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It is Illegal: –

To possess any cut up or filleted striped bass at any time aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland. Striped bass must be landed whole. To use more than two hooks or two sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered 1 set of hooks. To use eels as bait while fishing for striped bass with hook and line from Dec.16–May 15, inclusive, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. To cull striped bass. To possess striped bass while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from midnight to 5 a.m. To use a gaff to land striped bass. To take or shoot striped bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state. To fish for striped bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of striped bass in designated spawning areas from March 1–May 31. To intentionally snag a striped bass.

Chesapeake Bay and Tidal tributaries(excluding the Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River and Northeast River)
Season	Fishing Locations Allowed	Creel and Size Limits	Regulations	Restrictions and Remark
Jan.1–Feb.28	All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and the Potomac River are open to catch and release fishing only	No harvest	Catch and release only	Directed catch and release of striped bass in the Potomac requires barbless hooks. Eels may not be used as bait.
Mar.1–Mar.31	Chesapeake Bay from the Brewerton Channel to the Virginia line including Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.	No harvest	Stinger (trailing) hooks are prohibited. Barbless hooks are required when trolling. Non-offset circle hooks or J hooks with a gap of less than ½ inch are required when using natural bait. No more than 6 lines may be employed while trolling regardless of the number of anglers on board.
Apr.1–Apr.30	All areas closed to striped bass fishing.	CLOSED	No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
May 1–May 15	Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the MD-VA Line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers, except Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound	1 fish per person per dayMinimum size 35 inches
May 16–May 31	Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line drawn from the south corner of Hart-Miller Island Dike to the end of MD Route 21 at Tolchester and south to the MD/VA line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers. EXCEPT: Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound; Chester River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Hail Point to Long Point to Ferry Point; Patuxent River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Point Patience to the west point of land at the entrance of Little Kingston Creek; and Choptank River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Holland Point to a point of land at the west entrance of Chapel Creek are open.	1 fish per person per dayMinimum size is 19 inches	See Maps at: Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass
June 1–July 15	All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and tributaries open to fishing	1 fish per person per dayMinimum size 19 inches	See Maps at Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.
July 16–July 31	All areas closed to striped bass fishing.	CLOSED	No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.
August 1–December 10	All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and tributaries open to fishing	1 fish per person per dayMinimum size 19 inches	See Maps at Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.
Dec.11–Dec.31	Catch and Release only

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Reservoirs Season Fishing Locations Allowed Creel and Size Limits Regulations Restrictions and Remarks Reservoirs All nontidal reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. 18 inch minimum size; 2 fish per person per day—only 1 of those fish may be larger than 30 inches Open Year Round

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Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River and Northeast River Season Fishing Locations Allowed Creel and Size Limits Regulations Restrictions and Remarks Jan.1–Mar.31 Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting the Susquehanna State Park boat ramp at Lapidum to Twin Rocks to Tomes Wharf in Port Deposit; and the Northeast River Catch and Release only

Stinger hooks are prohibited. Barbless hooks are required when trolling. Non-offset circle or J hooks with less than ½ inch gap are required when using bait. No more than six lines per boat are allowed when trolling. Eels may not be used as bait.

Apr.1–May 15 Susquehanna Flats closed to striped bass fishing Closed

No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.

May 16–May 31 Susquehanna Flats reopen to striped bass fishing 1 fish per person per day between 19–26 inches

Eels may not be used as bait. Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.

June 1–July 15 Susquehanna Flats and all Bay waters including tributaries open to striped bass fishing 1 fish per person per dayMinimum Size 19 inches

See Maps at Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed baits and targeting striped bass.

July 16–July 31 All areas closed to striped bass fishing CLOSED

No catch and release fishing. Attempting to catch striped bass is illegal during this time period.

August 1–December 10 Susquehanna Flats and all Bay waters including tributaries open to striped bass fishing 1 fish per person per dayMinimum Size 19 inches

See Maps at Anglers must use non-offset circle hooks when live-lining or chumming; Anglers must use circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait and targeting striped bass, or when using processed bait and targeting striped bass.

Dec.11–Dec.31 Catch and Release only

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Atlantic Ocean, COASTAL BAYS and THEIR TRIBUTARIES Season Fishing Locations Allowed Creel and Size Limits Regulations Restrictions and Remarks Jan.1–Dec.31 No area restrictions in state waters Anglers may keep one striped bass per person per day. The striped bass must be at least 28 inches and less than 35 inches in length. Striped bass may not be caught, harassed or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone, which stretches from 3–200 miles off the coast. Must always use non-offset circle hooks when using fish, crabs or worms as bait or processed baits (treble hooks are prohibited) when targeting striped bass.

Striped bass may not be caught, harassed or possessed in the Exclusive Economic Zone, which stretches from 3–200 miles off the coast. : Striped Bass

Is rockfish season open in Maryland?

May 1st- May 15th – The 2022 Maryland Trophy Striped Bass (aka “Rockfish”) Season will start on Sunday, May 1st and will run from May 1st- May 15th. During this season the Striped Bass must be 35 inches or over to keep and only one Striped Bass may be kept per person, per day. Book your trip aboard The Marylander to have the opportunity to catch a fish of a life time! Follow us on Instagram to view our latest adventures on the Chesapeake Bay!

