Fishing Expo in Timonium Cancelled

Timonium, Md. -- The organizers of the Fishing Expo & Boat Show have posted the following news on their website: 
"As a result of the economic conditions affecting our country, and our resulting inability to attract the number of exhibitors needed to produce a quality event, we have decided to cancel the Fishing Expo & Boat Show scheduled for January 13-15, 2012. We know that America is much stronger economically than it appears presently, and we know the economy will rebound and our country will flourish again in the future. When that happens, we will bring back the Fishing Expo & Boat Show and return it to its position of importance to the region’s recreational and sport fishing communities.

"Thank you for your support over the past 27 years; we are deeply appreciative and grateful. We hope to have your support again in the future."

Bob Dobart, Show Promoter

Annapolis CCA Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, December 6

     Annapolis, Md. -- The first meeting of a newly revitalized Annapolis chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Boatyard Bar & Grill.

     Shawn Kimbro, veteran angler and author of the upcoming book Chesapeake Light Tackle - An introduction to light tackle fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, will speak on “Tips for Cold Weather Jigging.” He will also discuss Careful Catch Maryland, a project developed by CCA MD and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to create understanding of the best ways to release fish.

     “There’s no need to put away your fishing gear when the temperature drops,” said Kimbro. “If you know the best ways to stimulate striped bass to eat in colder water, you can still catch the resident fish that remain in the Bay throughout the winter and those giant migrating bass that come into the Bay this time of the year.”

     “CCA is extremely excited to have a chapter starting again in Annapolis,” said Friedrich. “Not only is Annapolis the state capital, it is also the boating center of Maryland. We anticipate having frequent meetings that will appeal to recreational anglers and encourage anyone in the Annapolis area interested in fishing to join us Dec. 6.”

     The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. when attendees can purchase food and drinks from the menu. Election of officers for the new chapter and the presentation will start at 7 p.m. The Boatyard Bar & Grill is at 400 Fourth St., Annapolis, and anyone is invited to attend.

Gansler Seeks Greater Protection for Menhaden

     Baltimore, Md. -- In an effort to combat further environmental and economic damage to the Chesapeake Bay from the historic decline of Atlantic menhaden, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today asked the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) -- the interstate body tasked with managing menhaden -- to take much needed steps to better protect menhaden from unsustainable fishing levels. Unchecked commercial fishing -- particularly the industrial practice of "reduction fishing," which grinds the fish up for its oil -- has contributed to an 88 percent decline in the Atlantic menhaden population since 1985. The ASMFC's fishery management plan for menhaden has so far failed to reverse this decline.
     "For far too long, the ASMFC has allowed menhaden to be fished to extremely low levels," said Attorney General Gansler. "We need strong action now to prevent further damage to this crucial link in the Bay food chain."
     Attorney General Gansler issued comments to the ASMFC as it considers updating its menhaden fishery management plan for the waters that include the Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic menhaden has been called "the most important fish in the sea" and is crucial to the health of the Bay because of its role as a filter and forage fish. Menhaden remove plankton from Bay waters and serve as a staple food in the diets of species like osprey and striped bass, Maryland's state fish.
     The decline of the Bay's menhaden population has "coincided with the appearance of larger and more frequent algal blooms in the Bay, which cause substantial environmental harm," according to studies cited by Attorney General Gansler in his statement. "Research has shown that harvesting of low-trophic level species like menhaden can have major impacts across the ecosystem. Because menhaden, by nature, travel throughout much of the East Coast and are fished in many states, no one state can comprehensively reduce their decline from overfishing. For example, although Maryland banned commercial harvesting of menhaden with purse seine nets many decades ago, the practice continues to be permitted elsewhere."
     The Attorney General asked the ASMFC to ensure that the menhaden population can return to sustainable levels by raising the "fishing mortality threshold" from 8 percent to 15 percent and the "fishing mortality target" from 20 percent to 40 percent.
     From the comments submitted to the ASMFC:
     "The Commission's interstate fishery management plan (FMP) for the menhaden has so far failed to adequately protect the menhaden fishery, particularly from overfishing. Despite menhaden's historic decline, the Commission has allowed menhaden to be fished down to 8% of their maximum spawning potential, even though established science suggests that such a level is unsustainable, as will be discussed below. The Commission concedes that, even under this generous management plan (where removing over 90% of fish is not considered overfishing), 'overfishing is occurring' and that 'overfishing has occurred in 32 of the last 54 years.' . . . Nonetheless, the Commission has so far failed to adjust its management of menhaden to address this troubling situation."

Keith Lockwood's Maryland Fishing Report

     Oxford, Md. -- The tail end of October left many of us with a whopper of a northeaster that graced us with a record snow in many western and northern areas, lot’s of rain and fierce winds over the weekend. Over here on the eastern bank of the Chesapeake it also left us with the season’s first hard frost. Fishermen will start to dress a lot warmer now especially in the mornings and evenings; topsiders and sneakers will be replaced with rubber knee boots and camouflage duck hunting coats will round out the fishermen’s wardrobe. So here we are in the first days of November and fishing for some of our favorites such as striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass and trout could hardly be better. Dress warm and make sure to enjoy the colorful foliage and your favorite kind of fishing, for old man winter is beginning to knock at the door.

Upper Bay
     Fishermen in the upper bay region are reporting cold water temperatures this week; below 50-degrees in some areas. Most fishermen are casting to breaking fish that are often marked by birds, jigging underneath for a larger grade of fish, trolling or fishing bait from shore. Breaking fish in the upper bay are often 3-year old striped bass in the 14” to 17” size range but jigging underneath with soft plastic jigs or metal can produce large fish at times. Trolling close to the bottom near channel edges and lumps has been productive and “bottom bouncing” with bucktails has been working well also. Fishing from shore at prominent points and piers is a good way to get in on some of the action with striped bass since they are roaming freely in all water depths. Fishing with bloodworms or fresh cut bait is usually the ticket.
     The striped bass action at the Bay Bridge piers continues to be a tough egg to crack this week but fishermen are catching a few nice fish by jigging soft plastics, White perch have moved into deeper water for the most part near the mouths of the region’s tidal rivers and out in the bay on oyster lumps and increasing numbers of yellow perch are being caught in the upper bay tidal rivers above Baltimore.

