Title 4. Fish and Fisheries — Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-601 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–601LinkCopy Citation
“Angling” means catching or attempting to catch fish by hook and line, with the line held in hand, attached to a pole or rod held in hand, or attended in a manner that the fish voluntarily takes bait or lure in its mouth.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-602 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–602LinkCopy Citation
With due regard for distribution, abundance, economic value, and breeding habits of fish in nontidal waters, the Secretary may adopt rules and regulations to extend, restrict, or prohibit catching, possessing, purchasing, transporting, or exporting fish from nontidal waters.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-603 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–603LinkCopy Citation
Pursuant to § 4–602 of this subtitle, the Department shall establish open seasons for catching species of game and freshwater fish in nontidal waters.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-604 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–604LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section provides a fund to pay the expense of protecting and managing game and freshwater fish and preventing unauthorized persons from fishing or attempting to fish for any game and freshwater fish without first procuring an angler’s license.
(b)
Any person 16 years old or older shall secure an angler’s license to fish in the nontidal waters of the State. An angler’s license entitles the holder to fish in the nontidal waters of the State only during the open season.
(c)
An angler’s license is not required of the following:
(1)
The owner or tenant of land bordering on nontidal water, his spouse and children, or the spouse of any child who resides on the land with the owner or tenant when he fishes in nontidal water adjoining his land;
(2)
Any resident who is an active service member, while on leave in the State, during the resident’s leave period, if, while angling, the resident possesses a copy of the resident’s official leave order;
(3)
A person who fishes in nontidal waters of the State on free fishing days designated by the Secretary;
(4)
A person holding a current resident consolidated senior sport fishing license issued under § 4–216 of this title;
(5)
A person fishing in a free fishing area established under § 4–214(b)(2) of this title; or
(6)
A person authorized by a disability exemption issued under § 4–217 of this title.
(d)
A person who wishes to obtain an angler’s license shall complete and submit an application to the Department or to any person designated by the Department to issue an angler’s license.
(e)
(1)
An applicant for a license issued under this section:
(i)
Shall provide all the information requested by the Department; and
(ii)
May not willfully make a false statement or representation to the Department on the application.
(2)
The Department shall require an applicant for a license under this section to provide the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number, if the applicant has a Social Security number.
(f)
(1)
Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the following annual license fees shall apply:
(i)
Resident ……………………………………………………... $32
(ii)
Subject to paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, short–term license valid for 7 consecutive days from date of issuance ………………………….... $16
(iii)
Resident and nonresident blind persons ………..…… No fee
(iv)
Complimentary license …………………..…………….. No fee
(2)
For a nonresident:
(i)
The fee for an annual angler’s license is the greater of:
(1)
$55; or
(2)
A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a similar license; and
(ii)
The fee for a short–term license valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
(1)
$45; or
(2)
A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(iii)
The fee for a short–term license valid for 3 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
(1)
$35; or
(2)
A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(3)
The Department shall implement a program to provide discounted angler’s licenses and trout stamps to Maryland residents who are recipients of the Purple Heart Award.
(4)
(i)
All fees collected by the Department under this section may only be used in accordance with § 4–208 of this title.
(ii)
The Department shall publicly report annually the amounts collected and the expenditures under this section.
(g)
A person designated to sell an angler’s license shall issue the license and collect the fee prescribed in subsection (f) of this section. The collected money shall be transmitted to the Department as prescribed by the Department. As compensation, the agent shall retain $1 for each license issued.
(h)
(1)
Every angler’s license shall be valid for 1 year following the date of issuance.
(2)
The license may not be transferred to another person, nor used or presented by any person other than the person to whom it was issued.
(i)
Every person licensed under this section shall submit any report the Department requires in accordance with Department regulations.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-606 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–606LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
A resident of Virginia possessing a valid Virginia fishing license issued in that resident’s name may fish in nontidal waters of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Virginia without obtaining a Maryland angler’s license.