Can you catch rockfish in Maryland right now?

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Regulations – Before you grab your rod and reel and start going after these prized creatures, you’ll need to make sure you’re up to date with the latest rules. However, it all depends on where you’re fishing. Virginia and Maryland have different rules concerning keeping Rockfish.

• You can keep one year-round in VA, with size limits varying.
• Meanwhile, Maryland prohibits their harvesting in January, February, and April.
• You can keep one in May, with two per person allowed after then, with varying size limits.
• Check out the regulations for and,
• The good news is that you can fish both states’ waters with the same license.

Just make sure you register with the other’s Saltwater Angler Registry. You can find out how to get a VA license with our handy, or you can head over to the Maryland DNR to get your MD license.

When can you fish for striped bass in Maryland?

The 2022 regulations are unchanged from 2021 and are generally described below. catch-and-release. May 1 through May 15 : Anglers may catch one striped bass per day, with a minimum size of 35 inches, in the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Virginia state line.

Where are they catching rockfish in Maryland?

As the state fish of Maryland, there’s no better place to cast a line for rockfish than the waters of Calvert County, Located right between the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River, there are countless scenic spots to fish on the water or from the shore. Charter fishing for rockfish If you’ve never fished the bay, consider booking a charter boat for a morning or the day. The experienced crew will take care of equipment and navigation so you can focus on reeling in the big one. Plus, with countless tackle shops, waterside restaurants and lodging accommodations with a view in the area, you don’t have to travel far to get what you need. Calvert Cliffs State Park After you come in from a fun day of fishing, check out the Top 10 things to do in Calvert County including hunting for fossils and sharks’ teeth at Calvert Cliffs State Park, hiking for miles through forests, meadows and out to the bay at American Chestnut Land Trust and checking out a local farmers’ market, Cove Point Lighthouse rental house Check in at a local hotel, bed and breakfast or other unique retreat, including the Cove Point Lighthouse Keeper’s House, right next to a working lighthouse and settle in to plan out the next few days! Sunrise Garden Take a day to explore the twin beach towns of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach, as they epitomize the “land of pleasant living.” Start at the seven-block waterfront in North Beach offering a public fishing pier, boardwalk and bike path. Railway Museum Chesapeake Beach Water Park Then, head to Chesapeake Beach where you can step back in time at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum to learn about the railroad and amusement park history of this town. Continue the fun with the kids at the Chesapeake Beach Water Park for the afternoon and finish the day by cracking a few blue crabs at one of several restaurant options overlooking the water. Calvert Marine Museum Where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay, you will find Solomons Island, a place of uncommon charm and unspoiled beauty. Visit the Calvert Marine Museum to trace the rich maritime history and diversity of the Chesapeake Bay.

Climb through the hatch at Drum Point Lighthouse or check out Cove Point Lighthouse, the oldest continuously working lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay. A short cruise on the museum’s historic Wm.B. Tennison bugeye boat or traditional skipjack, The Dee of St. Mary’s, gives an unforgettable view of the soaring Thomas Johnson Bridge.

Next, head to Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center featuring art, inside and out. Many sculptures lining the wooded path are on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. Cruise the back roads, stop for photo breaks whenever you want and create a custom itinerary tailored to you. Water and land based guided experiences From fossil-finding on a sandy beach, to pulling in a bushel of blue crabs on the bay, Calvert County, Maryland hosts several interesting water and land-based guided tours and experiences too. Jefferson Patterson Park Ready for some more outdoor fun? Head over to Jefferson Patterson Park situated on 560 acres along the Patuxent River and St. Leonard Creek. Explore the visitor and exhibit center, children’s discovery room and re-created eastern woodland Native American Village, Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and Sanctuary Continue on to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and Sanctuary where a boardwalk trail winds through one of the northernmost stands of bold cypress trees in North America. Learn more in the nature center and see some wildlife up close. Photos courtesy of Calvert County

How many rockfish can you keep in MD?

Fishing Season The 2022 Maryland striped bass (rockfish) season kicks off on Saturday May 1st with BIG trophy fish averaging 10-40lbs. During trophy season (May 1 – May 15) rockfish have to be 35″ or over and each person can keep (1) one rockfish. After May 16th the rockfish size and limit will change to 19″ or over and each person can keep (2) two rockfish.

What’s the best bait for rockfish?

California Rockfishing Rig Setup – Thin-diameter braid is a boon to rockfishing, boosting sensitivity, hookups and the ability to keep fish out of the rocks in deep water. Bacon recommends a medium-size conventional reel, such as a Penn International 975 lever-drag or Shimano Torium 20, filled with 50-pound coated braid.

He likes a 7- to 8-foot medium-action rod, like a Calstar 870H or Bluewater Carnage 800M. For terminal tackle, Bacon pre-ties a number of 4-foot-long twin dropper-loop leaders using 30-pound monofilament, You are legally allowed to fish with two hooks per leader in California. Bacon likes 10-inch-long loops with a free-sliding hook to give rockfish a better opportunity to inhale the bait.