DNR Confirms Record Blueline Tilefish Caught Off Ocean City, Maryland

     Ocean City, Md. -- Brendan Hoffman, 31, of Seaford, Delaware, caught a 17-pound, 7-ounce blueline tilefish on October 9, setting the state record. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the catch, naming Hoffman the first blueline tilefish record holder since the species was added to the state’s angler award list this year.
     “We had never seen a blueline tilefish that big on the boat or in photos, so we weighed it on the boat scale,” said Hoffman. “It was over 17 pounds, so we took it back to the certified scale at Sunset Provisions where it tipped the scale at 17 pounds, seven ounces.”
     Hoffman and his party launched their 33-foot HydraSport from Ocean City to make the 60-mile run to the Baltimore Canyon in search of tuna, dolphin and a white marlin or two. After about five hours of trolling without a sign of billfish or tunas, they decided they should change their strategy and make good use of the flat of butterfish bait they had brought.
     “We weren’t rigged or prepared for bottom fishing,” said Hoffman. “So, we scrounged around for any sinkers we could find to get the baits down 200 feet to the bottom. We found some inline sinkers and tied them together to drop the baits over a likely spot on the western edge of the Canyon.”
     On the first drift, Hoffman’s friend felt a hit on his line and reeled in a nice blueline tilefish. On the second drift, the big one took Hoffman’s bait.
     Weigh master Stan Hansen at Sunset Provisions, an official DNR Angler Award Center, confirmed the weight. DNR biologist Keith Lockwood examined the 33 ¼-inch fish and confirmed the species to complete the certification process for the record.
     “Over the last decade, anglers have discovered the potential for great bottom fishing for species such as black bellied rose fish, golden tile and blueline tile, as a supplement to other blue water possibilities,” said Steve Doctor, DNR Atlantic Coast Program biologist and current golden tilefish state record holder. “It’s a great mid-date alternative to pelagic options that are often hard to find when the sun is high.”
     The current all-tackle blueline tilefish world record is 20-pounds, four-ounces for a fish caught in 2009 over the Norfolk Canyon off of the Virginia Coast.
     For information on Maryland fishing records, the Maryland Angler Award program and the Maryland Fishing Challenge, visit dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/challenge/.

2011 Young of the Year Striped Bass Survey Shows Fourth Highest Reproduction On Record

     Annapolis, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that the 2011 Young of the Year (YOY) Striped Bass Survey is 34.6, well above the long-term average of 11.9, and exceedingly higher than 2010’s results of 5.9. This is the fourth highest measure of striped bass spawning success in the Chesapeake Bay in the survey’s 58-year history.
     “This reinforces our understanding that when conditions are right, the striped bass population is capable of producing robust year classes of young rockfish,” said DNR Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell.
     The survey also documented an increase in the abundance of juvenile blueback herring- a population that had previously decreased dramatically in the Chesapeake Bay and along the coast. White perch, another important food and sportfish species, saw near record reproduction.
     During this year’s survey, DNR biologists counted more than 59,000 fish of 47 different species while collecting 4,565 YOY striped bass. Variation in annual spawning success is normal because striped bass reproduction is influenced by many factors including water temperature, winter snowfall, spring flow rates, and prevailing weather conditions. Typically, several years of average reproduction are intermixed with the occasional large and small year-classes. The strong 2011 year-class shows that the spawning stock is capable of producing a large year-class when conditions are favorable.
     “We are extremely pleased to see this year’s results,” said DNR Biologist Eric Durell. “It is interesting to note that the four largest year classes on record have occurred since the moratorium was lifted in 1990.”
     DNR biologists have monitored the reproductive success of striped bass and other species in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay annually since 1954. Twenty-two survey sites are located in the four major spawning systems: Choptank, Potomac, and Nanticoke rivers, and the Upper Bay. Biologists visit each site monthly from July through September, collecting fish samples with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine.
     Juvenile indices are calculated as the average catch of YOY fish per sample. For more information about the YOY striped bass survey go to
dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/juvindex/.

Keith Lockwood's Maryland Fishing Report

     Oxford, Md. -- The striped bass news that everyone up and down the east coast from Maine to North Carolina has been anxiously waiting for was released today and it is good news. Below are excerpts from the official press release and a short video to enjoy. It will take about 3 to 4 years for this year’s young striped bass to grow to over 18” in size and in about 13 years they will be over 40” in length; certainly something to look forward to.
     The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the 2011 Young of the Year (YOY) Striped Bass Survey is 34.6, well above the long-term average of 11.9, and exceedingly higher than 2010’s results of 5.9. This is the fourth highest measure of striped bass spawning success in the Chesapeake Bay in the survey’s 58-year history.
     The survey also documented an increase in the abundance of juvenile blueback herring- a population that had previously decreased dramatically in the Chesapeake Bay and along the coast. White perch, another important food and sportfish species, saw near record reproduction.
     During this year’s survey, DNR biologists counted more than 59,000 fish of 47 different species while collecting 4,565 YOY striped bass. Variation in annual spawning success is normal because striped bass reproduction is influenced by many factors including water temperature, winter snowfall, spring flow rates, and prevailing weather conditions. Typically, several years of average reproduction are intermixed with the occasional large and small year-classes. The strong 2011 year-class shows that the spawning stock is capable of producing a large year-class when conditions are favorable.
     DNR biologists have monitored the reproductive success of striped bass and other species in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay annually since 1954. Twenty-two survey sites are located in the four major spawning systems: Choptank, Potomac, and Nanticoke rivers, and the Upper Bay. Biologists visit each site monthly from July through September, collecting fish samples with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine.
     Juvenile indices are calculated as the average catch of YOY fish per sample. For more information about the YOY striped bass survey go to dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/juvindex/.

Upper Bay
     Upper bay fishermen continue to find fishing for striped bass a tough situation in many areas due to cloudy water conditions and low salinities. The Conowingo Dam is releasing substantial amounts of water for the last week and water temperatures at the mouth of the Susquehanna River are down to 60-degrees. Fishermen have been catching more and more yellow perch lately from shoreline locations in the upper most areas of the bay and channel catfish continue to be eager to take cut baits or worms. Farther down the bay fishermen are finding white perch holding on many of the oyster reefs and knolls between Baltimore and Rock Hall. The white perch are now either in the deeper channels at the mouths of the tidal rivers or out in the bay. Jigging with a metal jig and dropper fly or a bottom rig baited with bloodworms should get you into the action. Striped bass have been tough to find at the Bay Bridge piers lately. Chunking with razor clams up current of the bridge piers has been the most successful option for many fishermen lately at the bridge and sharp channel edges.

Middle Bay
Below the Bay Bridge and through the entire middle bay region fishing for a mix of striped bass and bluefish has been good in most areas. Most fishermen have been jigging with metal of soft plastics over suspended or breaking fish. Structure such as prominent points, steep channel edges or rock piles have been good places to look for suspended fish. Breaking fish can be spotted most anywhere there is stiff current sweeping bait along. Fishermen are seeing a lot of small striped bass and bluefish on top and finding larger striped bass underneath by jigging.
     There has been good numbers of larger male striped bass being caught; some in the 30”+ range around the Hill area off of Poplar Island, the Diamonds, Buoy 84 and Thomas Point. Traditionally most of the striped bass over 26” in the fall are male fish. The biggest exception will be if we get a run of large fall migrant striped bass that come up the bay from the Atlantic. Some fishermen have been chunking with razor clams with good success at locations such as the Hill and Buoy 84 and trolling with metal, bucktails and surge tube lures is always a good option also.
      Fishing the shallow water areas along the bay shoreline and in the lower sections of the regions tidal rivers continues to be about as good as it gets. Fishermen are catching a mix of striped bass, bluefish and speckled trout; although he last two participants are beginning to thin out. Topwater lures and soft plastic swim shads have been at the top of the list for “go to” lures this week. An influx of larger striped bass has added some extra excitement to this fishery lately.
     White perch are being found on hard bottom areas out in the bay such as Hackett’s Bar, Holland Point and bars near the mouth of the Choptank. Water temperatures in the middle bay region are holding around 65-degrees and a bit chillier in the tidal rivers. Most of the white perch are now fairly deep; so jigging and bottom rigs baited with bloodworms is the way to catch them.