(2)
This subsection is only effective if Virginia enters into and maintains a reciprocal agreement with the Department, approved by the Secretary, which allows a person possessing a valid Maryland angler’s license issued in that person’s name to fish from the Virginia banks of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Maryland without acquiring a Virginia fishing license.
(b)
(1)
A resident of West Virginia possessing a valid West Virginia fishing license issued in that resident’s name may fish in nontidal waters of the Potomac River opposite the shore of West Virginia, including the North Branch of the Potomac River and the Jennings Randolph Reservoir, without obtaining a Maryland angler’s license.
(2)
This subsection is only effective if West Virginia enters into and maintains a reciprocal agreement with the Department, approved by the Secretary, which allows a person possessing a valid Maryland angler’s license issued in that person’s name to fish from the West Virginia banks of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Maryland, including the North Branch of the Potomac River and the Jennings Randolph Reservoir, without acquiring a West Virginia fishing license.
(c)
(1)
A resident of Pennsylvania possessing a valid Pennsylvania fishing license issued in that resident’s name may fish in the waters of the Conowingo and Youghiogheny Reservoirs without obtaining a Maryland angler’s license.
(2)
This subsection is effective only if Pennsylvania first enters into and maintains a reciprocal agreement with the Department, approved by the Secretary, which allows a person possessing a valid Maryland angler’s license issued in that person’s name to fish on the portion of the Conowingo and Youghiogheny Reservoirs lying within the boundaries of Pennsylvania without acquiring a Pennsylvania fishing license.
(d)
(1)
The reciprocal fishing privileges granted by this section to a Pennsylvania resident holding a valid fishing license from Pennsylvania are valid only for the Conowingo and Youghiogheny Reservoirs.
(2)
The reciprocal fishing privileges granted by this section to a West Virginia resident holding a valid fishing license from West Virginia are valid only for the main stem of the Potomac River, the North Branch of the Potomac River, and the Jennings Randolph Reservoir opposite the shore of West Virginia.
(3)
The reciprocal fishing privileges granted by this section to a Virginia resident holding a valid fishing license from Virginia are valid only for the main stem of the Potomac River opposite the shore of Virginia.
(e)
If a state fails to maintain the reciprocal fishing privileges in accordance with an approved agreement, the Secretary may revoke the reciprocal fishing privileges accorded to those holding licenses issued by that state by publishing a notice of revocation in the Maryland Register and notifying the head of the appropriate licensing agency for that state.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-607 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–607LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
The Department may issue annually a complimentary angler’s license to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, and any official of the game and fish department of any other state.
(2)
The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to any Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is:
(i)
A former prisoner of war;
(ii)
An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or
(iii)
A 100% service connected disabled American veteran.
(3)
The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to an out–of–state person:
(i)
Who certifies that the person is:
(1)
A former prisoner of war;
(2)
An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or
(3)
A 100% service connected disabled American veteran; and
(ii)
Whose state of residence extends similar privileges to former prisoners of war, American veterans who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines are unemployable, or 100% service connected disabled American veterans of this State.
(b)
Not more than 20 complimentary angler’s licenses for each state other than Maryland shall be outstanding at any time.
(c)
A complimentary angler’s license is not transferable and shall be issued without a fee.
(d)
For the purposes of this section, “former prisoner of war” means a person who, while an active service member, was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile force, during a period of armed conflict.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-608 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–608LinkCopy Citation
Any money the Department receives for angler’s licenses shall be accounted for by the Department to the State Treasurer. The amount the Treasurer receives shall be placed to the credit of angler’s licenses in the State Fisheries Management and Protection Fund, and the Treasurer shall pay out of it on warrant of the Comptroller upon requisition of the Department.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-610 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–610LinkCopy Citation
A person shall possess his angler’s license while angling in nontidal waters and, upon demand, shall exhibit the license to any Natural Resources police officer, law enforcement officer, or landowner or his representative.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-611 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–611LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Any person engaged in a retail business who desires to sell angler’s licenses as an agent under the Department’s control and supervision shall apply to the Department and provide a bond or other security deemed sufficient and adequate by the Department to ensure payment for the licenses.
