Maryland opens striped bass season

Maryland’s 2026 recreational striped bass calendar sets Jan. 1–Apr. 30 as catch‑and‑release, May 1–July 31 and Sept. 1–Dec. 5 as harvest periods, and closes the entire month of August to targeting. (news.maryland.gov) Spawning tributaries will remain closed to targeting from March 1–May 31 and include the Choptank, Chester, Manokin, Nanticoke, Patuxent, Transquaking and Wicomico rivers as well as the Upper Bay spawning area including the Susquehanna Flats. (news.maryland.gov) When harvest resumes May 1, the daily creel will be one striped bass per person with a 19‑inch minimum and 24‑inch maximum, and gear rules for the spring period include prohibitions on stinger hooks, a six‑rod trolling limit and a requirement for barbless hooks while trolling. (news.maryland.gov) DNR says fisheries scientists designed the seasonal shift to avoid increased mortality and specifically moved to a full August closure to reduce recreational “dead discards” tied to hot‑water stress. (news.maryland.gov) New York’s spring stocking program places catchable brook, brown and rainbow trout statewide from mid‑March through early June, and the state designates many streams as “stocked‑extended” to receive trout every other week for roughly two months. (dec.ny.gov) DEC warns that drought conditions at the Catskill Fish Hatchery in late summer and autumn 2025 reduced growth of brown trout yearlings so fish from that facility will average shorter than the 9‑inch target size. (dec.ny.gov) About 10% of stocked trout are larger (12 inches or more), and anglers can consult DEC’s Trout Stream Fishing Map, the DECinfo Locator and the HuntFishNY “Tackle Box” feature for stocking schedules, regulations and access information. (dec.ny.gov)