March 25, 2025
Dear Maryland Fishing Organization,
Regulations went into effect on March 17 that modified hook rules to allow anglers to use either circle hooks or J hooks under certain circumstances in tidal waters.
First, anglers may now use either a circle hook or a J hook when using the following live baitfish on a hook to catch other fish, known as “live-lining:: Mummichog, striped killifish, banded killifish, spottail shiner, golden shiner, rough silverside, silverside, anchovy, silvery minnow, mole crab, grass shrimp.
Second, the new regulation allows anglers to use a J hook or circle hook while live-lining when using a finfish, except spot and white perch, which measures 4 inches or less in length. The department did not change rules for the use of treble hooks while live-lining.
The department has required circle hooks while live-lining since 2019. The original intent of this requirement was to protect striped bass by minimizing release mortality but it has also affected anglers fishing for other species.
The department heard concerns from anglers regarding the ability to target certain species in traditional manners, such as using minnows to target perch in the spring. As a result, the modifications to existing circle hook regulations were scoped, proposed and ultimately took effect this month. The modifications should prove helpful to anglers targeting species other than striped bass with minnows (and other species listed above) that are sold at many tackle shops.. For example, this will allow anglers to fish live minnows on shad darts (with J-hooks) which is a traditional fishing technique for yellow perch.
Thank you for assisting the department with informing the public on this timely topic. If you have or if you receive questions surrounding this modification please contact Erik Zlokovitz at erik.zlokovitz@maryland.gov or 410-260-8324.
Thank you,
Erik Zlokovitz