Lower Bay     Fishermen in the lower bay region are finding good fishing for a mix of striped bass and bluefish out in the main portions of the bay and the mouth of the Potomac River this week. Breaking fish are being spotted throughout the region but most often in places where swift currents are sweeping bait along steep channel edges and points. Birds often mark the way to a mix of bluefish and striped bass but finding slicks and suspended fish is also very common. Some of the larger bluefish being found in Maryland waters are showing up in the lower bay region this week. Trolling with metal and surge tube lures is a productive way to catch them as is jigging. Water temperatures are around 65-degrees this week so the striped bass are moving freely in all depths.
     Casting topwater lures and swim shads in the shallow waters of the bay and tidal rivers continues to get a lot of attention from fishermen in the morning and evening hours. Speckled trout are also mixed in with striped bass and bluefish; especially on the eastern side of the bay. The white perch are holding deep in the lower sections of the regions tidal rivers and are providing good fishing. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms have been one of the favorite ways to fish for them this week.
     Recreational crabbers are seeing good catches of large and fat crabs from Kent Island south in the tidal creeks and rivers. Water temperatures are getting chilly so some of the better crabbing has been in water deeper than 10’.

Freshwater
Fishermen in the western region are enjoying wonderful trout fishing thanks to generous fall stockings of trout and beautiful fall weather. Deep Creek Lake fishermen are reporting that cooling water temperatures are causing largemouth bass to begin to head to deeper waters. Smallmouth bass and walleye are very active and providing good fishing opportunities. Fishermen on the upper Potomac River report excellent fishing for smallmouth bass this week as the bass are aggressively feeding on crawfish that are on the move from grass beds that are breaking up due to cooler water temperatures. Small crankbaits, tubes and jigs that resemble a crawfish are a sure bet. John Mullican sent us this report. The upper Potomac is currently in great shape and fishing very well. Be sure to check water levels before heading out as rain events and local thunderstorms can change conditions quickly. Bass fishing has been excellent with many quality-size fish caught throughout the river. Tubes, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and suspending jerk baits have all been productive.
     Fishermen in all regions of the state are enjoying the fall stocking of trout in many put and take areas. Fishermen like Ryan Roberts are reporting good fishing and lots of elbow room. I fished on Monday October 10th about a mile downstream from the dam and Daniels Dam on the Patapsco. I caught five nice rainbows and browns, all were around 17" and I missed just as many all on flies. Not much traffic on the water, which made for a nice day. The stocking schedule is updated each week so be sure to check and see what areas near you have been stocked. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/stocking/index.asp
     Freshwater fishermen throughout the state have been enjoying the beautiful October weather and the active feeding mode of most freshwater species of fish. Crappie are schooling up in cooler waters around deeper structure such as bridge piers and ledges, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are aggressively feeding in the western Baltimore reservoirs as are chain pickerel and large bluegills. Largemouth bass in freshwater impoundments and tidal waters are focusing on grass beds where bait such as small fish and crawfish are desperate to find a new home as the grass beds diminish to cooling water temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Targeting grass beds in 3’to4’ of water is a good strategy with chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits or tubes that resemble crawfish. Casting chatterbaits over grass beds can bring other surprises besides largemouth bass.

At the Ocean
     Fishermen in the Ocean City area are seeing fishing conditions in the surf greatly improved this week after last weekend’s big blow. There are large schools of small bluefish moving down the beach eating their way south. Most fishermen are using small pieces of finger mullet on bait rigs; anything larger than that get nibbled away in a heart beat. Water temperatures in the surf are now about 65-degrees so these small bluefish will not be around for much longer.
     A few striped bass are being caught in the surf and more will be on the way soon from our northern neighbors. Striped bass are being caught in and around the inlet at night by fishermen casting swim shads and soft plastic jigs. Enterprising fishermen have been drifting live finger mullet in the inlet and catching large flounder and even a striped bass now and then. The bulkheads and jetties are giving up better numbers of tautog this week and even a few large triggerfish and sheepshead. Flounder are moving out of the back bay areas and through the inlet so the approaches to the inlet have been getting a lot of attention by flounder fishermen. Small bluefish have moved into the same areas and have been chewing up baits.
     Tautog fishing is the only show in town on the wreck and reef sites off of Ocean City now that sea bass are off limits. Cooler water temperatures are spurring on this fishery so catches have been good. A few large flounder and a mix of red hake or ling and bluefish are rounding things out.
     Offshore fishing is slowing down due to weather, cooler water temperatures and lack of boats going out. Last weekend was a bust with strong winds but this coming weekend shows promise for those hoping for one more lick at a mix of white marlin, yellowfin tuna and dolphin. It will not be long before fishermen will start to take about bluefin tuna for they surely will be moving through the region soon.

