Mid Atlantic anglers will be fishing under revised regulations for several species in 2026.
In December 2025, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) approved a 20% increase in coastwide recreational black sea bass harvest for the 2026 – 2027 season.
Overall harvest targets for black sea bass were established by the regional councils. State agencies will be responsible for selecting management measures.
In January, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced changes to the state’s recreational daily catch and possession limit for yellow perch. Effective 12:01 a.m. January 8, 2026, except for reservoirs, lakes, ponds, impoundments, and waters upstream of them, the recreational daily catch and possession limit for yellow perch in Maryland is five fish per person per day.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries notified anglers that a one-month striped bass season will open April 2026 for parts of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers and their tributaries. The season will be open April 1–30 for both recreational and commercial fisheries.
In January, catches of bluefin tuna drew the attention of anglers. An 832.6 pound Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in January by Mike Rogerson of Virginia Beach was certified as the new Virginia State record for the species.
In January, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) announced the release of the state’s final Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan.
The new Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan plan identifies the current risks, challenges, and opportunities that will guide the State’s management actions at Adirondack brook trout ponds for the next 15 years.
NYDEC also announced the release of a five-year (2025–2029) Fisheries Management Plan for Lake George. NYDEC plans to collect data primarily on lake trout, Atlantic salmon, and black bass to inform a subsequent long-term fisheries management plan.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is offering an introductory fisheries science course for stakeholders of New Jersey’s marine fisheries. The 2026 Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) course is open to everyone who is interested in New Jersey’s marine fisheries.
The course’s objective is to educate stakeholders of New Jersey’s commercial and recreational fisheries so that they will better understand and make progress on issues impacting these industries, including the science, management, and responsible stewardship of fishery resources. Stakeholders can visit the IFISSH web page for additional details.
On January 19, 2026, a 72-inch diameter section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line ruptured near Washington DC. The break caused a massive spill of wastewater to spill into the Potomac River.
In late January, a massive winter storm impacted fishing and other outdoor recreation in the Mid Atlantic region. Following the storm, bitter cold air moved into the region, freezing many waterways.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced improvements to the Put-and-Take Trout Stocking Program for the 2026 season. DNR plans to stock Maryland waters with approximately 240,000 adult trout (brown, golden rainbow, and rainbow), representing a 26% increase from 2025.
In February, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued an update on the Hudson River’s Atlantic striped bass Juvenile Abundance Index (JAI) survey. For the third consecutive year, the JAI survey determined poor reproductive success in the river.
In February, The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announced a closure of all Coastal and Joint fishing waters in North Carolina to both commercial and recreational Spotted Seatrout harvest due to widespread cold stun events.
In North Carolina, recreational sheepshead regulations will change beginning March 1. Recreational regulations will include a 14-inch minimum size limit (total length) and five-fish per person per day bag limit.
New North Carolina harvest reporting requirements are in place for 2026. Effective December 1, 2025, NC state law will require any person who recreationally harvests red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout (speckled trout), striped bass and weakfish (gray trout) to report that harvest to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. The new regulation applies to Coastal Fishing Waters, Joint Fishing Waters and Inland Fishing Waters adjacent to Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
On February 13, jet fuel spill estimated at approximately 7700 gallons occurred on the James River. The fuel spill, which originated from a Newport News Shipbuilding Division facility, affected an area from western Newport News to Fort Monroe.
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