(b)
License fees collected by an agent shall be forwarded to the Department on a schedule and in a manner prescribed by the Department.
(c)
(1)
An agent may not make any false statement concerning any date of issuance or other license data.
(2)
An agent may not issue any license without receiving the license fees required by law.
(d)
In addition to any other penalty provided for in this title, any agent convicted of violating this section shall lose the agent’s privileges.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-612 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–612LinkCopy Citation
If any person, convicted of violating § 4-610 of this subtitle under any penalty provided in this title, presents his angler’s license to the court within five days after his conviction, the court, if it determines the person held the license prior to his arrest and violation was due to inadvertence, may reduce by half any penalty originally imposed.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-613 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–613LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Department may suspend a person’s angler’s license if it is transferred to another person or used or presented to a law enforcement officer by a person other than the person to whom it was issued, pending the disposition of a criminal proceeding against the other person.
(b)
In addition to any penalty provided in this title, if any person is convicted of fishing without a proper angler’s license in his possession, or using another person’s angler’s license, the angler’s license shall be rendered void. The person upon whom the angler’s license is found and the licensee may not procure an angler’s license for 1 year following the date of conviction. However, the provisions of this section do not apply to a licensee who does not knowingly give his license to another.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-614 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–614LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
The Department shall adopt regulations to establish fishing areas where a trout stamp is required.
(2)
Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a person may not fish or possess trout in an area established in paragraph (1) of this subsection unless the person first obtains a trout stamp in addition to an angler’s license.
(3)
A trout stamp is not required of the following:
(i)
A holder of a lifetime complimentary angler’s license issued under § 4–607(a)(2) or (3) of this subtitle;
(ii)
A person authorized by a disability exemption issued under § 4–217 of this title;
(iii)
Any resident serving in the uniformed services while on leave in the State, during the resident’s leave period, if, while angling, the resident possesses a copy of the resident’s official leave order; or
(iv)
A person under 16 years of age.
(4)
The stamp may be obtained from the Department or an authorized agent of the Department.
(b)
A person is not required to have a trout stamp to possess trout taken from:
(1)
Any privately owned lake or pond that is stocked with trout artificially propagated by commercial hatcheries or purchased from persons licensed to sell fish; or
(2)
Any fee fishing lake or pond operated under § 4–11A–20 of this title.
(c)
The following annual trout stamp fees shall apply:
(1)
Resident……………………………………………………………… $20
(2)
Nonresident…………………………………………………..…..…. $30
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-616 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–616LinkCopy Citation
The Department shall set annually by rule or regulation the daily creel, possession, and size limits, for game and freshwater fish. The Department shall publish the rule or regulation by October 25 for the ensuing year.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-617 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–617LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Department may regulate, supervise, and control ice–fishing.
(b)
White shad, hickory shad, and herring may be caught or taken only by angling, unless otherwise provided.
(c)
A person may catch large or small mouth black bass from nontidal waters of the State only by angling. An artificial lure is legal.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-625 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–625LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not build, construct, have constructed, or place any wharf, pier, dock, float, or any projection along or running into or over the waters of Deep Creek Lake without first obtaining a written permit from the Department and the lessors of the area.
(b)
The Department, for proper fish management, may close as many as three tributaries to the lake for their length, at any one time, or prohibit fishing during the period between one hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise if necessary to police the area properly.
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. § 4-627 (2026)
Title 4. Fish and Fisheries
Subtitle 6. Licensing, Regulation, and Supervision of Fishing and Fisheries in Nontidal Waters
§ 4–627LinkCopy Citation
A person may not catch or possess any game and freshwater fish except during the period and in the manner provided in this subtitle, unless changed by rule or regulation the Department promulgates.