Pay lakes in Maryland
Maryland has 5 pay lakes.
Find a pay lake in Maryland by name or town
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Do you need a fishing license at a pay lake in Maryland?
Usually not. Paying customers at a DNR-permitted fee fishing lake do not need a Maryland recreational fishing license (or trout stamp).
Maryland licenses pay lakes through its Fee Fishing Lake Permit (Md. Code, Nat. Res. §4-11A-20), run by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services. The license rule depends on the lake holding that state license, so ask the lake if you are unsure.
"allows paying customers to catch and keep fish (to the limits of the pond or lake rules) without needing to obtain a Maryland Recreational Fishing License"
Source: Maryland DNR - Fee Fishing Lake Permits, checked November 2026. Compare every state on our pay lake license rules page.
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