Species
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis · family Moronidae
Live · updated
Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 50–72°F (ideal 62°F)
- Tide
- incoming
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 5–35 ft
- Active months
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Best striped bass conditions today
Penobscot River (Bangor)
Folsom Lake
Race Point Beach
Playland Beach
Ponquogue Beach
Ditch Plains Beach
Orient Beach State Park
Table Rock Lake
Montauk Point
Lake Havasu
Lake Mead (Hemenway Harbor)
California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)
North Hampton State Beach
Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Sherwood Island State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
Lake of the Ozarks
Truman Lake
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
Lake Eufaula
Bull Shoals Lake
Wilson Lake
Scarborough State Beach
Narragansett Bay (Newport)
Block Island
Lake Powell (Bullfrog)
Calf Pasture Beach
North East Community Park
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Nauset Beach
Sandy Neck Beach Park
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)
Cape Cod Canal
Nantucket
Indian River Inlet
Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing
Delaware Seashore State Park
Fenwick Island State Park
Kitts Hummock Beach
Fortescue
Beaver Lake
Cape May
Lake Pleasant
Choptank River — Cambridge
Point Pleasant Beach
Island Beach State Park
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Brigantine
Robert Moses State Park
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill
Lake Anna State Park
Lake Texoma
Lake Travis
Lake Conroe
Lake Lanier
West Point Lake
Tims Ford Lake
Jordan Lake
Falls Lake
Lake Amistad
Lake Wylie
Lake Gaston
Sandy Point State Park
Conowingo Dam Tailrace
Susquehanna Flats
Havre de Grace Fishing Pier
Rocky Point Park — Essex
North Point State Park
Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier
Romancoke Pier
Matapeake Pier
Mariner Point Park
Betterton Beach
Fort Smallwood Park
Mayo Beach Park
Beverly Triton Nature Park
Downs Park
Rock Hall Beach
Martinak State Park
Flying Point Park
Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)
Miami Beach Park
Cox's Point Park
Rolph's Wharf
Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA)
Belmar
Manasquan
Smith Point County Park
Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty
Assateague State Park
Public Landing Beach
Assawoman State Wildlife Area
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
Lake Ouachita
Claytor Lake
Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)
Assateague Island — MD Surf
Assateague Island National Seashore
Cape Henlopen State Park
Slaughter Beach
Broadkill Beach
Bowers Beach
South Bowers Beach
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
Port Mahon
Augustine Beach
Lake Cumberland
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area
Roaring Point Waterfront Park
Tyaskin Wharf
Cove Road Beach
Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access
Chickamauga Lake
Smith Mountain Lake
Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)
Lake Hartwell
Elms Beach Park
Snow Hill Farm Park
Jones Beach State Park
Lake Norman
Ventnor City
Lewes Canal
Lake Moultrie
Lake Murray
Lake Marion
Solomons Island Fishing Pier
Flag Ponds Nature Park
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
Myrtle Point Park
Greenwell State Park
Friendship Farm Park
Chapel Point State Park
Wrightsville Beach
Carolina Beach
Kure Beach
Surf City Beach
North Topsail Beach
Holden Beach
Oak Island Beach
Atlantic Beach (NC)
Emerald Isle Beach
Indian Beach
Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier
Mason Neck State Park
Occoquan Regional Park
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Chapman State Park
Breezy Point Beach
Kings Landing Park
Nags Head Beach
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Ocracoke Beach
Cape Lookout National Seashore
North Beach (Calvert)
Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach
Belle Isle State Park
Smith Point Beach
J. Percy Priest Lake
Ocean View Beach
Hilton Pier Park
Anderson Park
Point Lookout State Park
Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)
Sandbridge Beach
False Cape State Park
Leesylvania State Park
Kiptopeke State Park
Cape Charles Town Pier
First Landing State Park
Buckroe Beach
No locations match that filter.
What anglers are reporting about striped bass
From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 46 days old — a newer report may be available.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
The weekend rain brought about some increased flows at the Conowingo Dam this week and anglers are fishing at the dam pool for blue and flathead catfish with good results. The blue catfish action mixed with channel catfish continues down the Susquehanna and out into the upper Bay. All the region’s tidal rivers also hold populations of blue and channel catfish. Overcast conditions often make for excellent fishing for striped bass, which anglers are reporting this week. Casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs near structure and jigging along channel edges is a very popular way to fish and obtain good results.
Species mentioned: blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, striped bass
Middle Bay
Fishing for striped bass at the Bay Bridge piers has been good this past week and should continue. Boats have been anchoring up-current of the bridge piers on the east side and drifting live spot and assorted baits back to the pier bases. Other anglers are positioning close to the piers and casting soft plastic jigs to the pier bases with good success. Striped bass fishing is very good for light tackle anglers casting and jigging in many traditional locations in the middle Bay. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island, Thomas Point, and the mouth of the Choptank River are just a few locations where casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs is working well.
Species mentioned: spot, striped bass
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surf anglers are enjoying good fishing off the beaches of Ocean City and Assateague Island. Anglers fishing with large cut baits are catching large striped bass, red drum and bluefish. Most of the striped bass measure over the maximum slot size of 31 inches, but provide exciting catch-and-release action, as do the large red drum. Black drum are being caught on sand fleas and clams. At the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area, anglers are catching striped bass by casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails . A fair number of the striped bass being caught are falling within the 28-31 inch slot.
