Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
MD guide lists it as an approved shark with no minimum size; the COMAR recreational shark rule sets no specific creel limit for it.
MD DNR 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
No limits for private anglers; party/charter vessels with federal permits must follow commercial rules.
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
White spots on gray, a spine before each dorsal, no anal fin. More on the spiny dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spiny dogfish in other states16 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for spiny dogfish in Maryland?
No size limit.
How many spiny dogfish can you keep in Maryland?
No limit specified.
When is spiny dogfish season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
What is the Maryland record spiny dogfish?
11.5 lb, Ocean City (1993).
How current is this Maryland spiny dogfish 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.
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