Keith Lockwood's Maryland Fishing Report

     Oxford, Md. -- As fishermen see the second full week of October coming to a close many can see most fisheries are in a transition and often this is to the benefit of fishermen. Freshwater and saltwater species are feeling the urge to feed heavily and build up fat reserves as water temperatures drop. This could be for a long journey south to warmer waters for migratory fish or for resident fish the fat stores to hunker down for the winter. When it comes to migratory fish of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean as fish tend to be on the move it can mean varied action from day to day or the "you should have been here yesterday" syndrome. Speckled trout, bluefish and striped bass are good examples in the Chesapeake right now and offshore species such a white marlin, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are another that comes to mind this week.
     Diehard fishermen have to be flexible to conditions and one thing that always defines them is that they never give up. This attitude can range from beating the water to death with cast after cast, switching up tactics and gear or simply switching to another type of fishing all together. Brendan Hoffman of Seaford Delaware and his group of fishing buddies bring us just that kind of story this week. They planned an offshore trip to the Baltimore Canyon on Sunday to fish for white marlin, yellowfin tuna and dolphin. Basically they found themselves at the Baltimore Canyon with no takers, a lot of spent fuel and a flat of butterfish. They decided to try something different; in this case some deep bottom fishing. They scrounged for any kind of weight they could find short of wrenches in the tool box and rigged up some butterfish and sent them 200' to the bottom. What occurred next is a perfect example of what to do when you are served lemons; "make lemonade"! Hoffman caught a 17lb. 7oz. blueline tilefish which is the new Maryland state record.
     Presently water temperatures in the upper bay region near the mouth of the Susquehanna are holding around 61-degrees. Fishermen in general are having a difficult time finding good fishing in the upper bay for striped bass this week. Most fishermen are reporting sparse catches even at the Bay Bridge piers and the Sewer Pipe just above the bridge. Cloudy water and low salinity conditions are what most fishermen are talking about. A few bright spots are the good fishing for white perch and limited success with striped bass in the lower sections of the regions tidal rivers and of course channel catfish.
     Middle bay region fishermen are experiencing better water conditions this week and good fishing for a mix of striped bass, small bluefish and speckled trout in most traditional areas. The striped bass and bluefish can be found breaking water out in the bay chasing schools of bay anchovies and menhaden and can often be located by diving birds or slicks on the surface of the water. This is a good time of the year to have a depth finder to help locate fish suspended off the bottom and light tackle reels loaded with braid for working metal jigs close to the bottom. The sensitivity of braid and its lack of resistance to current flow make it a winner for fishermen jigging. Trolling is a good option and most fishermen are trolling spoons, bucktails and surge tube lures due to the presence of bluefish. The striped bass action at the False Channel seems to have slowed down for those chumming with razor clams; fish are still being caught and the action may pick up from time to time but as water temperatures drop into the mid-sixties, fish are moving around more.
     Fishing the shallow waters of the bay and tidal rivers continues to be a wonderful way to fish in the mornings and evenings this week near prominent points and structure such as rocks. Topwater lures continue to be a favorite but soft plastics such as Gulp mullets and swim shad type lures are catching their share. Speckled trout continue to be a real bonus fish for anglers with about a 3 to 1 throwback ratio in most areas. Some anglers are targeting the speckled trout by fishing soft crab baits in creek channels and cuts but most are being caught on soft plastics and topwater lures. A trick from waters far to the south that might be worth trying for speckled trout is to fish a soft plastic jig about 2' behind a popping float or popper. Speckled trout are known to be attracted to surface commotion and usually nail the trailing jig when they see it.
     White perch are on the move and have left the shallow waters of the tidal rivers and are schooling up in deeper waters of the tidal rivers. Now is a good time to target them with bottom rigs baited with bloodworms or jigs with a dropper fly before they head out into the even deeper waters near the bay.
     Lower bay region fishermen are seeing good water conditions and some exciting fishing opportunities for a mix of striped bass and bluefish out in the bay. The lower bay region has the largest bluefish; many going 5lbs or better in many areas. The larger bluefish are spread out from the lower Middle Grounds up to Cove Point and are putting the hurt to schools of menhaden in the region. Trolling spoons and surge tube lures has been a popular way to catch them along with striped bass. Light tackle enthusiasts are enjoying casting metal into schools of breaking fish or jigging underneath the surface action.
     Perhaps some of the most exciting fishing occurring in the lower bay region is the shallow water action around prominent points through out the region and the marsh areas on the eastern shore. Light tackle fishermen are enjoying continued action with a mix of striped bass, speckled trout and bluefish. Most are casting surface lures such as poppers and also soft plastic swim baits and bucktails. There are a lot of smaller speckled trout in the region but there are enough larger ones to keep things very exciting. The areas from Hooper's Island south, the mouth of the Honga River and around Deal Island have been particularly good.
     Recreational crabbers are reporting diminished returns on their crabbing outings in the upper bay region. Catches are reported to be very good in the Kent Island area and the major tidal rivers of the middle and lower bay regions. Crabbers report a lot of small crabs and sooks eating up baits but are being rewarded with large heavy crabs often over 7" in size.
     Freshwater fishermen are enjoying the generous fall stocking of trout in most of the state's put and take trout waters. A combination of cool weather, good water conditions and generous stockings are making for some wonderful trout fishing experiences. Be sure to check the trout fishing site for the latest stocking information; the list is updated as the biologist complete their stockings.
      Fishermen will be keeping an eye towards the weather for the next couple of days and time will tell how water conditions will be in the western region of the state. Water temperatures are in the low sixties at Deep Creek Lake and fishermen report the walleye action is picking up. Grass beds are diminishing in the lake as well as in other areas such as the upper Potomac so smallmouth bass will be on the watch for small baitfish and crawfish on the move for deeper cover such as rocks and sunken wood. Any kind of crankbait or tube that resembles a crawfish is a good bet this week.
     Largemouth bass are in a very active feeding mode in all areas of the state including tidal waters and freshwater impoundments. Cooler water temperatures are causing the fish to move freely through all water depths and grass beds is the pattern to target as the fish hold to the last remaining beds of grass. This is where the food is and as the grass beds retreat bait will be making a mad dash for deeper cover. Frogs over the grass and chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits near the edges are a very good strategy this time of the year.
      Fishermen at Ocean City are reporting large numbers of hungry snapper bluefish in the surf and snapping is what these little guys appear to be doing as they gobble up pieces of finger mullet on bottom rigs. Most fishermen are reporting that they are getting 3 or four baits out of one finger mullet. A few kingfish are still being caught in the surf and those casting out large baits are catching a mix of inshore sharks and a few striped bass.
     In and around the inlet/ Route 50 Bridge area fishermen are reporting very good fishing for tautog from the bulkhead at 2nd to 4th Street out to the jetties. Pieces of green crab are becoming more popular than sand fleas now for bait but those fishing sand fleas at the south jetty have been catching some large sheepshead. Flounder are moving towards the inlet on their migration offshore and the channels leading to the inlet have been the place to be. There are still a large number of throwbacks but larger baits such as Gulp lures and fillet strips of snapper bluefish will entice the larger flounder.
      Fishermen out at the wreck sites enjoyed the last few days of the sea bass season with good catches; often approaching limits. The season will be closed from October 12th to November 1st. Until the time it reopens fishermen will be fishing for tautog; which has greatly improved with cooler water temperatures. Farther offshore fishermen are reporting fair to good catches of dolphin, yellowfin tuna and white marlin in the Spencer Canyon south to the Baltimore Canyon.

