Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels. Tell them apart
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth. Tell them apartNot listed by Maryland: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sheepshead in Maryland?
12 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many sheepshead can you keep in Maryland?
4.
When is sheepshead season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
What is the Maryland record sheepshead?
18 lb, South Jetty, Ocean City Inlet (2017).
How current is this Maryland sheepshead 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 sheepshead in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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