A barrel swivel links the leader to the main line, and a torpedo swivel is tied to the bottom. The weight of the sinker depends on the water depth, but if you can successfully motor-anchor, you can keep the weight to a minimum and still maintain contact with the bottom, says Bacon, who carries a selection of sinkers ranging from 3 to 20 ounces.

Hook size depends on the bait. Some of the best bait for rockfish is live sardines and anchovies. Bacon matches the hook to the rockfish bait using a selection ranging from No.2 to 2/0. For 3-inch squid strips, which stay on the hook well, 2/0 to 3/0 hooks work well. Some of the best rockfish lures are Berkley Gulp! baits, such as shrimp imitations or curly-tail grubs.

For those soft baits, use 1/0 to 2/0 hooks. Bacon says that the best Gulp! colors are Pink Shine for shrimp and Nuclear Chicken for grubs.

What is best bait for rockfish in Maryland?

Rockfish subsist on a wide variety of food and because of this will accept a wide variety of natural bait, including bloodworms, shad, herring, eels and clams.

Where is the best place to catch rockfish?

A nice catch of pelagic Rockfish in Alaska Rockfish Sebastes HOME Rockfish Description Rockfish are bottom dwelling fish that are often caught in the same rocky areas as Lingcod, There are many, many species of Rockfish including Vermillion Rockfish, Copper Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, Quillback Rockfish, China Rockfish, etc.

• Some of them tend to stay at the bottom, while some species of Pelagic Rockfish like Black Rockfish tend to hang out in the middle of the water column.
• For simplicity’s sake I will lump them all together along with fish like Boccaccio and Treefish that have similar characteristics.
• The great thing about fishing for Rockfish is that you never know which species you will pull up.

Many of them are brightly colored and very beautiful. They don’t put up much of a fight (often when caught in deep water their air bladders expand on the way up and they are unable to fight at all) but they do taste absolutely delicious. If you are lucky enough to be able to fish for them shallow with light tackle they are a lot more sporty.

1. Rockfish are a great fish to get kids started on fishing because they are not usually very difficult to catch.
2. Usually a chunk of bait sent to the bottom gets a bite right away.
3. They don’t have big teeth but when handling them watch out for their long sharp dorsal spines.
4. Rockfish Pound for Pound Fight Rating – 3 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale Rockfish don’t fight worth a darn.

A few short surges and that’s about it. If you are fishing deeper than about 100 feet or so, most of them will get barotrauma half way up and not fight at all from then on. Some Pelagic Rockfish such as Black Rockfish will put up a halfway decent fight on light tackle, in part because they are caught higher in the water column.

1. Rockfish Culinary Rating – High ​ What Rockfish lack in fight, they make up for in taste.
2. There are many ways to cook them.
3. Personally I like to deep fry them whole, but they taste good baked, steamed, grilled, and basically any other way you might want to prepare them.
4. They have a light, delicate flesh that is typically not fishy tasting.

Rockfish Tackle ​ Spinning or conventional tackle should work fine. If targeting Rockfish in deep water or in heavy current you may need to use a lot of weight, which will necessitate heavier gear. It is much more fun in my opinion to target these in the shallows when possible, although often the bigger ones are found deep.

1. Braided line is a must because its low-stretch qualities allow you to feel the bite even in deep water and make a good hookset.
2. If you are fishing shallow you can use a light baitcasting or spinning reel to make it more sporty.
3. When fishing deep you can use a conventional saltwater reel like an Accurate BX, although you actually don’t need that good of a reel to fish for these.

Even an old-school Penn Jigmaster is fine. A shorter rod will work since these are fished right on the bottom most of the time. See below for links to purchase tackle. Rockfish Techniques Rockfish are readily caught on both bait and lures. Once they are located they are not usually difficult to catch; it’s just a matter of dropping your lure or bait down to the bottom.

Once in a while some species suspend above the bottom as well. The key most of the time in rockfishing is to use enough weight to get to the bottom quickly and stay on the bottom, especially when fishing from a drifting boat. Below are just a few of the different species of Rockfish found in the Northeastern Pacific: Rockfish Lures Metal jigs can be deadly on Rockfish and often result in bigger fish.

If you are fishing deep or in heavy current you want a jig that will drop straight down. If you are fishing in shallower water you can afford to use a jig like a diamond jig that has a little action. Whatever; these fish aren’t that picky. Plastic lures such as scampi tails can work well.

You can fish these on whatever size leadhead gets you to the bottom or you can fish them on dropper loops. Rockfish also frequently hit hooks dressed with bucktail or similar material. Rockfish often bite octopus type lures such as the Lucanus jig from Shimano. Drop it to the bottom and slowly jig it up and down, pausing often.

There are a number of knock-offs that work well if you don’t want to spring for the Lucanus jigs which can be pretty pricey to lose. I like to add a strip of squid to my lures to add to the appeal. If you found anything useful on this site, please consider clicking one of the links below to purchase some tackle: Scampi tail plastics and a Shimano Butterfly jig. Red seems to work well even though it is the first color to disappear underwater and looks gray down at the bottom. Rockfish Baits Most small baitfish such as anchovies or sardines will work well for Rockfish.

