update on DNR's 3-rod limit

[J.A. Veil]

During January, the Maryland DNR quietly adopted a regulation that limited anglers (both tidal and non-tidal) to have no more than three rods in use at any time. This generated a great deal of uproar among recreational anglers. As a result, DNR announced it would undertake an emergency rulemaking to repeal the new regulation.

I had not heard anything about this recently. Today I saw a post on another fishing board that gave an update. The writer stated:

"Spoke to DNR today (3/13/14) and the three rod limit is still in affect. One committee member still needs to sign off on the legislation to "repeal". DNR is ready to send out confirmation of the repeal as soon as they get his approval.

As of today, the 3 rod rule lives"

Most Snaggedline members do not troll with more than 3 rods at a time (I like to troll 4 myself), but if you do troll more than three rods or otherwise have three rods in use at the same time, this is a violation of current DNR policy.

[Yak Fish]

Someone should tell the guys I've been seeing trolling for rockfish. They've got 12 rods coming off the back of their boat. Good grief they should just dredge with a net.
DNR has been out but they hadn't said anything as far as I could see so perhaps they aren't enforcing it yet.

[Memory Maker]

12 .......... Many are using double that

[J.A. Veil]

The new rule is 3 rods per person -- not 3 for the boat. For a kayak those are synonymous, but for many larger boats you can have quite a few anglers on board, and therefore many rods.

I believe that the preseason catch and release rules adopted a few years ago limit each boat to 6 rods during that period of the year. The rest of the year, there are no limits for the number of rods used when trolling.

[Capt C-Hawk]

Also remember that the Potomac is governed by the PRFC and they don't have a 3 rod rule. Could be a crowded place to fish in a month.

[Runnin]

Those Crappie guys with the spider rigs are poopin' bricks over this.

[buzz]

Also remember that the Potomac is governed by the PRFC and they don't have a 3 rod rule. Could be a crowded place to fish in a month.

They all work together. PRFC regs are in addition to DNR regs unless they state otherwise.

The Potomac River Fisheries Commission coordinates regulations with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, (DGIF) and with the other Atlantic coastal states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

So unless DNR repeals it, I'm pretty sure the 3 rod rule applies to the Potomac also.

[dson05]

The funny thing is..... I asked DNR about just cane poles and whether that applied to the rule or counted as a ROD. I was asking about freshwater cane pole (no reel) bobber fishing and he responded with saying that they count as rods and... what he added confused me cause he said that in tidal waters there are no limits. Here is his email.

If you are fishing in nontidal waters you are limited to three fishing rods or poles; for tidal there is no limit to the number of fishing rods you can use.

Keith Lockwood
Recreational Fisheries Outreach
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
904 South Morris St.
Oxford, MD 21654
410-226-0078, ext 107

[J.A. Veil]

Until this past January that statement was correct. The new regulations that were adopted quietly extended the 3-rod per person provision to tidal waters too. DNR is attempting to pull back the January change, but the administrative process has not yet run its course.

The funny thing is..... I asked DNR about just cane poles and whether that applied to the rule or counted as a ROD. I was asking about freshwater cane pole (no reel) bobber fishing and he responded with saying that they count as rods and... what he added confused me cause he said that in tidal waters there are no limits. Here is his email.

If you are fishing in nontidal waters you are limited to three fishing rods or poles; for tidal there is no limit to the number of fishing rods you can use.

Keith Lockwood
Recreational Fisheries Outreach
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
904 South Morris St.
Oxford, MD 21654
410-226-0078, ext 107

[J.A. Veil]

I received the following note from DNR today:

"DNR's request to suspend the tidal water three-rod per angler limit has been approved by the Maryland General Assembly's Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee, effective March 20, 2014 and remaining in effect for 180 days.

DNR will use this time to include the tidal water three-rod limit per angler in a general review of all recreational gear regulations. The discussions will include the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission, tackle shops, sport fishermen and women, and other stakeholders. Based on this review process and discussions, DNR will submit a permanent regulation later this year.

Comments should be directed to the Fisheries Public Comment address - fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us."

Those of us who want to troll more than 3 rods can do so legally again.

[loupa5]

Awesome!! Thanks for the update John.

[Capt C-Hawk]

They all work together. PRFC regs are in addition to DNR regs unless they state otherwise.

So unless DNR repeals it, I'm pretty sure the 3 rod rule applies to the Potomac also.

PRFC only agrees wih MD nd VA when it suits them. They have been more in line lately, but according to two of the commissioners they didn't go with the 3 rod rule. The main gripe MD and VA had was the price of their fishing license. The PRFC boat sticker was $30.00 less than MD costing OMalley a lot of money. Aside from that their striper seasons and sizes have agreed, but little else.