than one striped bass per day.

(b) A person may not catch or possess striped bass less than 19 inches in total length.

C. General Restriction. When fishing in any area described in this regulation, all striped bass in a person's possession shall meet the size and possession limits set forth in regulation for that area.

Md. Code Regs. 08.02.15.09

Regulations .09 amended as an emergency provision effective July 1, 1994 (21:15 Md. R. 1298)
Regulations .09 amended as an emergency provision effective April 25, 1996 (23:10 Md. R. 726); amended permanently effective September 9, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1316)
Regulation .09 amended as an emergency provision effective April 17, 1998 (25:9 Md. R. 674); amended permanently effective July 12, 1998 (25:14 Md. R. 1131)
Regulation .09 and new Regulation .09 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 31, 1999 (26:9 Md. R. 726); emergency status expired February 29, 2000
Regulation .09 and new regulation .09 adopted effective April 3, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 640)
Regulation .09 amended effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 512)
Regulation .09A amended as an emergency provision effective March 29, 2002 (29:8 Md. R. 695); amended permanently effective June 10, 2002 (29:11 Md. R. 882)
Regulation .09A amended effective April 12, 2004 (31:7 Md. R. 583); January 17, 2005 (32:1 Md. R. 27)
Regulation .09A, B amended as an emergency provision effective March 21, 1997 (24:8 Md. R. 613); emergency status expired September 21, 1997
Regulation .09A, B amended effective March 23, 2009 (36:6 Md. R. 489)
Regulation .09A, B amended as an emergency provision effective April 14, 2015 (42:10 Md. R. 683)
Regulation .09 amended effective 42:13 Md. R. 796, eff.7/6/2015; amended effective 45:13 Md. R. 664, eff. 7/2/2018; amended effective 47:5 Md. R. 310, eff. 3/9/2020; amended effective 47:14 Md. R. 675, eff. 7/16/2020; amended effective 51:10 Md. R. 520, effective 2/9/2024, exp. 6/15/2024 (Emergency).