Ch. 262

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1986 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-734.

(a) A person may not sell, offer, to buy or sell, or possess
any of the following fish:

(1)  Bass, largemouth or smallmouth or black, less

than 12 inches;

(2)  Butterfish less than 6 inches;

(3)  Catfish, except bullheads, less than 10 inches;

(4) Croakers or hardheads less than 10 inches;

(5) Yellow perch less than 8 inches, if caught other
than by hook or line;

(6)  Pike or walleyed pike less than 14 inches;

(7)   [Sea trout or weakfish] WEAKFISH less than [9]' 10

inches;

(8) SPOTTED SEA TROUT LESS THAN 12 INCHES;

[(8)] (9) Striped bass, less than 14 inches in length
or measuring more than 32 inches. However, a person may possess.
one striped bass over 32 inches per day caught with hook and line
in the tidal waters of the State at any time of the year except
from March 1 to April 30 inclusive, which may not be sold or
offered for sale. In any year that the young-of-the-year striped
bass index exceeds 15, the Department may permit by regulation
during the 12 month period beginning April 1 of the following
year, the possession, sale, or offer for sale of striped bass 12
inches in length.

[(9)] (10) Sturgeon weighing less than 25 pounds;

[(10)] [11) Taylor or bluefish less than 8 inches;

and

[(11)] (12) Summer flounder less than 12 inches
except that an amount of undersized fish not greater than 5
percent of a vessel's load by number, as indicated by a sample of
not less than 200 fish, may be retained by licensed commercial

fishermen.

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