1. Live is best but dead bait often works.
2. Strips of squid also work well.
3. I’m sure lots of other baits like octopus would work well but there is no need to get fancy.
4. When fishing for Rockfish with bait I rarely use a bare hook; I usually use the bucktail flies or some other lure.
5. That way if the fish pull the bait off the hook you still have a chance of hooking something.

Where to get the big Rockfish Alaska is a great spot for huge Rockfish. They take a back seat to the “glamour” species such as Salmon and Halibut up there but if you want to catch the biggest Rockfish that is the place. The Big Sur area near Morro Bay, California also holds some huge Rockfish.

1. There are also some good spots in the Pacific Northwest.
2. Barotrauma Many Rockfish suffer from barotrauma when being reeled in.
3. Barotrauma is damage to tissue caused by a rapid change in pressure.
4. Fish that have swim bladders are susceptible to it, especially if hooked deep as Rockfish often are.
5. Far too many times a Rockfish that cannot be kept is thrown back with an expanded swim bladder and floats around until it dies.

Whenever possible, Rockfish should be released in a way that gives them a chance to survive. You can deflate the swim bladder with a needle to give them a chance to swim back down, or even better there are special cages that you can put the fish into and drop them back down to the bottom to release them with a better chance of survival. A simple device like this can be used to release Rockfish down deep to help them survive barotrauma. Attach the hook to the lower jaw, and send it down on a heavy line. When it has gone down enough that you think the air bladder has deflated, give it a quick jerk to release the fish and reel the device back up. A nice Vermillion Rockfish with a Lingcod, both caught back in the day off Big Sur, California.

What is the best time of day to catch rockfish?

Summer – In summer, the best time of day is early morning and late afternoon. I like fishing from dawn until 2 hours after sunrise in the morning. In the late afternoon, start fishing 2 hours before sunset until around the last light. The middle of the day can be lucrative but you will need to fish closer to the bottom.

What fish is in season in Maryland now?

Maryland offers some of the best freshwater and saltwater fishing on the east coast. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Maryland can make a huge difference in your fishing success. The best time to fish in Maryland is from April through the end of September for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, largemouth bass, catfish, redfish, and sharks. (Image courtesy of Patent Pending Charters (Tracys Landing, MD) & Fishing Booker)

How many stripers can you keep in MD?

Regulations Issued for 2022 Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Fishing – March 31, 2022 Summer-Fall Season Limits Remain Same Fisheries biologists survey and tag striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay as part of an annual survey of the population. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces that recreational striped bass regulations for the 2022 Chesapeake Bay summer-fall season will remain the same as last year.

1. All areas of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, except the Potomac River, will be closed to striped bass targeting from April 1 to May 1.
2. The 2022 summer-fall season in most areas of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries will be open May 16 through July 15, All areas will be closed to any targeting of striped bass from July 16 through July 31, and reopen August 1 through December 10.

Anglers may keep one striped bass per person, per day, with a minimum size of 19 inches. During a chartered fishing trip, the captain or mate would not be permitted to land or possess striped bass for personal consumption. During the closure period from July 16 through July 31, anglers will be prohibited from targeting striped bass, which includes catch-and-release and charter boats.

The 2018 benchmark stock assessment for striped bass indicated declines, so the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has determined that conservation measures are needed to reduce the amount of striped bass being removed. This includes dead discards, which are fish that die after being caught and returned to the water.

Maryland has coordinated with the ASMFC to develop regulations in compliance with its coastwide fishery management plan. Data collected by the department determined that the water quality and air temperatures in late July are more harmful to striped bass, increasing risk of catch-and-release mortality, when compared to other times of the year, View Disclaimer in:

Are rockfish and striped bass the same?

Maryland State Fish – Rockfish (Striped Bass) –

Maryland Fish Striped Bass Fishing Advisory Forecast (DNR)

The Rockfish ( Morone saxatilis ) was named the official fish of the State of Maryland in 1965 (Chapter 513, Acts of 1965; Code General Provisions Article, sec.7-305). Originally called Roccus saxatilis, scientists corrected the genus designation in the late 1960s.

• Nown for its size and fighting ability, the rockfish also is called striped bass,
• It has an olive green back, fading to light silver on its sides, with a white underside.
• Seven or eight dark, continuous stripes run from head to tail.
• Fisherman and Rockfish caught in Chesapeake Bay at mouth of Severn River, Annapolis, Maryland, April 2016.

Photo by William Seiss. In designating the State fish, the General Assembly prefaced the 1965 law by noting:

“Whereas, The people of Maryland as long time and appreciative residents of the productive Chesapeake Bay area know of it first hand the recreational and gastronomic delights of this wonderful land, and Whereas, Not the least among the good reasons for living in Maryland is the abundant and unexcelled delicacy of the Chesapeake Bay striped bass or rockfish, and Whereas, In the judgment of the members of the General Assembly of Maryland, it is a simple act of justice and of equity that this fine old Maryland fish should be honored by being designated as the official fish of the State of Maryland,, ”

Rockfish is considered by many to be the premier sport and commercial species on the Bay. The silver-flanked, iridescent-striped rockfish is a challenge to catch and a delight to eat. The current Maryland record for rockfish caught in Chesapeake Bay weighed in at 67 pounds, 8 ounces in 1995.