CCA Asks Anglers to Voice Opinions on Menhaden Management

     Commentary provided by the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland
     Annapolis, Md. -- As recreational fishermen and stewards of our resources, we must educate ourselves on not only the fish we pursue, but also the ecosystem in which they live. There is nothing more integral to the health of our fisheries than the menhaden. We don’t pursue them as a sport fish, but they deserve a great deal of our attention. Menhaden literally turn the sun’s energy into protein by grazing on small organisms that convert the sun’s energy to cellulose. Menhaden then convert that energy to protein by becoming a major food item for every predatory fish, bird, and mammal in the Atlantic. The most important attribute of menhaden is their sheer abundance. That abundance has faded and now menhaden are at the lowest population ever recorded.
     In response to the upcoming menhaden management meetings being conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), CCA has produced an Angler’s Guide to Menhaden as a teaching tool for fisherman up and down the coast. We encourage everyone to read the full guide. Some key points to understand are listed below.
     Management options have been put forth by ASMFC. Key to the options is the reference points. Reference points are the guideposts managers use to determine the health of any stock. The Board is proposing to use % Maximum Spawning Potential (%MSP) for this purpose. Currently the stock is thought to be at about 8% MSP, or about 8% of what an unfished stock would have.
    There are two parts to any reference point, simply because there is a lot of uncertainty with both the calculation of the status of the stock and the management of the stock. The first reference point is the “threshold” -- the “line in the sand” that managers do not want to exceed, for if it is, overfishing will occur and the stock could become overfished. If they managed right to the threshold, there is a strong likelihood that this line in the sand would be exceeded due to the uncertainties in the data. Thus, the second reference point, the “target,” is a number more conservative than the threshold. Managers set harvest levels at the target to create a buffer and assure that fishing does not exceed the threshold.
There are essentially 3 options for management:
Change the management threshold, which is the maximum amount of fishing mortality allowed. This would become the overfishing limit.
Change the management target to one that is more conservative. This is the target that provides a buffer to not exceed the overfishing limit.
Adopt a suite of management tools that allow managers to constrain harvest to the management target.
     To view all of the options, please go to Page 8 of the guide. CCA commented on each option. A quick summary of CCA’s position is detailed below.
     With regard to Thresholds, CCA supports Option 2: 15% MSP as an F threshold as an interim threshold for menhaden management. This management measure, which we still view as the lowest acceptable threshold, could increase spawning stock by nearly 130% in a few years.
     With regard to the Targets, we acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding menhaden management and recruitment. However, given the importance of this keystone prey species to the Atlantic ecosystem, CCA believes that the 40% MSP option represents the greatest degree of assurance toward achieving the ultimate goal of restoring menhaden to fulfill its ecological role as a primary forage base. We recognize that many factors and obstacles are at play in this fishery but we support this option and urge managers to focus on the scientific and biological grounds for its adoption.
     The 30% MSP option is double the preferred threshold and is much more risk-averse than the current status quo of 20% MSP. 30% MSP is the appropriate proxy for the proper management of a stock without a well defined spawner-recruit relationship, as in the case of menhaden. With the uncertainty surrounding menhaden management and recruitment, we believe simple common sense dictates that this option should be the minimum acceptable target MSP. CCA supports this option as a minimum level of protection for Atlantic menhaden, but would prefer more scientifically conservative options.

How To Act:
     In Maryland, our ASMFC commissioners are on board with CCA’s goals for menhaden management. We suggest sending an email thanking them for their support. We also need to let them know that they have our backing on this critical issue. It will be much easier for Maryland commissioners to stay the course if they know there are thousands on Maryland anglers standing shoulder to shoulder with them in this fight. Please email them today. Say thank you, and let them know we support them in their efforts.
Tom O'Connell: TOCONNELL@dnr.state.md.us
Bill Goldsborough: BGoldsborough@cbf.org
Richard Colburn richard_colburn@senate.state.md.us
Your voice can also be heard by attending the Public Hearing on October 11: ASMFC Public Hearing on Draft Addendum V to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management for Atlantic Menhaden, Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tawes State Office Building, C1 Conference Room, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland. (7pm)

When Enough is Enough

Commentary
By Gibby Dean
President
Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen's Association

     I just finished reading yet another article in a local publication that went as far to name various fishing communities such as “Tangier Island, Smith Island, Crisfield, Cambridge, St. Michaels, Oxford, Kent Island, Rock Hall and others in Bay Country” as being in “ the middle of a poaching epidemic of unreal proportions”. The article goes on to describe this problem as being linked to illegal drug use. While some of what the author describes may be true to a much lesser extent, I have grown angered and frustrated by some, but not all, of these so called journalists leaving the general public with such a negative impression of the watermen community.
     I will be the first to admit that yes, we share some of the same problems other communities, other industries and other professions share, but don’t judge us as a group because of the actions of a few. The overwhelming majority of all commercial fishermen do not condone any form of illegal fishing activity and especially not the use of illegal drugs. As a whole, we are hardworking, God fearing Christians who still say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the Nation Anthem and are not afraid to use the words “one nation under God” at most all of our public functions. We still embrace traditional values and are patriots of our country.
     For the most part, we are family men and women who take pride in our occupation, honor its tradition and cherish our heritage. We care as much or more about the health of the Chesapeake Bay than anyone else and want to see this treasure flourish through eternity for all to enjoy. We want our children to be brought up thinking that their parents were part of an honorable profession and to be proud of what they did for a living and not to be depicted or remembered as thieves or drug users. Why doesn’t someone write a good article about our watermen sometime? Why doesn’t one of these so called journalists write an article about how you will never find another group of individuals, despite their own differences, give one another the shirt off their backs, money out of their pockets or food from their tables to help someone in need.
     That is why that I am proud to be part of, honored to represent and humbled by the friendship of our commercial watermen. Remember, we have feelings too. Enough is enough.

