What’s Biting in Maryland
The fish anglers catch most across Maryland by season, from NOAA’s recreational catch survey. 71 species reported in 2024.
Biting now in Maryland
The species most caught in July and August, the current survey season. The green bar shows how much is kept versus released.
Maryland fishing season by season
What runs in each two-month window across the year. The current season is highlighted.
When each species peaks in Maryland
The most-caught species and the season each one runs hardest. Bars show catch across the six two-month waves.
| Species | Peak season | Kept | Catch through the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot | Jul-Aug | ||
| White Perch | Jul-Aug | ||
| Atlantic Croaker | Jul-Aug | ||
| Striped Bass | Nov-Dec | ||
| Black Sea Bass | Jul-Aug | ||
| Summer Flounder | Jul-Aug | ||
| Blue Catfish | May-Jun | ||
| Bluefish | Jul-Aug | ||
| Channel Catfish | Jul-Aug | ||
| Largemouth Bass | Mar-Apr | ||
| Tautog | Jul-Aug | ||
| Red Drum | Jul-Aug | ||
| Dolphin | Jul-Aug | ||
| Atlantic Menhaden | Sep-Oct |
Know what's running before you launch
Seasonal catch, tides, and the day's conditions worth knowing for your spots, plus the occasional PATHR update. No spam.
Reading the Maryland fishing seasons
These are the fish recreational anglers actually report catching in Maryland, pulled straight from NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information Program, the federal survey that tracks recreational catch. Rank is by total catch, which counts everything caught, kept and released. That is why bait and panfish can top the list alongside the gamefish, and why the kept share matters: it separates what people take home from what they let go.
Use the season-by-season breakdown to plan. When a species’ bar spikes in a two-month window, that is when the catch runs hardest for it in Maryland. Line that up with the Maryland fishing times for the daily bite windows, the tide charts, and the sunrise and sunset times to pick your window.
Figures are survey estimates, best read as the shape of the season rather than an exact count. Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Frequently asked
What fish are biting in Maryland right now?+
In July and August, the species anglers report catching most across Maryland are Atlantic Croaker, White Perch, Spot, and Black Sea Bass. These come from NOAA's 2024 recreational catch survey, so they reflect the typical catch for this season, not a live report.
What is the most caught fish in Maryland?+
Spot is the most-caught species in Maryland over the year, followed by White Perch and Atlantic Croaker. "Most caught" counts everything landed and released, so it includes bait and panfish, not just the headline gamefish.
When is the best time to fish in Maryland?+
It depends on the species. Spot catches peak around Jul-Aug, White Perch around Jul-Aug. The season-by-season breakdown above shows what is running in each two-month window.
Do anglers keep or release these fish in Maryland?+
It varies a lot. Across Maryland, Spot is kept about 34% of the time; a species like striped bass is mostly released. The green bar on each species shows the share kept versus released.
Where does this fishing data come from?+
NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), the federal survey of recreational fishing, 2024 estimates. It covers the Atlantic and Gulf coasts plus Hawaii. Texas, Louisiana, and the Pacific coast are surveyed separately. Figures are survey estimates, so treat them as the shape of the season rather than an exact count.
Plan the trip around the bite
Pathr puts the bite windows, tides, wind, and depth-aware routing to your spot on official NOAA charts. Free to try on iOS.
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