• Declining stocks, attributed to overfishing and pollution, forced Maryland to impose a moratorium on harvesting the species between 1985 and 1989.
• While the number of rockfish has increased, regulations are in place to ensure the species’ survival in Maryland waters.
• Rockfish catch (from Chesapeake Bay) of three fisherman, Severn River, Severna Park, Maryland, April 2003.

Photo by Jeffrey M. Seiss (the third fisherman). Adult rockfish swim in the ocean but lay their eggs in fresh water. Between April and June, rivers and streams feeding Chesapeake Bay provide spawning grounds for most Atlantic Coast rockfish. Those born in the Bay spend their first 3 to 5 years there before migrating out to the Atlantic, where their life span may be as long as 30 years.

How fast should you troll for rockfish?

What is the Maximum Trolling Speed for the Stripers? – Let’s suppose your boat is launched, you’ve double-checked the tides and the weather, and are ready to fish. Now, head towards the spot where you think you can get a hold of striper. Several trollers use the main motor for trolling.

It is better to start with a default speed, i.e., 2.5 mph. Moreover, it is better to stay between three to four knots or 1.5 to 2.5 mph maximum. The slower the speed, the more you will be able to get your lure at a deeper spot. Since striper is a slow fish and usually resides in cold water, it wants its bait to be slow as well so that it does not have to exert a great deal of energy in catching and eating it.

According to the Fishaholics, when fish are less active, the ideal speed is about 2.0 to 2.5 mph. When the fish does not bite, or the bite is tough, it is better to go below to 2.0 mph. However, if striped basses are active, you can opt for a higher speed between 2.5 and 3.5 mph.

Is Maryland rockfish good to eat?

Careful What You Fish For: Is Local Rockfish Safe to Eat? – Washington City Paper For the very first time, D.C. officials are warning that one of the region’s staple fish is unsafe to eat. Last week, the D.C. Department of Energy & Environment released a fish consumption advisory saying that local rockfish, also known as striped bass or striper, contained potentially dangerous levels of an industrial toxin called polychlorinated biphenyl.

1. The lingering chemical was used decades ago in the manufacturing of electrical equipment, floor finish, motor oil, and more.
2. Animals exposed to the toxin have developed cancer as well as a range of problems to the immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems.
3. Carp and eel also made the do-not-eat list, while several other species of fish have been upgraded to safer levels.

But the warning against rockfish, which can be found on many local menus, sent the most shockwaves across the local seafood industry. Of course, D.C. has no commercial fisheries, so the warnings only apply to recreational anglers. Environmental agencies in Virginia and Maryland say rockfish caught in their states’ waters is still safe to eat.

But given that rockfish are migratory fish that aren’t confined to District waters, should consumers be concerned? The last time that DOEE issued a fish advisory was 1994, although it has done chemical testing sporadically over the years. The agency first found high PCB levels in rockfish in 2013. At the time, the department only tested a single rockfish.

“When they got the first results back and these numbers were so high, there were some folks in the room that were like, ‘Wait a minute. Surely this can’t be right. These numbers are way too high,'” says DOEE spokesperson Julia Christian, DOEE decided to collect more samples.

• In April and May of 2015, the agency caught six more rockfish and found equally high levels of the toxin.
• The samples were relatively young, small fish from popular recreational areas near the upper Potomac River.
• While six fish might not seem like much of a sample size, D.C.
• Water Quality Division Associate Director Collin Burell says it was enough for DOEE to warn against eating rockfish.

“From a statistical standpoint, that is an adequate number,” he says. Meanwhile, the D.C. report finds that other fish caught here are now safer to eat. In fact, the contaminant levels have gone down for some resident fish that spawn and live in D.C. waters.

For example, it’s now considered safe for adults to eat up to three servings per month of D.C.-caught blue catfish, which was previously on the do-not-eat list. These findings seem to imply that D.C. waters aren’t necessarily the source of the contaminant. “The fish are getting polluted somewhere, and at this point, it doesn’t look like that’s happening here,” says Christian.

“They’re coming here, obviously, and so when you catch them here, you are catching polluted fish.” No one can say exactly where the PCB pollution originates from or why the levels in rockfish spiked. Burrell says the chemical could have been unearthed from river sediment or runoff.

• District officials seem hesitant to comment on what their results mean for other jurisdictions.
• We make no assumptions about what occurs outside of the District,” says Burell.
• We didn’t approach it from the standpoint of commercial fishing.” But the fact remains that rockfish migrate all along the East Coast, and fish found in D.C.

waters are from the same population that can be found in the Chesapeake Bay and other portions of the Potomac. “There certainly isn’t a D.C. population of fish. Most striped bass move So a problem in D.C., there’s a strong possibility that it’s a problem for Maryland and New Jersey and Connecticut and Maine,” says Gib Brogan, fisheries campaign manager for Oceana.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issues its own fish consumption advisory, but it hasn’t been updated since 2011. The agency says rockfish is safe to eat, but it still recommends limited portions. For rockfish caught in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay that are longer than 28 inches, the state recommends adults eat only one eight-ounce serving per month.