Gibby Dean

This Week's Maryland Fishing Report by Keith Lockwood

     Oxford, Md. -- Fish, fish, fish, that is what we should all be doing as much as possible as we approach the end of September and the beginning of October. Conditions are just about perfect for all kinds of fishing from the mountain streams of western Maryland to the offshore canyons out of Ocean City. Cooling water temperatures have fish in an aggressive feeding mode and that is good news for fishermen. Starting in early October trout hatchery crews and biologists will be out stocking trout in many areas as cooler water temperatures make for better trout survival. Those stockings will be posted on the trout fishing page of the Fisheries website as they occur at the following link. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/stocking/index.asp
     Fall is always a wonderful time of the year to fish for trout and October is especially wonderful as fall colors abound and cool air temperatures just make it nice to be in the outdoors. The word “trout” can mean different things in different areas and in saltwater crowds trout means gray trout or weakfish up north and one of the most beautiful saltwater fish anywhere the speckled or spotted trout. Although the saltwater trout are not related at all to freshwater trout, the colors of a speckled trout are just as beautiful as those of a freshwater brown trout. Lately bay fishermen have been treated to a surge of speckled trout and for many this is the first time they have caught one, so get out there and enjoy the freshwater and saltwater trout opportunities that abound this week.
     Flow conditions at the Conowingo Dam remain higher than normal for this time of the year but the dam is running normal mid-day power generation water releases. The upper bay region is still experiencing cloudy water conditions but there are some fishing opportunities to be had; especially in the tidal rivers and close to the Bay Bridge. There are some striped bass being caught immediately below the Conowingo Dam in the dam pool and fishing for channel catfish is very good throughout the entire region. White perch are moving into deeper waters in the lower sections of the tidal rivers and also shoal areas in the bay. Fishermen are finding some striped bass by trolling along channel edges with umbrella rigs and also jigging under breaking fish at times. The Bay Bridge piers continue to be a good place to jig or chunk fresh bait such as cut fish or razor clams. The shallow waters in the lower sections in the tidal rivers have been offering some action as is the Kent Island Narrows area. Recreational crabbers report fair catches of crabs in the regions tidal rivers but note most are large and heavy.
     Middle bay region fishermen are seeing water temperatures close to 70-degrees this week, lower than normal salinities and cloudy water conditions in some areas. Striped bass fishermen are seeing renewed interest in the False Channel area as chunking cut spot and whole razor clams has been very productive for a nice grade of striped bass. Trolling is good in many channel edge areas and umbrella rigs with bucktail trailers, spoons behind inline weights and surge tube lures are working well. Bluefish are still in the region so soft plastics such as Storm lures are an expensive proposition to be putting in harms way. Breaking fish will be seen throughout the region at times and casting metal to the surface fish or jigging underneath will get you into the action.
     Perhaps one of the most exciting fishing news this week is the number of speckled trout that are being caught by fishermen casting topwater lures in the shallower areas along the shorelines of the bay and tidal rivers. Smaller speckled trout have been here for several weeks but larger specks, some over 22” have moved in and are providing great fishing opportunities when fishing for striped bass. Striped bass fishing in the shallows has been very good for the last couple of weeks and few types of fishing are more exciting than casting topwater lures with light tackle. Striped bass aggressively hit these topwater offerings and sometimes one has to wonder with the smaller fish in the area if their eyes are bigger than their mouth.
     White perch seem to have left the shallower areas in the regions tidal rivers and must be beginning to school up as water temperatures decline. Look for them holding over oyster shoals in deep water and similar structure. They can be caught by jigging or by using bottom rigs baited with bloodworms or grass shrimp. Recreational crabbers are reporting good catches of large heavy crabs in most of the regions tidal rivers with a large number of small crabs and sooks at times.
     Lower bay region is offering a lot of different fishing opportunities this week for a broad mix of fish species. Perhaps at the fore front is the large number of speckled trout that seem to have invaded the shallow waters of the lower bay and particular the eastern shore shallows. Light tackle fishermen that are casting topwater lures for striped bass are catching unprecedented numbers of beautiful speckled trout; many up to 24” in size. They are a wonderful addition to the already excellent fishing for striped bass and bluefish in the shallows.
     Fishermen are finding breaking fish throughout the lower bay region chasing schools of bay anchovies; most often there is a mix of bluefish and striped bass with an occasional Spanish mackerel. Often the bluefish are in the 3lb to 4lb size range along with the common snapper sized bluefish that have been around all summer. There is still plenty of action going on outside the Gas Docks with striped bass. Spot numbers are diminishing in the Patuxent River as cool water temperatures begin to urge them to move south. Fishermen are finding chunking larger spot as well as the smaller live spot to be very effective. Trolling spoons, bucktails and surge tube lures along channel edges and over suspended fish is also effective.
     Fishing for white perch in the lower sections of the regions tidal rivers is good on hard bottom in the deeper areas; blood worms have been preferred bait. Large spot can also be found in many of the same areas. Recreational crabbers are reporting good catches of large heavy crabs this week in the regions tidal rivers and creeks. Large numbers of sooks and small crabs continue to chew up baits.
     Freshwater fishermen will be seeing improving conditions this week as the skies clear up and waters recover from the weekend’s heavy rain. Western region trout streams and rivers are in good shape and trout fishing has been good as water temperatures cool and trout are more active.
 John Mullican sent us this short report concerning Frederick County and the upper Potomac fishing conditions. Some areas in Frederick County and east got heavy rain last Friday. The Monocacy jumped up to over 13’, but is now backing down to 3.7’. Overall, the upper Potomac River is in great shape and fishing well. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good throughout the river. In addition to the reliable standbys, tubes and grubs, crankbaits and topwaters have been working very well. Try Tiny Torpedoes, Rapala Skitterpops, Pop-Rs, and buzzbaits around grass beds and boulders adjacent to current.
     Fishermen looking for largemouth bass are finding good fishing conditions in most areas as the largemouth bass have transitioned into a very aggressive feeding behavior. Grass beds are an excellent place to target for largemouth bass that are frequenting those areas looking for small prey items that are beginning to lose the cover that has been so prominent all summer. Topwater lures such as buzzbaits and frogs over shallow water grass in the morning and evening hours is always a productive and fun way to fish for largemouth bass this time of the year. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits worked along the outside edges of grass beds, spatterdock fields and wood structure is also very productive now. Stick worms and other soft plastics worked in the grass will entice those largemouth bass residing in the grass.
     The week has started off with rain and fog for Ocean City fishermen but clearing weather later on this week will do much to improve fishing conditions. Surf water temperatures are creeping below 70-degrees and many inshore fisheries are in transition.
     Surf fishermen are enjoying catch and release fishing for large red drum; although rough surf has hampered their efforts at times. Inshore sharks, dogfish, skates and a few striped bass are also being caught on large baits. Small to medium sized bluefish are moving along the beaches and can be caught on whole or partial finger mullet. A few kingfish and croakers are still around and are being caught on small baits.
     In and around the inlet area fishermen are seeing the tautog fishery improving as water temperatures cool. Sand fleas have been favorite baits lately and the jetties to the 2nd. To 4th Street bulkheads have been the places to fish. Flounder are moving through the inlet area and fishermen have been catching some nice ones before they exit out the inlet for their fall offshore migration. Striped bass and bluefish are being caught in the evenings on a variety of lures and live baits.
     Water clarity has been an issue in the back bay areas due to rain and wind but is clearing up this week and the weekend promises to offer good fishing for flounder. The flounder are on the move and are also feeding aggressively so the channel areas leading to the inlet will be good places to fish.
     Fishermen have been doing well in regards to catching sea bass out at the wreck sites. They report a high throwback ration but double digit catches are common and limits to occur on every outing for a few lucky fishermen. Large bluefish are beginning to crash the party on some days often cutting sea bass in half while being reeled up to the boat. A few large flounder are also being caught near the wreck sites and a few triggerfish are often part of the mix.
     The boats heading out to the canyon areas have been catching and releasing white marlin and bringing in a mix of yellowfin tuna, dolphin and a few wahoo. Most boats have been going to the Baltimore and Washington Canyons.

Maryland DNR Hosting Striped Bass Regulations Open Houses

     Annapolis, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host two open houses in October to present proposed commercial striped bass regulatory and administrative changes and welcome questions and comments from the public.
     “These changes are designed to achieve DNR’s core management principles of sustainability, harvest accountability, enforceability and cost recovery,” said Tom O’Connell, director of DNR’s Fisheries Service.
     The proposed changes come on the heels of the Maryland Natural Resources Police seizing more than 26,000 pounds of striped bass from illegally set gill nets in February 2011. They specifically deal with the filing of inaccurate reports by check stations/individual fishermen and illegal application of striped bass tags.
     Participants will be able to talk one-on-one with DNR Fisheries Service staff, and register comments on the proposed changes. The public is invited to arrive at any time during the event and spend as much time as desired.
     Public comments may also be submitted via fax at (410) 260-8310, by email to fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us.
     The public comment period runs through October 24. Final administrative and regulatory changes are scheduled to go into effect on on November 28, 2011.
     The proposed regulatory and administrative changes are available at http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/proposedregulations.asp

The open houses are schedule as follows:
Tuesday, October 4 from 3 to 8 p.m.
BG Louis G. Smith Armory, 7111 Ocean Gateway, Easton, Md.
Thursday, October 6 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, 161 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, Md.

