Novice Angler
Maybe it’s your first time fishing, or maybe you’re just looking for a little help while in Maryland, but no matter what, you’ll find all you need right here. Get a license. Find a retail fishing charter. Get hooked up with a guide. We’ll point you in the right direction, but it’s up to you to reel it in.
Maryland is a great place to perfect your angling skills as a novice. We offer a ton of large and smallmouth bass populations (a great fish for first-timers), as well as charter boat opportunities that bring you out with an experienced captain chasing striped bass. Here in Maryland, you’ll learn how to set a hook in no time.
Head out to western Maryland and experience the fishing opportunities of Deep Creek Lake. Or, take to the river and learn to fly fish for our state’s world-class brook trout. Find a guide to show you around the best fishing spots, or browse our regions to find one for yourself.
Plan Your Trip
We’re here to help make your fishing trip to Maryland as easy and as successful as possible. Get the necessary licenses for your trip by downloading the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s smartphone app. It’s simple, quick, and allows for easy registration of your harvests.
Find a charter or guide. Teaming up with a local, knowledgeable guide is always useful. Maryland’s experienced guides can help increase your chances of reeling in a story worth bragging about back home. A guide also has the appropriate licenses to take you out, so you don’t have to worry about having the necessary paperwork.
Find the perfect location for your trip. We’ve mapped out the whole state and scouted for each county’s species to make sure you find what you’re looking for.
You’ll need a place to stay when you come to Maryland. Find the perfect hotel, cabin, or campground to complete your Maryland experience.