(For children, it’s less.) Smaller fish, which are younger and therefore haven’t absorbed as many toxins, are slightly safer. For Chesapeake Bay–caught rockfish smaller than 28 inches long, Maryland recommends no more than three eight-ounce servings per month.

The guidelines are meant exclusively for recreational anglers. Toxins typically concentrate in the skin and belly of the fish. For many years, Maryland officials have recommended that recreational anglers remove these parts and the dark meat from the filet before cooking. Grilling or broiling the fish also helps reduce contaminants, including PCBs, because the fat drips away.

In its 2011 report, MDE actually found that rockfish has become safer to eat over the years. The concentration of PCBs in rockfish between 2009 and 2010 is less than half of what it was in samples collected from 2001 to 2005. But are test results from 2011 still accurate? “Something that’s five, six years old is still relatively new information,” says Jay Apperson, MDE spokesperson.

We still think these are very valid numbers and the advisories that we have are very valid as well.” He points out that PCBs have been banned since 1979, so it’s not like there’s more of the chemical in the environment. “We don’t expect the situation to change much at all,” he says. Apperson couldn’t say when the department would do further testing for PCBs in fish.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Lynn Fegley says the odds are actually slim that the locally caught rockfish served in area restaurants or supermarkets come from what appears to be a relatively small contaminated area. “They are likely larger fish that have been ranging over far broader waters, even if they’re captured down at the mouth of the Potomac,” she says.

1. These fish are likely “feeding and living in areas where PCBs are not a risk.” More importantly, Fegley adds that whatever ends up on your plate at a restaurant adheres to standards from the Food and Drug Administration, which tests for PCBs in commercially sold fish.
2. I’m a mom, I have kids, and I’m also personally pretty freaky about my food,” Fegley says.

“This does not make me hesitate to go order rockfish or buy rockfish.” D.C.-based seafood wholesaler Profish will continue to buy and sell rockfish from Maryland, given that authorities say the commercial product is safe. Profish Director of Sustainability John Rorapaugh says the D.C.

report raises concern for Potomac fisheries, but right now, there’s no science showing fish are contaminated with unsafe levels beyond District waters. “We can’t make decisions off of one specific report that has to deal with a small area of water,” he says. Others are likewise taking their cues from Virginia and Maryland officials.

Black Restaurant Group, for example, is continuing to buy rockfish from Maryland and Virginia. District Fishwife owner Fiona Lewis says she has been getting emails from her suppliers saying “don’t panic.” Meanwhile, Jessup, Md.-based seafood wholesaler J.J.

McDonnell very briefly paused buying any Potomac rockfish while it waited for more information, says Steve Vilnit, the director of marketing and business development. But after a conference call with Maryland and Virginia environmental agencies last week, the wholesaler got reassurance that commercial rockfish was still safe.

Trophy Rockfish Season in Maryland is ON!

“We’re going to keep carrying it,” he says. “We’re leaving it up to the customers. We’re going to educate them on what we learned.” Vilnit says he wouldn’t be surprised if rockfish sales were somewhat affected by the report, but so far, he hasn’t seen that.J.J.

McDonnell got fewer than a dozen calls—”not a lot considering the amount of people we sell to on a daily basis”—from restaurants and retailers looking for more information about the PCB levels last week. But ultimately, Vilnit says the public will be the deciding factor. “Customers are going to be nervous about the product until they get more information, so that might lead to a decrease in sales,” Vilnit says.

That said, J.J. McDonnell didn’t see a decrease in sales in the immediate aftermath of the news. Likewise, Lewis says she’s been selling Maryland rockfish and no customers have asked about the PCB levels. If that somehow changes, Vilnit expects restaurateurs would switch to farm-raised rockfish rather than removing it from their menus altogether.

How poisonous are rockfish?

Meet the stonefish, the world’s most venomous fish – As a rule, you should not touch marine wildlife. But you especially should not touch marine wildlife that can kill you. Our ocean is full of toxic creatures, from the blue-ringed octopus to the lionfish, but the stonefish holds the title of most venomous fish in the sea, Stonefish are found in rocky or muddy bottoms of marine habitats in the Indo-Pacific region. They have excellent camouflage—their bodies are typically brown with orange, yellow or red patches and are textured to resemble the surrounding rocks or coral.

1. You could swim right by a stonefish and never know it was there! Stonefish use this to their advantage while hunting, and will wait for fish to swim by then swiftly attack and swallow their prey.
2. Now, you might be thinking ” I don’t love the idea of being next to the most venomous fish in the world and not know it.

” And you’re right! You definitely don’t want to be surprised by this guy. The good news is that stonefish use their spines defensively, NOT offensively, so the fish won’t go out of its way to attack you. i If you step on the fish however, it’s a different story. Stonefish have 13 spines lining its back that release venom under pressure. If you inadvertently step on a stonefish thinking it’s a harmless rock, it will pop up its dorsal spines and release venom from two sacs at the base of each spine.

