MD's Striped Bass Fishing Closure Begins Soon: What Anglers Need To Know

Maryland's annual striped bass closure runs through August as officials seek to reduce fish deaths during the hottest part of summer.

By Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff

Jul 29, 2026 2:47 PM EDT

Recreational anglers in Maryland will have to put away their striped bass gear beginning Friday, as the state's monthlong fishing closure takes effect to help protect the Chesapeake Bay's iconic fish during the hottest part of the summer.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is prohibited through Aug. 31. The closure was shifted to August for the 2026 season to better protect younger, resident striped bass, which are more likely to die after being caught and released when water and air temperatures are high.

Officials said recent research suggests environmental conditions have contributed to poor striped bass spawning success. The seasonal closure, first implemented in 2020, is intended to reduce fishing-related mortality and help sustain the Bay's striped bass population.

The department is encouraging anglers to target other species during the closure, including invasive blue catfish and Chesapeake Channa, also known as snakehead. Those species have no size or bag limits, and harvesting them helps improve the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

According to the most recent striped bass stock assessment, published in 2022, fish that died after being caught and released accounted for 21% of all fishing-related striped bass deaths in the Chesapeake Bay. Recreational harvest accounted for 44%, commercial harvest for 31%, and commercial catch-and-release mortality for 4%.

Outside the August closure, DNR requires anglers targeting striped bass to use circle hooks and encourages them to check the state's Striped Bass Summer Fishing Advisory Forecast, which warns when heat and water conditions make catch-and-release fishing especially risky.

The recreational striped bass season is scheduled to reopen Sept. 1 and run through Dec. 5. During that period, anglers may keep one striped bass per day measuring 19 to 24 inches.

Maryland fishing licenses are available online through MD Outdoors, at DNR service centers or at sport license agent retailers.