Maryland Fishing Report by Keith Lockwood

     Oxford, Md. -- Life begins to return to some resemblance of normal after the deluge. Most would agree that about covers it. Crews have been busy repairing washed out roads, cutting up fallen trees, shoreline debris and fishermen are out enjoying the beautiful September weather and fishing. Most reservoirs, lakes and rivers are clearing up quickly and the terrible plug of discolored water is slowly moving through the Chesapeake. Cooler water temperatures have freshwater and saltwater fish in a very active mood for chowing down on some vittles; so make hay while you can and enjoy all September has to offer before it slips away.
     Presently, water conditions in the lower Susquehanna River are beginning to improve as the water begins to clear up. Flows from the Conowingo Dam are returning to a normal level and water temperatures are in the high 60's. Striped bass are once again being caught directly below the dam during generation water releases. Farther down the bay the area of discolored water and floating debris continues to be a problem for fishermen. Some relief is being found in the tidal rivers; especially on the eastern side of the bay but fishermen report incoming tides have distributed floating debris into the tidal rivers as well as the bay. Lower water temperatures have striped bass and white perch in a much more active mode and they are distributed in shallower areas and offering light tackle fishing opportunities. Fishing for channel catfish continues to a very viable option in the upper bay despite cloudy water conditions. At the Bay Bridge fishermen are jigging and drifting live spot or chunks to the bases of the bridge piers. The fishing should improve as cloudy waters clear up. Recreational crabbers are reporting sparse catches in the regions tidal rivers anywhere from a dozen to partial bushels per outing.
     Middle bay region fishermen are finding low salinity, cloudy water and water temperatures around 70-degrees. Floating debris in the region continues to be a problem this week. Fishermen are reporting finding breaking fish out in the bay made up of a mix of striped bass and small bluefish. Many of the striped bass on the surface are less than 18" in size but often larger fish can be found underneath by jigging. A few Spanish mackerel are still being caught here and there but it would seem that the bulk of the Spanish have moved south. Trolling will become more effective as water clarity improves and floating debris moves out of the areas open waters. Cooler water temperatures have caused striped bass to move more freely into the tidal river and bay shallows where fishermen are enjoying excellent fishing with topwater lures.
     Cooler water temperatures have caused the striped bass that were holding at the False Channel to disperse so jigging and trolling will now move to the forefront. Croakers are hard to come by now that waters have cooled and salinities are down but large spot and white perch are being caught in the lower sections of the tidal rivers by bait fishermen fishing oyster bars as well as by casting lures in the shallows. Recreational crabbers report good catches of heavy crabs in the regions tidal rivers and creeks; they do note though a large number of small crabs and sooks eating up baits.
     The lower bay region continues to offer some of the clearer water conditions in Maryland waters and although salinities are depressed fishing remains good. A mix of striped bass, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing schools of bay anchovies throughout the region often accompanied by diving birds. Casting into the surface action, jigging underneath or trolling nearby are all good options to get in on the action. Many fishermen are still live lining spot outside of the Gas Docks and enjoying excellent fishing for striped bass with a few medium sized bluefish in the mix. Spot are still readily available in the shallows of the Patuxent River and white perch and large spot are also being caught in deeper waters of the river as well as the Tangier Sound area. Small sea trout and speckled trout are also part of the mix on the eastern side of the bay; especially near the mouth of the Honga River.
     Shallow water fishing for striped bass in the morning and evening hours has been excellent this week along bay shores and the lower sections of the regions tidal rivers. Bluefish and speckled trout can also be part of the mix for fishermen casting topwater lures in the shallows. Recreational crabbers are finding good crabbing opportunities for heavy crabs and large numbers of sooks and small crabs are reported to be tough on baits.
     Fishermen at Deep Creek Lake are now finding less crowded conditions out on the lake's waters as they fish. Largemouth bass are the big draw for fishermen casting crankbaits and spinnerbaits near grass edges; there are still some floating docks deployed and casting stick baits and soft plastics near them can bring a strike from largemouth and smallmouth bass. Crappie are beginning to show signs of schooling up near bridge piers and bluegills are active near grass edges. Fisheries biologist Alan Klotz sent us this notice about a water release on the Savage River. There will be a whitewater release from the Savage River Reservoir on Sunday 9/25/11. This event usually flows at 1000 cubic feet per second from 9 am until 3 pm, with some ramping before and after those hours.
     Fisheries biologist John Mullican sent in this short report from the upper Potomac. The Potomac is still a little above normal flows for this time of year and cloudy. Water temperatures over the weekend were in the mid-60s. Fishing, however, has been pretty good. Fishermen are catching nice smallmouth now on a variety of lures including crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and tubes.
     Discolored water conditions are improving in most reservoirs, lakes and tidal rivers throughout Maryland this week. Water temperatures are generally in the high 70's in most areas and freshwater fish are very active. Largemouth bass are on the prowl to begin to fatten up for the long winter months and can often be found near shallow grass beds and emergent vegetation such as spatterdock. Buzzbaits over grass is a good bet in the morning and evening hours and a variety of lures such as spinnerbaits, soft plastics and crankbaits near grass edges and sunken wood are good choices during the day. Fisheries biologist Mary Groves sent in a short note today; regarding some sampling they did this week on the Northeast River for largemouth bass. She mentioned that the electro-fishing crew found exceptional numbers of 3lb to 4lb largemouth bass holding near the remaining grass in the area and that the water clarity was good.
     Ocean City area fishermen are starting to see ocean conditions calming down after last weekend's northeasterly winds. Bluefish in a mix of sizes are being caught in the surf on finger mullet. A few striped bass are also being caught in the surf on cut bait and the season's first large red drum are being caught and released. Fishermen using heavy tackle and larger baits are also catching a variety of inshore sharks; the annual run of red drum should peak this week. Fishermen casting smaller baits are finding a mix of kingfish, large spot and snapper bluefish.
     At the inlet, flounder and tautog are being caught near the jetties, Route 50 Bridge and the bulkhead between 2nd and 4th Streets. Water temperatures in the inlet area are around 72-degrees so the tautog fishing is only beginning and will gain momentum as temperatures dip into the 60's. Sand fleas have been the preferred bait and once and a while fishermen are catching sheepshead. Bay waters were stirred up a bit from the weekend's northeaster but have cleared up quickly and flounder fishing is on again. As water temperatures cool the flounder in the back bay areas are going to feel the urge to begin heading towards the inlet.
     The boats heading out to the wreck and artificial reef sites are finding good fishing for sea bass with most fishermen heading home with 15 to 20 keepers per trip. Flounder seem to be scarce around the wreck and reef sites but croakers are being encountered close to the beaches at times. The boats fishing the offshore canyons stayed at the dock over the weekend but those that went out early this week found white marlin in the Washington Canyon and a mix of triggerfish and dolphin along weed lines.

