Maryland Natural Resources Police officers issued citations across Southern Maryland from June through August 2025 for violations of fishing, crabbing, hunting and firearms laws. Enforcement focused on state parks, rivers and wildlife areas, with actions including the seizure of illegal catches, gear confiscations and arrests for prohibited activities. These efforts aimed to protect local fisheries and habitats vital to the region’s economy and environment.
On June 29, officers patrolling Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary’s County observed four individuals fishing from shore in Scotland. A cooler contained 45 undersized croaker and one undersized summer flounder. Each person shared responsibility for the catch, leading to citations for possession of seven to 10 undersized croaker for three men from Silver Spring and Suitland, ages 31, 37 and 38, and additional charges for undersized flounder against a 28-year-old from Silver Spring. Under Maryland’s finfish regulations in Natural Resources Article §4-701, undersized possession carries fines up to $500 per violation, emphasizing minimum sizes to sustain populations in the Potomac River area.
Crabbing violations dominated July enforcement in St. Mary’s County. On July 13, surveillance along the St. Mary’s River identified four Hyattsville residents wading with handlines, dip nets and cast nets. Their cooler held 95 undersized male hard crabs under 5 inches and 21 female crabs. The group, including a 43-year-old woman, 36-year-old man, 50-year-old man and 38-year-old woman, each received citations for exceeding 50 undersized crabs and 20 female limits, facing up to $2,000 fines each per §4-802. Three days later, on July 16, officers near the Potomac River pier spotted a 38-year-old from Falls Church, Virginia, unloading 143 blue crabs without measurement. He faced three citations for over 50 undersized males, female possession and exceeding daily limits, totaling $3,000 maximum fines. Records showed the same man cited 11 days earlier for 41 undersized males and 11 females, highlighting repeat offender patterns in high-traffic crabbing zones.
In Calvert County, August 16 brought charges against an 83-year-old Solomons resident in Dowell for shooting squirrels near a bird feeder. Neighbors reported BBs striking homes and windows. The man admitted firing from his porch during closed season, without a license and in a safety zone. He faces charges under §10-410 for closed-season hunting, unlicensed hunting and safety zone violations, with combined fines up to $4,500. Maryland’s small game seasons, per the 2025-2026 guide, open gray squirrels August 2 in some zones but prohibit urban discharges to protect residents.
Charles County saw firearms enforcement at Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area on August 16. Officers checking shooting range permits in La Plata found a 35-year-old from Capitol Heights without one and prohibited by protective order. He surrendered a .223 semiautomatic rifle and faced charges for order violation, prohibited possession and illegal ammunition under §10-223, carrying up to $3,000 fines and four years, 90 days imprisonment. Myrtle Grove requires daily permits for those 18 and over, with youth needing hunter safety certification, to ensure safe use of its ranges.
These incidents reflect broader DNR priorities in Southern Maryland, where the Chesapeake Bay’s tributaries support commercial and recreational users. Crabbing regulations under §4-101 require licenses for tidal waters, with recreational limits at one bushel of males daily and no females or egg-bearing crabs. Violations disrupt sustainable harvests, as blue crab populations fluctuate with salinity and pollution in the Patuxent and Potomac. Fines fund enforcement, with prepayable amounts from $50 to $500 per the District Court schedule effective July 1, 2025.
Hunting laws protect habitats like Myrtle Grove’s 1,000 acres, open for archery and firearms deer seasons but closed for small game outside set dates. Safety zones, 100 yards from dwellings, prevent accidents in populated areas like La Plata. Point Lookout, at the Potomac’s mouth, enforces catch-and-release for certain species to maintain biodiversity.
DNR’s summer patrols, using surveillance and public tips, align with statewide efforts but intensify in Southern Maryland due to tourism at parks like Point Lookout, drawing 100,000 visitors yearly for fishing. Officers collaborate with local agencies, as seen in crabbing busts, to educate on bycatch reduction devices required in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles for terrapin protection.
For compliance, residents check the DNR website for licenses, starting at $10 for non-tidal fishing. Violations often stem from unmeasured catches; measuring tools are mandatory. Repeat cases, like the Virginia crabber, trigger enhanced penalties under habitual offender provisions.
Southern Maryland’s waterways, from the St. Mary’s River to Calvert’s shores, sustain jobs in oystering and guiding. Enforcement preserves these, with 2025 surveys showing stable croaker but pressured flounder stocks. Public reports via DNR’s hotline aid patrols, ensuring fair access.
As fall approaches, DNR reminds users of upcoming seasons: squirrel opens wider September 1, crabbing closes December 15. Myrtle Grove’s ranges resume full hours November 1 for deer firearms. These measures balance recreation with conservation in a region where natural resources define daily life.