A nocturnal bottom feeder featuring dark brown-to-olive mottled skin, a square tail, and dark brown chin barbels. Inhabits muddy pond bottoms, slow tidal creeks, and quiet river bays.
Season
April – October (Night Fishing Peak)
Where
Potomac Tidal Creeks, Loch Raven, Anacostia River, Eastern Shore Ponds
Salinity band
Inland Freshwater (0 - 3 ppt)
Status
Established Inland Freshwater Species
Record
MD Record: 4 lbs 4 oz
How we fish for them
Rig live nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or cut gizzard shad on a #2 circle hook with a 1oz slip sinker along mud bank drop-offs.
Rod: 7'0" medium spinning rod Reel: 3000-size reel • 15lb Braid + 15lb Mono
Gear for this in the catalog →Handle with care
Sharp dorsal & pectoral fin spines (venom gland present in madtoms). Handle behind pectoral fins.
Seasons & limits are the law's, not ours
Size, season and creel rules change; always verify with the official regulations before you fish. Maryland DNR regulations →
Profile last reviewed: August 2026