MD

Maryland Fish Stocking

Reports, schedules, species, and official links from Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Official data snapshot Recent stocking records Source reviewed July 19, 2026

Quick answer

Official report: Maryland Department of Natural Resources's Maryland trout stocking updates is the source of record for Maryland stocking information.

Commonly documented species: Rainbow Trout, Golden Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Tiger Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, American Shad, and Hickory Shad.

Typical timing: Spring is the busiest period, followed by selected fall work. Completed dates are posted after stocking, while monthly plans remain subject to water and access changes.

What anglers should know

Maryland posts completed trout stockings in a searchable table and updates the main page when stream work, hatchery construction, or low water changes the allocation. The table is the best source for recent trout; broader fisheries releases require program-specific reports.

Western Maryland streams and ponds receive the deepest trout program, but stocked reaches extend through central counties and into suburban park waters. Regulation categories vary from put-and-take to delayed harvest and catch-and-return, sometimes on the same river system.

Check the official Maryland report

Maryland trout stocking updates is the source of record. Agency schedules can change for weather, water conditions, hatchery operations, or access, so confirm there before driving.

Open Maryland trout stocking updates

Stocking report snapshot

Showing 25 of 200 normalized public records. Records with published quantities total 161,680 fish.

Retrieved July 19, 2026
Recent or scheduled fish stocking records for Maryland
Date Water Species Quantity
May 18, 2026 North Branch Potomac River, Delayed Harvest Garrett Rainbow Delayed Harvest Group 2 430
May 11, 2026 Bear Creek Garrett Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 1,520
May 11, 2026 Bear Creek Garrett Rainbow Put and Take 1,520
May 11, 2026 Friends Creek Frederick Rainbow/Golden/Brown Put and Take 900
May 11, 2026 Owens Creek Frederick Rainbow/Golden/Brown Catch and Return,Put and Take 900
May 8, 2026 Beaver Creek Washington Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 500
May 8, 2026 Georges Creek Allegany Rainbow Standard State Regulation - 2 fish/day 320
May 8, 2026 North Branch Potomac River, Barnum Garrett Rainbow Put and Take 910
May 8, 2026 North Branch Potomac River, Westernport Garrett Rainbow Put and Take 450
May 7, 2026 Middle Creek Frederick Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 900
May 7, 2026 Patapsco River, Avalon Area Baltimore Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 1,000
May 7, 2026 Patapsco River, Daniels Area Baltimore Rainbow/Golden Standard State Regulation - 2 fish/day 1,000
May 7, 2026 South Branch Patapsco River, Marriottsville/Henryton Carroll Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 400
May 7, 2026 South Branch Patapsco River, River Rd. Carroll Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 400
May 6, 2026 Antietam Creek (Devil's Backbone) Washington Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 400
May 6, 2026 Big Elk Creek Cecil Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 600
May 6, 2026 Deer Creek Harford Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 1,000
May 6, 2026 North Branch Potomac River, Gorman Garrett Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 645
May 6, 2026 North Branch Potomac River, Kitzmiller Garrett Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 645
May 6, 2026 Youghiogheny River, Oakland Garrett Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 170
May 5, 2026 Evitts Creek Allegany Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 340
May 5, 2026 Jennings Run Allegany Rainbow/Golden Put and Take 190
May 5, 2026 Savage River Garrett Rainbow Put and Take 780
May 4, 2026 Casselman River Garrett Rainbow Delayed Harvest Group 2 700
May 4, 2026 Fifteen Mile Creek Watershed Allegany Rainbow Put and Take 1,030

Maryland DNR recent-stockings JSON normalized; species labels are retained as the agency publishes them. This is a dated research snapshot. The official agency page above controls if a row changes.

When stocking happens in Maryland

Spring is the busiest period, followed by selected fall work. Completed dates are posted after stocking, while monthly plans remain subject to water and access changes.

Reading tip

Read the regulation column with the date and count; a fresh stocking does not override delayed-harvest, catch-and-return, youth, or closure rules.

Fish stocked in Maryland

The live angler table covers rainbow, golden rainbow, and brown trout. Maryland DNR documents the additional listed species in separate tidal, reservoir, river, or restoration stocking programs.

  • Rainbow Trout
  • Golden Rainbow Trout
  • Brown Trout
  • Striped Bass
  • Hybrid Striped Bass
  • Walleye
  • Muskellunge
  • Tiger Muskie
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • American Shad
  • Hickory Shad

Where to start looking

These are useful geographic starting points, not a promise that every water is stocked this season.

  • Garrett and Allegany counties
  • Patapsco watershed
  • central Maryland park waters
  • Potomac tributaries
  • Eastern Shore restoration waters

Maryland stocking questions

Where can I find the latest Maryland fish stocking report?

Use the Maryland trout stocking updates published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This page links directly to that official source and labels our own records as a dated snapshot, not a live feed.

What fish are stocked in Maryland?

Maryland stocking sources and program materials identify Rainbow Trout, Golden Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Tiger Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, American Shad, and Hickory Shad. The live angler table covers rainbow, golden rainbow, and brown trout. Maryland DNR documents the additional listed species in separate tidal, reservoir, river, or restoration stocking programs.

When does Maryland stock fish?

Spring is the busiest period, followed by selected fall work. Completed dates are posted after stocking, while monthly plans remain subject to water and access changes.