Plain Text Law

Regulation .09 Recreational and Charter Boat Striped Bass Fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.

Regulation .09 Recreational and Charter Boat Striped Bass Fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.Copy Citation

A.
Seasons and Areas.
(1)
From May 1 through May 15, a person may catch or possess striped bass only in the following areas:
(a)
Chesapeake Bay north of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge northern span, with the following boundaries:
(i)
Western boundary — east of a line beginning at a point at or near the west end of the north span of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge, defined by Lat. 39°00.52'N and Long. 76°24.24'W; then running northerly along the shore to a point at or near Persimmon Point, defined by Lat. 39°03.16'N and Long. 76°26.33'W; then running approximately 34° True to a point at or near Mountain Point, defined by Lat. 39°03.55'N and Long. 76°25.99'W; then running northerly along the shore to a point at or near Bodkin Point, defined by Lat. 39°07.98'N and Long. 76°25.83'W; then running approximately 358° True to a point at or near Buoy “2B” at the mouth of Patapsco River, defined by Lat. 39°10.71'N and Long. 76°25.95'W;
(ii)
Northern boundary — south of a line beginning at 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 along the Brewerton Channel 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°09.25'N and long. 76°21.08'W; then running approximately 111° True to a point at or near Buoy “2BE” at the east end of the Brewerton Channel, 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°08.89'N and Long. 76°16.69'W; and
(iii)
Eastern and southern boundary — west of a line beginning at a point at or near Swan Point, defined by Lat. 39°08.89'N and Long. 76°16.69'W; then running approximately 141° True to a point at or near Huntingfield Point, defined by Lat. 39°07.13'N and Long. 76°14.85'W; then running southerly along the shore of Eastern Neck to a point at or near Wilson Point, defined by Lat. 39°03.19'N and Long. 76°13.66'W; then running approximately 216° True to a point at or near the northwest point of Eastern Neck Island, defined by Lat. 39°02.77'N and Long. 76°14.05'W; then running approximately 263° True to a point at or near Love Point, defined by Lat. 39°02.40'N and Long. 76°18.16'W; then running southerly along the shore of Kent Island to a point at or near the east end of the north span of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge, defined by Lat. 38°59.08'N and Long. 76°20.41'W; then running westerly along the north span of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge to a point at or near the west end of the north span of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge, defined by Lat. 39°00.52'N and Long. 76°24.24'W.
(b)
Between the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge northern span and the Maryland-Virginia state line excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks, and rivers, except Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound.
(c)
All of the Maryland waters of the Potomac River, and its tidal tributaries, downstream of a line beginning at a point at or near the east end of the Nice Memorial Bridge (U.S. 301), defined by Lat. 38°21.55'N and Long. 77°00.90'W; then running approximately 80° True to a point at or near the west end of the Nice Memorial Bridge, defined by Lat. 38°21.81'N and Long. 76°59.00'W; and upstream of a line beginning at a point at or near the shore at the north side of the north jetty at Smith Point, defined by Lat. 37°53.40'N and Long. 76°14.23'W; then running approximately 335° True to a point at or near Point Lookout, defined by Lat. 38°02.25'N and Long. 76°19.34'W.
(2)
From May 16 through May 31, a person may catch or possess striped bass only in the following areas:
(a)
All of the areas listed in §A(1) of this regulation;
(b)
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;
(c)
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;
(d)
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
(e)
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.
(3)
Except for the closure specified in COMAR 08.02.15.12I(5), from June 1 through December 5, a person may catch or possess striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River.
B.
Catch Restrictions.
(1)
A person may not catch or possess more than one striped bass per day.
(2)
A person may not catch or possess striped bass less than 19 inches in total length.
(3)
A person may not catch or possess striped bass greater than 24 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.