Species mentioned: black drum, bluefish, red drum, striped bass
Excerpts are anecdotal and reflect a single week's observations from DNR biologists and reporting anglers — not predictions. Use as one signal among many; verify against current conditions before planning a trip.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Maryland (tidal)
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
tidal bay
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Creel
- 1
Chesapeake Bay recreational regulations (2026). January 1–April 30 and December 6–31 are catch-and-release only (no harvest) — the April C&R period was restored in 2026 for the first time since 2019. August 1–31 is closed to all targeting to protect fish from thermal stress. Spawning rivers (Choptank, Chester, Manokin, Nanticoke, Patuxent, Transquaking, Wicomico) and the Upper Bay spawning area / Susquehanna Flats are closed to targeting March 1–May 31. Circle hooks required when fishing with bait. Potomac River main stem is managed separately by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Atlantic coast regulations (28–31 in slot, year-round) differ.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Delaware (tidal)
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
tidal delaware
- Min size
- 20"
- Max size
- 24"
- Creel
- 1
Delaware Bay, Delaware River, and their tributaries. Unique summer slot (20–24 in, 1/day) applies only July 1–August 31. Outside that window, the same 28–31 in slot as coastal Atlantic waters applies. Catch-and-release only on spawning grounds April 1–May 31. DE-tidal-specific summer regulation — this is the slot commonly called the "Delaware Bay summer slot."
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
Delaware Atlantic Ocean coast and all DE tidal waters OTHER than Delaware Bay/River/tributaries during the Jul 1–Aug 31 summer slot. 28–31 in slot (ASMFC coastwide), 1 fish/day. April 1–May 31 is catch-and-release only on designated spawning grounds.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Virginia (tidal — VMRC)
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
tidal bay
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Creel
- 1
Virginia Chesapeake Bay and tributaries (excluding the Potomac main stem, which is managed by PRFC). 19–24 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Two open windows: May 16–June 15 (4VAC20-252-80) and October 4–December 31 (4VAC20-252-90). All other dates are closed to striped bass harvest in tidal Bay waters. Virginia's spring opener is two weeks earlier than MD (May 16 vs. May 1 opener for MD). Potomac River tributaries follow the PRFC schedule — see PRFC block.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
Virginia Atlantic Ocean (coastal area). 28–31 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open January 1–March 31 and May 16–December 31. Closed April 1–May 15 for the spawning run. 4VAC20-252-110. Matches the ASMFC coastwide slot. Distinct from the Bay slot (19–24 in) — the two are not interchangeable; the coastal reg applies only seaward of the COLREGS demarcation line.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Potomac main stem (PRFC)
Stale: last verified 81 days ago.
tidal potomac
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Creel
- 1
Potomac River main stem, managed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. 19–24 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open May 16–July 6 and August 21–December 31 (summer C&R closure July 7–August 20 to protect fish from thermal stress, mirrors VA's Potomac tributaries rule in 4VAC20-252-100). January 1–May 15 is catch-and-release only. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with cut or whole natural bait. Live eels are prohibited year-round. The PRFC regulation applies to the main stem only — tributaries follow MD or VA state regs depending on bank.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
NC
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
Atlantic Ocean only — 28–31" slot, 1 fish/day, year-round. Albemarle Sound and the Central Southern Management Area are currently closed to striped bass harvest.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 20"
- Creel
- 4
20" minimum, 4/day (striped bass & hybrids in aggregate; reservoir exceptions apply).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NJ
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 38"
- Creel
- 1
28–38" slot, 1 fish/day. Circle hooks are required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
tidal delaware
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 38"
- Creel
- 1
28–38" slot, 1 fish/day. Circle hooks are required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NY
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
MA
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
RI
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
CT
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NH
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TX
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 18"
- Creel
- 5
18" minimum, 5/day (striped & hybrid striped bass in combination; landlocked fisheries such as Lake Texoma).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
CA
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 18"
- Creel
- 2
18" minimum, 2/day (Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and reservoirs).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AZ
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No limit on Lakes Mead/Mohave/Havasu and the Colorado River.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TN
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 15"
- Creel
- 2
15" minimum, 2/day on most reservoirs; a thermal-refuge closure runs Jul 1–Sep 15 in designated zones.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
SC
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 26"
- Creel
- 3
Santee Cooper: 26" minimum, 3/day; harvest Oct 1–Jun 15, catch-and-release in the summer closure.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
MO
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 30
No length limit, 30/day (white, striped & hybrid bass combined).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
OK
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 5
5/day (striped & hybrid combined), only two over 20".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AR
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 20"
- Creel
- 3
20" minimum, 3/day (striped & hybrid combined).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NTUT
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Lake Powell: no limit on striped bass — anglers are encouraged to harvest them.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNV
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Lake Mead/Mohave (2026): no size or bag limit on striped bass — Nevada removed the old 20-fish/20" rule.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
ME
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
atlantic
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Creel
- 1
Maine (DMR): 1 striped bass/day, 28–31" slot, open July 1–November 30 (closed Dec 1–June 30). Circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTKS
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 2
Kansas: 2 striped bass/day at Wilson Lake; wipers carry a 21" minimum, 2/day. Confirm the water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
KY
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 22"
- Creel
- 2
Lake Cumberland: 22" minimum, 2 striped bass/day — a nationally significant landlocked striper fishery.
Source · verified 2026-06-03