General Information Maryland, The Old Line State, has 12,327 square miles of rolling hills, Appalachian ridges and valleys, and coastal tidewater. This small eastern state is located on the Chesapeake Bay, America's largest inland estuary. Capital City: Annapolis Largest City: Baltimore National Parks and Forests: Assateague Island National Seashore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Sport Fishing Maryland is rich with inland and coastal waterways. Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, Patuxent River, and Susquehanna River are the major watersheds within the state. American shad, yellow and white perch, and baitfish runs in early spring are popular for early-season anglers and dip netters. One hundred forty-five miles of trout streams in the western and northern portions of the state are stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Maryland also has 150,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs that are favorites among northern pike, muskie, chain pickerel, and walleye anglers. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, and sunfish are also found in a majority of these freshwater lakes and reservoirs. The Chesapeake Bay is of most importance to the angler in Maryland. Several freshwater river mouths empty into this great bay, where freshwater species and saltwater species can be caught in the northern areas. Farther south where salinity is greater, saltwater species are more prevalent. striped bass and bluefish being most common. The Atlantic Ocean offshore of Maryland waters and Chesapeake Bay has good fishing for flounder, seatrout, croaker, kingfish, channel bass, white marlin, tuna, and dolphin. Hunting Maryland's Chesapeake Bay is well known for waterfowl hunting, and the art of carving wooden decoys has flourished there for decades. Several species of ducks and geese use Maryland's Eastern Shore as a waypoint on their southern migration. Antlered and antlerless white-tailed deer and Sika deer are taken by big-game hunters. Squirrel, rabbit, snowshoe hare, and woodchuck are pursued by the small-game hunter. Crow, quail, pheasant, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey are pursued by the bird hunter. Migratory game birds such as mourning dove, woodcock, and waterfowl are also plentiful. For information on licensing, seasons, limits, rules and regulations, please visit the Maryland's Natural Resources website.