It's a Fishing Day

Species

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis · family Moronidae

Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."

Preferred conditions

Water temp
50–72°F (ideal 62°F)
Tide
incoming
Moon
either
Depth
5–35 ft
Active months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best striped bass conditions today

  1. Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access Accomack, VA · harvest closed
    96/100
  2. Kiptopeke State Park Northampton, VA · harvest closed
    96/100
  3. Cape Charles Town Pier Northampton, VA · harvest closed
    96/100
  4. Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · harvest closed
    96/100
  5. Assateague Island — MD Surf Worcester, MD · harvest closed
    84/100
  6. Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty Worcester, MD · harvest closed
    84/100
  7. Cape Henlopen State Park Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  8. Indian River Inlet Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  9. Lewes Canal Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  10. Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  11. Delaware Seashore State Park Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  12. Slaughter Beach Sussex, DE · harvest closed
    84/100
  13. Mason Neck State Park Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  14. Occoquan Regional Park Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  15. Pohick Bay Regional Park Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  16. Leesylvania State Park Prince William, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  17. Sandy Point State Park Anne Arundel, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  18. Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier Queen Anne's, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  19. Romancoke Pier Queen Anne's, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  20. Matapeake Pier Queen Anne's, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  21. Choptank River — Cambridge Dorchester, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  22. Solomon's Island Fishing Pier Calvert, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  23. Point Lookout State Park St. Mary's, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  24. Flag Ponds Nature Park Calvert, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  25. Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier Calvert, MD · harvest closed
    80/100
  26. Conowingo Dam Tailrace Harford, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  27. Susquehanna Flats Cecil, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  28. Havre de Grace Fishing Pier Harford, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  29. Rocky Point Park — Essex Baltimore, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  30. North Point State Park Baltimore, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  31. Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania, VA · harvest closed
    25/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

tidal bay

Min size
19"
Max size
24"
Creel
1

Chesapeake Bay recreational regulations (2026). January 1–April 30 and December 6–31 are catch-and-release only (no harvest) — the April C&R period was restored in 2026 for the first time since 2019. August 1–31 is closed to all targeting to protect fish from thermal stress. Spawning rivers (Choptank, Chester, Manokin, Nanticoke, Patuxent, Transquaking, Wicomico) and the Upper Bay spawning area / Susquehanna Flats are closed to targeting March 1–May 31. Circle hooks required when fishing with bait. Potomac River main stem is managed separately by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Atlantic coast regulations (28–31 in slot, year-round) differ.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

tidal delaware

Min size
20"
Max size
24"
Creel
1

Delaware Bay, Delaware River, and their tributaries. Unique summer slot (20–24 in, 1/day) applies only July 1–August 31. Outside that window, the same 28–31 in slot as coastal Atlantic waters applies. Catch-and-release only on spawning grounds April 1–May 31. DE-tidal-specific summer regulation — this is the slot commonly called the "Delaware Bay summer slot."

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
28"
Max size
31"
Creel
1

Delaware Atlantic Ocean coast and all DE tidal waters OTHER than Delaware Bay/River/tributaries during the Jul 1–Aug 31 summer slot. 28–31 in slot (ASMFC coastwide), 1 fish/day. April 1–May 31 is catch-and-release only on designated spawning grounds.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (tidal — VMRC)

tidal bay

Min size
19"
Max size
24"
Creel
1

Virginia Chesapeake Bay and tributaries (excluding the Potomac main stem, which is managed by PRFC). 19–24 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Two open windows: May 16–June 15 (4VAC20-252-80) and October 4–December 31 (4VAC20-252-90). All other dates are closed to striped bass harvest in tidal Bay waters. Virginia's spring opener is two weeks earlier than MD (May 16 vs. May 1 opener for MD). Potomac River tributaries follow the PRFC schedule — see PRFC block.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
28"
Max size
31"
Creel
1

Virginia Atlantic Ocean (coastal area). 28–31 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open January 1–March 31 and May 16–December 31. Closed April 1–May 15 for the spawning run. 4VAC20-252-110. Matches the ASMFC coastwide slot. Distinct from the Bay slot (19–24 in) — the two are not interchangeable; the coastal reg applies only seaward of the COLREGS demarcation line.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Potomac main stem (PRFC)

tidal potomac

Min size
19"
Max size
24"
Creel
1

Potomac River main stem, managed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. 19–24 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open May 16–July 6 and August 21–December 31 (summer C&R closure July 7–August 20 to protect fish from thermal stress, mirrors VA's Potomac tributaries rule in 4VAC20-252-100). January 1–May 15 is catch-and-release only. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with cut or whole natural bait. Live eels are prohibited year-round. The PRFC regulation applies to the main stem only — tributaries follow MD or VA state regs depending on bank.

Source · verified 2026-04-22