In recent years, recreational striped bass regulations have grown more complex to protect the species from overfishing following years of poor recruitment in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware and Hudson rivers. While there is a coast-wide slot limit—issued by the ASMFC—that requires any retained striped bass to measure between 28 and 31 inches in Atlantic marine waters, state fisheries agencies are in charge of setting their own regulations in select bays and tidal rivers. To make this information more digestible to recreational striper anglers, we compiled the seasons, bag limits, slot sizes, and special regulations for striped bass in 2025 from Maryland to Maine.

Keep in mind that these regulations are subject to change. Always double-check with your state’s regulatory agency.

January 1 – February 28: All Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and the Potomac River are open to catch and release fishing only.

March 1 – March 31: Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line between Abbey Point and Worton Point to the Virginia line including Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds.

April 1 – May 15: All areas closed to striped bass fishing.

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.

June 1 – July 15: All areas open.

July 16 – July 31: All areas closed to striped bass fishing.

August 1 – December 10: All areas open.

December 11 – December 31: All areas are open to catch and release fishing only.

January 1 – December 31: No area restrictions in state waters.

» View regulations for Susquehanna Flats, Lower Susquehanna River and Northeast River

» Explore Maryland DNR Chesapeake Bay Fishing Regulations

» Explore Maryland DNR Atlantic Fishing Regulations

January 1 – March 31: Open Season

April 1 – May 31: Catch and release only on spawning grounds.

June 1 – June 31: Open Season

July 1 – August 31: Open Season

September 1 – December 31: Open Season

» Explore Delaware DFW Saltwater/Tidal Fishing Regulations

June 1 – December 31: Open Season

• 1 fish per person per day. Slot size returns to 28–less than 31 inches.

From Calhoun Street Bridge upstream

NOTE: When fishing with bait for any species of fish in the tidal Delaware Estuary, the use of a non-offset (inline) circle hook is required. A non-offset (inline) circle hook is considered a fishing device with no more than one point or barb.

» Explore PA Fish & Boat Commission Regulations for Delaware River and Estuary

Regulations apply to Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

January 1 – February 28: Closed

March 1 – December 31: Open Season

March 1 – March 31 AND June 1 – December 31: Open Season

March 1 – December 31: Open Season

NOTE: No person may take, attempt to take, or have in possession any striped bass from closed waters.

Anglers participating in the Striped Bass Bonus Program may harvest one striped bass per permit at 24″ to less than 28″ in length from May 15 to December 31. It is illegal to take, attempt to take, catch or kill any striped bass from or in any marine waters of this state, by means of a net of any description, or by any methods other than angling with a hook and line or by spear fishing. Sale of striped bass in New Jersey is prohibited.

It is illegal to gaff or attempt to gaff, any striped bass at any time. Non-offset circle hooks are required when fishing with bait. See Striped Bass Bonus Program for more information.

» Explore NJ Fish & Wildlife Saltwater Fishing Regulations

April 1 – Nov 30: Open Season

December 1 – March 31: Closed

Non-offset (inline) circle hooks must be used when recreationally fishing for striped bass using natural bait. Exemption: Circle hooks are not required when fishing with an artificial lure, whether or not they are tipped with bait. (i.e. tube and worm rig)

April 15 – December 15: Open Season

December 16 – April 14: Closed

Non-offset (inline) circle hooks must be used when recreationally fishing for striped bass using bait defined as any live or dead, whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. Exemption: Circle hooks are not required when fishing with an artificial lure, whether or not they are tipped with bait. (i.e. tube and worm rig)

NOTE: NYSDEC prohibits the use or attempted use of gaffs when recreationally fishing for Atlantic striped bass in all state waters. A “gaff” means any implement or device used, after a fish has been caught by other means, to puncture, hook, or penetrate the fish during the landing, retrieval or release of the fish. “Gaff” also means the act of using a gaff.

» Explore NYSDEC Saltwater Fishing Regulations

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

NOTE: An inline circle hook is required when fishing with natural bait (does not apply to artificial lures).

» Explore CT DEEP Saltwater Fishing Regulations

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

NOTE: An inline circle hook is required when fishing with natural bait (does not apply to artificial lures).

» Explore Rhode Island DEM Marine Fisheries Regulations

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

NOTE: Striped bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail. The discard of dead legal sized striped bass is unlawful.

The practice of high-grading, whereby legal sized striped bass are released in favor of larger fish caught subsequently is unlawful. Accordingly, it is also unlawful to keep a striped bass alive in water by attaching a line or chain to the fish (stringer), or placing it in a live well or holding car.

Striped bass retained by recreational shore or private vessel anglers are to be kept whole—except for evisceration, bleeding, or descaling—while on the waters of this state or any adjacent parcel of land, structure, portion of roadway, or parking lot. An exception is granted for striped bass being prepared for immediate consumption, such as on the private vessel or at the shore-side campground from which a fish was caught.

For-hire operators or crew may fillet striped bass for their patrons at any time during the for-hire trip prior to the patrons departing the vessel, provided: (1) the racks are retained in a manner that does not interfere with species identification or total length measurement until such time as the vessel has docked and all customers from that trip have departed the vessel and the racks may subsequently be disposed of in any legal manner; (2) at least two square inches of skin is left intact and no more than two fillets, representing the equivalent of one fish, may be possessed by each customer.

All recreational anglers are required to use inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits, except when fishing with a natural bait attached to an artificial lure (e.g., tube and worm). The use non-lethal devices to remove striped bass from the water is required; gaffing striped bass is prohibited.

» Explore Massachusetts DMF Saltwater Fishing Regulations

January 1 – December 31: Open Season

NOTE: Gaffing and culling are prohibited; No sale allowed, regardless of origin.

Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required if angling with bait.

Head and tail must be intact while on or leaving the waters or shores of the state except may possess up to 2 fillets with skin intact if also possess fish rack ≥ 28″ and less than 31″ total length with head/tail intact that fillets came from.

» Explore NH Fish & Game Saltwater Fishing Regulations

January 1 – December 31: Open Season (except the Kennebec watershed)

NOTE: Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped bass.

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