1. Unsurprisingly, the more venom that is injected, the worse it is for you.
2. Stings result in terrible pain, swelling, necrosis (tissue death) and even death.
3. One victim wrote online (which was later reported by ABC News ) that after being stung on the finger, it was like “having each knuckle, then the wrist, elbow and shoulder being hit in turn with a sledgehammer over the course of about an hour.” The good news is there have been very few deaths (that we know of).

However, stings require immediate medical attention. This involves heat immersion, which helps denature the venom, and injection of anti-venom. But the best bet is to avoid stings in the first place! If you’re in an area that could be home to stonefish, make sure to:

Wear water shoes Always look where you walk Shuffle your feet along the bottom to avoid stepping directly on the fish. This shuffle also helps scare away stingrays, which you don’t want to step on either.

Want to learn more about toxic ocean critters? Read about the difference between venomous and poisonous animals,

What fish is in season in Maryland now?

Maryland offers some of the best freshwater and saltwater fishing on the east coast. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Maryland can make a huge difference in your fishing success. The best time to fish in Maryland is from April through the end of September for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, largemouth bass, catfish, redfish, and sharks. (Image courtesy of Patent Pending Charters (Tracys Landing, MD) & Fishing Booker)

What saltwater fish are in season in Maryland?

Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits

Species	Minimum Size Limits	Season	Creel Limit	Remarks
American Eel	9 inches	Jan 1–Aug 31, except open year round for spears and baited traps or pots	Daily—25
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	15 inchesMarch 1–June 15	Open Year Round	Daily—5 in aggregate
12 inchesJune 16 through last day in February
Black Drum	16 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1Boat Limit—6
Black Sea Bass	13 inches	May 15 – December 11	Daily—15
Bluefish	8 inches	Open Year Round	Shore or Private Boat: Daily—3For-Hire Boat: Daily—5
Catfish	None	Open Year Round	None
Chain Pickerel (Pike)	14 inches	CLOSED March 15–April 30	Daily—10
Cobia	40 inches	June 15–September 15	1 cobia per person per day; or up to 2 cobia per vessel per day if there are 2 or more individuals on the vessel
Croaker (Hardhead)	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—25
Northern Snakehead	None	Open Year Round	None	Illegal to possess live snakehead fish.
Red Drum (Channel Bass or Puppy Drum)	18–27 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
Sharks	See
Sheepshead	None	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Shrimp (brown, white)	None	Open Year Round	None	Must use authorized gear.
Snapper Species (includes many species, please see list)	None	Open Year Round	Daily—20	Snapper species—
Spanish Mackerel	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—15	Must be landed with head and fins intact.
Spot	None	Open Year Round	Daily—50
Spotted Seatrout	14 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4
Striped Bass	See Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Section
Summer Flounder (Fluke)	16 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—4	To maximize summer flounder survivability, use a 3/0 or larger hook and be prepared to release undersized fish (pliers, wet rag, and a ruler).
Tautog	16 inches	CLOSED May 16–June 30	January 1–May 15: Daily—4July 1–October 31: Daily—2November 1–December 31: Daily—4
Walleye	15 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—5
Weakfish	13 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—1
White Perch	None if caught with hook and line; 8 inch minimum if caught with other gear	Open Year Round	None
Yellow Perch	9 inches	Open Year Round	Daily—10
Alewife Herring, American Shad, Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, HICKORY SHAD and Shortnose Sturgeon	CLOSED
Areas Closed to Fishing—Feb, March and April: 1. Magothy River from Lake Waterford dam downstream for 3,300 feet.2. Severn River and Severn Run from the Route 3 Bridge downstream for 2,400 feet.

Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits

Where is the best place to catch rockfish?

A nice catch of pelagic Rockfish in Alaska Rockfish Sebastes HOME Rockfish Description Rockfish are bottom dwelling fish that are often caught in the same rocky areas as Lingcod, There are many, many species of Rockfish including Vermillion Rockfish, Copper Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, Quillback Rockfish, China Rockfish, etc.

1. Some of them tend to stay at the bottom, while some species of Pelagic Rockfish like Black Rockfish tend to hang out in the middle of the water column.
2. For simplicity’s sake I will lump them all together along with fish like Boccaccio and Treefish that have similar characteristics.
3. The great thing about fishing for Rockfish is that you never know which species you will pull up.

Many of them are brightly colored and very beautiful. They don’t put up much of a fight (often when caught in deep water their air bladders expand on the way up and they are unable to fight at all) but they do taste absolutely delicious. If you are lucky enough to be able to fish for them shallow with light tackle they are a lot more sporty.

1. Rockfish are a great fish to get kids started on fishing because they are not usually very difficult to catch.
2. Usually a chunk of bait sent to the bottom gets a bite right away.
3. They don’t have big teeth but when handling them watch out for their long sharp dorsal spines.
4. Rockfish Pound for Pound Fight Rating – 3 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale Rockfish don’t fight worth a darn.

