Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
Harvest closed statewide under moratorium.
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Lower jaw juts past the upper; spring river runs. More on the hickory shad page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hickory shad in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask3
Can you keep hickory shad in Maryland?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Maryland. Release it in the water where you can. Harvest closed statewide under moratorium.
What is the Maryland record hickory shad?
4 lb, Susquehanna River (1971).
How current is this Maryland hickory shad 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 hickory shad in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app