Many of those who enjoy being in the outdoors of Northumberland County and the rest of the Northern Neck are into their first full week of the 2026 Spring Gobbler Season. Paying attention to that popular activity can keep you busy, but there are other outdoor options on the near horizon. Among these are the nearby recreational striped bass seasons, one of which opens on May 1 for catch-and-keep possession of this popular species of fish. The 2026 Maryland recreational striped bass season officially opens in Chesapeake Bay mainstem waters on May 1. During the month of April, the mainstem waters of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay that border Virginia waters are open for catch-and-release fishing. Anglers who want to get their lines wet and hone their skills for the upcoming striper harvest season should review both the regulations and guidance to prevent catch-and-release mortality, as provided by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Maryland Striped Bass Seasons Maryland’s DNR Fisheries Service has published the following recreational striped bass season designations for Chesapeake Bay as follows:

• January 1–April 30: Catch-and-release fishing

• May 1–July 31: Harvest

• August 1–31: Closed to catching and targeting striped bass

• September 1–December 5: Harvest

• December 6–31: Catch-and-release fishing Maryland Recreational Harvest Season May 1 is the opening day for the 2026 recreational striped bass season. Through May 15, stinger hooks are prohibited, and barbless hooks are required while trolling. Also, through May 15, trolling is limited to six rods. During the recreational harvest season, anglers may keep one striped bass per person, per day. The minimum length is 19 inches, and the maximum length for striped bass is 24 inches. Information on Maryland’s 2026 striped bass seasons is at https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/ category/fisheries/. Another website provided by the Maryland DNR shows the striped bass seasons in the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay at https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/ sb_reg_maps.aspx.

Summer Season Closure Rationale Maryland’s DNR has again included a summer season closure for recreational striped bass in both the mainstem of Chesapeake Bay and its state tidal tributaries. A recent DNR press release included the following rationale for the closure, which takes place from August 1 through the 31st: “The August closure is intended to better protect resident striped bass during a vulnerable period. Hot air and water temperatures in late summer make young resident fish in the population more vulnerable to dying, even when they are caught and released. Recreational dead discards, when a fish dies after being caught and returned to the water, accounted for 21% of total fishing-related striped bass deaths in the Bay in the most recent stock assessment data published in 2022. The August closure is aimed at giving younger resident fish the chance to grow and eventually leave the Chesapeake Bay to join the spawning stock.”

Potomac River Striper Seasons The 2026 Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) recreational striped bass season includes catch-and-release fishing that continues through May 15. During this time, there is no harvest or possession of striped bass allowed, no live eel is permitted, and no more than two hooks or sets of hooks per rod, reel, or line are permitted. The PRFC summer/fall season begins on May 16 and continues through July 6. The striped bass fishery is closed for catch-and-release fishing and possession from July 7 through August 20. The PRFC recreational striped bass season reopens from August 21 through December 31, 2026. During the summer/fall season, the minimum size for striped bass in PRFC waters is 19 inches, and the maximum size is 24 inches, with a possession limit of one fish per person per day. During the summer/fall season, no more than two hooks or sets of hooks per rod or line are permitted. For more information, visit the PRFC website at https://prfc.us/ pdfs/BLUE-SHEET.pdf.

2026 Virginia Striper Seasons The 2026 Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) recreational striped bass season for Chesapeake Bay begins on May 16 and continues through June 15, with a minimum size of 19 inches and a maximum size of 24 inches. The daily possession limit is one fish per person. The recreational striped bass season then closes until October 4, when it reopens through December 31. Information about recreational fishing seasons in Virginia is available at the VMRC websites https:// www.mrc.virginia.gov/ and https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/ public/reports/swrecfishingrules.php.