Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
Maryland umbrella rule covering all snapper species.
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Dog snapperVisible canines and a pale triangle under the eye. Tell them apart
Mangrove snapperDarker, no bars, red-brown cast. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Snapper with 8 pale vertical bars, a blue streak under the eye, and every fin yellow. More on the schoolmaster snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Schoolmaster snapper in other states6 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for schoolmaster snapper in Maryland?
No size limit.
How many schoolmaster snapper can you keep in Maryland?
20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species. Counts toward the Snapper species (20 combined, max 10 per species) aggregate.
When is schoolmaster snapper season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
How current is this Maryland schoolmaster snapper 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 schoolmaster snapper in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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