Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
2026 bag limits raised by 2 fish (from 3/5) effective early 2026; no federal size limit.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Chopper jaw full of visible teeth, greenish back, forked tail; snapping at everything. More on the bluefish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for bluefish in Maryland?
8 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many bluefish can you keep in Maryland?
5 (shore/private boat); 7 (charter/for-hire).
When is bluefish season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
What is the Maryland record bluefish?
23.5 lb, Assateague Island (1974).
How current is this Maryland bluefish rule?
Source: MD DNR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a bluefish in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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