GENERAL INFORMATION
Additional information can be found at dnr.maryland.gov or by contacting any of the DNR Service Centers listed below.
Due to MD license changes, a federal registration is no longer required in addition to the MD fishing license.
ANY PERSON 15 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER DOES NOT NEED A FISHING LICENSE OR REGISTRATION
Resident and Non-Resident Non-Tidal (annual) License allows an
individual to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland for one year from the
date of purchase.
7-day Non-Tidal License allows residents and non-residents to fish in the
fresh waters of Maryland for 7 consecutive fishing days.
3-day Non-Tidal License allows non-residents to fish in the fresh waters
of Maryland for 3 consecutive fishing days.
Variable* -- Equal to the fee charged a MD resident for a similar license by
non-resident’s home state.
Resident and Non-Resident Bay & Coastal Sport (annual) License
allows an individual to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and
the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and
tributaries for one year from the date of purchase.
7-day Bay & Coastal Sport License allows residents and non-residents
to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the
Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries for 7
consecutive fishing days.
Senior Consolidated Fishing License allows residents who are 65 years
of age or older to fish in the fresh waters of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries, and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the
Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries for one year from the date of purchase
at a reduced rate.
Bay & Coastal Fishing Boat Decal allows everyone on board a vessel
used for pleasure to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and
the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and
tributaries in lieu of individual licenses. However, these individuals must
register with the Department (see below). The license document issued
with the boat decal serves as a complimentary Bay & Coastal Sport
fishing license and recreational crabbing license for the Applicant. Decal
and license are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Bay & Coastal Sport Charter Boat License available to commercial
licensed Fishing Guides only. Valid 9/1 through 8/31.
Commercial Fishing Pier License provides for a pier to have
unlicensed and unregistered individuals fish from the pier. The
licensee must submit contact information on all pier anglers as
prescribed by the Department.
CRABBING SEASON
April 1 to December 15
CRABBING LICENSES
A recreational crabber may crab without a license 24-hours-a-day,
7-days-a-week from docks, piers, bridges, boats and shorelines using
only dip nets and any number of handlines catching up to 2 dozen
male hard crabs and 1 dozen soft crabs and male peelers or a
combination of male peeler and soft crab. A recreational license is
not required in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays and their tributaries.
Recreational Crabbing License is required of persons catching
crabs for recreational purposes in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay
and its tidal tributaries using any of the following gear: (a) trotline,
(b) collapsible traps, (c) net rings, (d) seines or (e) eel pots for
catching the individual’s own bait. Catch limits: more than 2 dozen
with a limit of 1 bushel, more than 1 dozen with a limit of 2 dozen soft
crabs or male peelers. License valid for one year from date of
purchase.
Recreational Crabbing Boat License allows the purchaser, or if not
onboard, any one individual on board the vessel to catch crabs for
recreational purposes using the following gear: (a) trotline, (b) collapsible
traps, (c) net rings and catch up to 1 bushel of male hard crabs (or 2
bushels if another license is on board) and 2 dozen soft or male peeler
crabs or a combination of male peeler and soft crab. You may not use the
gear above or have more than 4 dozen male hard crabs and 1 dozen soft
or male peeler crabs on board the vessel unless either the boat is licensed
or one of th
e individuals
on board has an individual license. Valid for one
year from date of purchase.
COMPLIMENTARY LICENSES
A complimentary license is available to Maryland residents who are
100% service connected disabled veterans or former prisoners of war.
The license incorporates both the non-tidal angler’s license, including
the trout stamp and the Bay & Coastal sport fishing license. Applicant
must furnish a letter of disability or a letter of certification from the
Veterans Administration with their initial application.
Complimentary tidal and non-tidal licenses are also available to residents
and non-residents who are blind.
REPLACEMENT DECAL
Only 1 Bay & Coastal Fishing Boat decal can be replaced per season.
Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article, Section 4-205(l)(1) mandates the collection of Social Security numbers from all
recreational fishing license applicants. Under the Department's Privacy Policy, your Social Security number cannot be displayed on any
documents accessible to the general public and can only be used by the Department in carrying out its governmental functions. It cannot
be released to anyone without your express permission. Your phone number is required in order to comply with the National Registry and
will only be shared with the
National Mari
ne Fisheries Service in their efforts to manage marine fish resources.
YOUR APPLICATION CAN BE PROCESSED AT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
DNR LICENSING & REGISTRATION SERVICE CENTERS
ANNAPOLIS SERVICE CENTER
160 Harry S Truman Pkwy
PO Box 1869
Annapolis, MD 21404
410-260-3220
1-866-344-8889 (Toll free in MD)
CENTREVILLE SERVICE CENTER
120 Broadway Ave, Suite 5
Centreville, MD 21617
410-819-4100
1-866-439-1708 (Toll Free in MD)
SALISBURY SERVICE CENTER
251 Tilghman Rd Rm #2
Salisbury, MD 21804
410-713-3840
1-866-812-1678 (Toll Free in MD)
ESSEX SERVICE CENTER
1338 Eastern Blvd. A
Essex, MD 21221
667-401-0760
1-866-535-8319 (Toll Free in MD)
(Walk-In Only: M/W/F)
Located inside MVA
FREDERICK SERVICE CENTER
1601-A Bowmans Farm Rd
Frederick, MD 21701
240-679-0906
1-866-679-0906 (Toll Free in MD)
HOURS
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Monday – Friday
(except State holidays)
BEL AIR SERVICE CENTER 501
W MacPhail Rd #2
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-836-4550
1-866-623-3187 (Toll Free in MD)
SOLOMONS SERVICE CENTER
14175 Solmons Island Rd., S
P. O. Box 1309
Solomons
, MD 20688
410-535-3382
1-866-688-3823 (Toll Free in MD)
DNR F-3 (rev 10/19web) www.dnr.maryland.gov
FOR LICENSES ONLINE: compass.dnr.maryland.gov/dnrcompassportal
CUMBERLAND SERVICE CENTER
13300 Winchester Road, SW
Cumberland, MD 21502
301-777-2134
(Walk-In Only: Tues/Thurs)
Credit Card only