A few short surges and that’s about it. If you are fishing deeper than about 100 feet or so, most of them will get barotrauma half way up and not fight at all from then on. Some Pelagic Rockfish such as Black Rockfish will put up a halfway decent fight on light tackle, in part because they are caught higher in the water column.

Rockfish Culinary Rating – High ​ What Rockfish lack in fight, they make up for in taste. There are many ways to cook them. Personally I like to deep fry them whole, but they taste good baked, steamed, grilled, and basically any other way you might want to prepare them. They have a light, delicate flesh that is typically not fishy tasting.

Rockfish Tackle ​ Spinning or conventional tackle should work fine. If targeting Rockfish in deep water or in heavy current you may need to use a lot of weight, which will necessitate heavier gear. It is much more fun in my opinion to target these in the shallows when possible, although often the bigger ones are found deep.

Braided line is a must because its low-stretch qualities allow you to feel the bite even in deep water and make a good hookset. If you are fishing shallow you can use a light baitcasting or spinning reel to make it more sporty. When fishing deep you can use a conventional saltwater reel like an Accurate BX, although you actually don’t need that good of a reel to fish for these.

Even an old-school Penn Jigmaster is fine. A shorter rod will work since these are fished right on the bottom most of the time. See below for links to purchase tackle. Rockfish Techniques Rockfish are readily caught on both bait and lures. Once they are located they are not usually difficult to catch; it’s just a matter of dropping your lure or bait down to the bottom.

Once in a while some species suspend above the bottom as well. The key most of the time in rockfishing is to use enough weight to get to the bottom quickly and stay on the bottom, especially when fishing from a drifting boat. Below are just a few of the different species of Rockfish found in the Northeastern Pacific: Rockfish Lures Metal jigs can be deadly on Rockfish and often result in bigger fish.

If you are fishing deep or in heavy current you want a jig that will drop straight down. If you are fishing in shallower water you can afford to use a jig like a diamond jig that has a little action. Whatever; these fish aren’t that picky. Plastic lures such as scampi tails can work well.

1. You can fish these on whatever size leadhead gets you to the bottom or you can fish them on dropper loops.
2. Rockfish also frequently hit hooks dressed with bucktail or similar material.
3. Rockfish often bite octopus type lures such as the Lucanus jig from Shimano.
4. Drop it to the bottom and slowly jig it up and down, pausing often.

There are a number of knock-offs that work well if you don’t want to spring for the Lucanus jigs which can be pretty pricey to lose. I like to add a strip of squid to my lures to add to the appeal. If you found anything useful on this site, please consider clicking one of the links below to purchase some tackle: Scampi tail plastics and a Shimano Butterfly jig. Red seems to work well even though it is the first color to disappear underwater and looks gray down at the bottom. Rockfish Baits Most small baitfish such as anchovies or sardines will work well for Rockfish.

Live is best but dead bait often works. Strips of squid also work well. I’m sure lots of other baits like octopus would work well but there is no need to get fancy. When fishing for Rockfish with bait I rarely use a bare hook; I usually use the bucktail flies or some other lure. That way if the fish pull the bait off the hook you still have a chance of hooking something.

Where to get the big Rockfish Alaska is a great spot for huge Rockfish. They take a back seat to the “glamour” species such as Salmon and Halibut up there but if you want to catch the biggest Rockfish that is the place. The Big Sur area near Morro Bay, California also holds some huge Rockfish.

1. There are also some good spots in the Pacific Northwest.
2. Barotrauma Many Rockfish suffer from barotrauma when being reeled in.
3. Barotrauma is damage to tissue caused by a rapid change in pressure.
4. Fish that have swim bladders are susceptible to it, especially if hooked deep as Rockfish often are.
5. Far too many times a Rockfish that cannot be kept is thrown back with an expanded swim bladder and floats around until it dies.

Whenever possible, Rockfish should be released in a way that gives them a chance to survive. You can deflate the swim bladder with a needle to give them a chance to swim back down, or even better there are special cages that you can put the fish into and drop them back down to the bottom to release them with a better chance of survival. A simple device like this can be used to release Rockfish down deep to help them survive barotrauma. Attach the hook to the lower jaw, and send it down on a heavy line. When it has gone down enough that you think the air bladder has deflated, give it a quick jerk to release the fish and reel the device back up. A nice Vermillion Rockfish with a Lingcod, both caught back in the day off Big Sur, California.

What months do stripers run?

When to Fish for Striped Bass – Each season will find stripers showing up in different regions of the deltas and river systems. Following the migration patterns of anadromous stripers, we’ll start in the winter. Each winter, stripers enter the Bay and Delta areas from the Pacific, heading inland to prepare for the spawning run.

That makes winter the best time to fish these tidal areas. Colder water will cause the bass to slow down and group up. The bigger fish move into shallower waters, while the rest hold in 20 to 30 feet of water. The bait they chase balls up, so they do too. Spring brings warmer waters, and the main spawning runs up the rivers.

The Sacramento River system starts to fill up with stripers as they migrate up to Knights Landing and Colusa to start the spawn. April and May are the prime time. Summer can be a difficult time to target sea-run striped bass. The spawning run is over, the fish returned to the ocean and Bay area, and with warmer water, the bass spread out through the water.