March 10, 2026 — A legislative committee is holding up new rockfish regulations from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources that would open a catch-and-release fishery in April for the first time in several years.
The delay was requested by a lawmaker concerned about the possible impact on charter boats, and approved Friday by the chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. But if the pause goes past Wednesday at about 10:30 a.m., the deadline for the regulation to make the next issue of the Maryland Register, it could cut into the April season, according to a spokesman from the department.
For Annapolis-based charter captain Tom Weaver, the days since the regulation was put on hold have been “chaos.”
Since he got the news on Friday, Weaver said he’s been hastily calling the 26 clients who had trips booked in April with his company, Fish With Weaver, and letting them know the season is in jeopardy. Local clients are willing to play it by ear, Weaver said, but several clients are coming from long distances, and he has been trying to shift their trips to other months.
“It took everybody by surprise,” said Weaver, a representative for the Maryland Light Tackle Fishing Guides Association.
The pause was ordered Friday by Del. Sandy Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City), a co-chair of the AELR committee, at the request of committee member Del. Jay Jacobs (R-Upper Shore). Rosenberg said he hopes to make a decision about the regulation by Wednesday, when Jacobs is expected to meet with DNR to discuss the matter.