Maryland DNR Cracking Down on Recreational Anglers

     Annapolis, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed to suspend the fishing privileges of 60 recreational fisherman for violating Maryland’s fisheries laws.
     “These are acts that violate the public’s trust,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “These suspensions serve as a warning to any would-be violators that we take any disregard for the laws that protect our fisheries very seriously.”
     The suspensions were proposed due to violations which include taking fish during closed seasons, taking fish during spawning seasons, taking fish in closed areas, exceeding daily catch limits and possession of female crabs.
     Recreational fisherman who commit violations are eligible for suspensions ranging from 30 to 365 days, which become effective 30 days after the notice is mailed. All individuals have the opportunity to request an administrative hearing in front of an administrative law judge regarding their suspensions, which may result in the lessening or the elimination of the suspension. The judge may also uphold the Department’s suspension. In this case, the suspension would not become effective until after the hearing.
     Over the past few years, DNR has ramped up its enforcement and penalties of Maryland’s commercial and recreational fisheries regulations to maintain sustainable fisheries and better serve the citizens and businesses that rely on them to make a living.
     The Maryland Department of Natural Resources was given the power to suspend or revoke recreational fishing licenses with the passing of SB 164 in 2009 (Maryland Law Chapter 207, 2009).
     The current regulations regarding the suspension and revocation of recreational fishing licenses can be found www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/08/08.02.13.05.htm.

Maryland Announces Big Winners of Annual Fishing Challenge

     Annapolis, Md. -- Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin and fishing legend Lefty Kreh presented approximately $70,000 in cash, prizes and merchandise to lucky anglers Saturday morning at the 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge. Nearly 2,000 people, including sponsors, anglers and their guests, attended the 7th annual contest’s closing ceremony at Sandy Point State Park.
 “Fishing is an integral part of Maryland’s heritage and a great way for families to bond by spending time together outdoors,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “I would like to congratulate the winners of the 2011 Challenge, and encourage all of my fellow anglers to take advantage of our State’s phenomenal fishing opportunities in time to qualify in 2012.”
     Since Labor Day 2010, more than 1,300 anglers qualified to participate in the grand prize drawing, 11 of whom also qualified for the Diamond Jim component of the challenge. Youth winners from 20 fishing rodeos across the State also won exciting guided fishing trips.
     “This contest would simply not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, who share our mission to introduce our young people to the joys of fishing and inspire future generations of stewards along the way, ” said Griffin.
     Walking away with the grand prize of boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats, was Robert Hamilton, 12 of Silver Spring. Hamilton’s qualifying caught two citation award qualifying white marlin and a blue fish in Ocean City.
     “It’s amazing,” said Hamilton. “I can’t wait to tell everyone at school that I won a boat!”
     Dickie Russell of Valley Lee, John Brittan Jr. of Hagerstown, and Joe Sanbower of New Windsor won thousands of dollars in prizes from Bill’s Outdoor Center. Kenny Reasin won an all expenses paid fishing trip to the Bimini Game Club on Bimini Island in the Bahamas provided by the World Fishing. All contestants received a commemorative shirt, courtesy of Under Armour. Marty’s Sporting Goods in Edgewater, Angler’s Sport Center and Kent Island Kayaks also contributed prizes for the drawings.
     Of the lucky anglers who caught specially tagged rockfish this summer, 4 were determined to be Diamond Jim imposters during June and July and the remaining 7 learned their fate at the event. After all corresponding envelopes were opened -- and no authentic Diamond Jim was discovered -- the 11 lucky anglers split the contest’s cash prize of $25,000. Taking home $2,272.73 each were: Jeffrey Fennell of Prince George's County, Md.; Justin Kerstetter of Spotsylvania, Md.; Emidio Ciccanti of Baltimore, Md.; Nick Szokoly of Cockeysville, Md.; Glenn Gross of Baltimore; Rick Ashley of Edgewater; Mike Little of Great Cacapon, W. Va.; Thom Davis of Keedysville, Md.; Dan Turner of Ellicott City, Md.; Jonalyn Denlinger of Severna Park, Md.; David Huffman of Jersey Shore, Pa.
     “I did not know anything about Diamond Jim until I caught the fish,” said Fennell, who caught a 23” tagged rockfish. “It’s a beautiful thing to get young people to come out and fish.”
     Participating for the first time in the Challenge event was renowned author and fishing legend, Lefty Kreh. In honor of Kreh’s 75-year career of promoting recreational fishing, conservation and stewardship, the 2012 Maryland Fishing Challenge, which kicked off September 6, will celebrate his life and times.
     “Fishing is important for a number of reasons,” said Kreh. “It’s the best way to share time and make lasting memories with family. It’s also an exciting sport because you never know what you’re gonna catch. I’ve been fishing for 80 years and I’m still learning new things every day.”
     The youth component of the Maryland Fishing Challenge celebrated 20 lucky young anglers who advanced from DNR-sponsored fishing rodeos this summer. The generous Maryland fishing groups and individuals who sponsored youth trips this year were: Mid-Atlantic Council of Trout Unlimited, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association, Bass Federation Nation, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland, Bill’s Outdoor Center, Skip Zinck, Captain Monty Hawkins, Captain Mike Benjamin, Captain Richie Gaines and Captain Tom Hughes.
     “Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley under the Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.
     At the finale, which took place for the second year as part of the Maryland Seafood Festival, The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation presented Natural Resources Police with a $4,741 check, the proceeds from the sale of Maryland’s lifetime hunting license.
     “The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation is a loyal supporter of NRP and DNR as a whole,” said NRP Superintendent Col. George F. Johnson IV. “We certainly have a home for these funds.”
     Three batches of nearly 200 specially tagged striped bass -- one genuine Diamond Jim and 199 imposters -- were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries this summer. Diamond Jim’s value increased each month: from $10,000 in June to $20,000 in July and $25,000 in August. The nearly 600 599 Diamond Jim imposters were worth at least $500 each for the duration of the contest
     Through the citation component, 71 species of fish, including large and smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, musky and panfish in the freshwaters of Maryland; rockfish (striped bass), bluefish, drum, sea trout and perch in the Chesapeake Bay; and tuna, marlin, flounder, kingfish and sea bass caught in Maryland waters off the Atlantic Coast, were eligible for the grand prizes.
     For more information on the Maryland Fishing Challenge including a list of winners, go to www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/challenge/index.asp.

Keith Lockwood's Maryland Fishing Report

     Annapolis, Md. -- Now that we find ourselves a full week into September, fishermen are seeing cooler water temperatures and improving fishing conditions for a wide variety of fish from the waters of western Maryland to our offshore waters in the Atlantic Ocean. All types of fish are beginning to feed more aggressively and that makes for better fishing.
     This weekend the awards ceremony will take place for the 2010/2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge and several fishermen will be opening envelopes to see if they were lucky enough to catch Diamond Jim. The 2011/2012 Maryland Fishing Challenge began on September 6th so check out the Fishing Challenge website on the Fishing Report or Fisheries Home Page and be aware of the minimum sizes for fish and enter for next year's drawing. Good luck to our entrants this Saturday and to those fishermen out fishing for next year's tournament.
     Fishermen in the upper bay are experiencing cloudy water conditions spreading from the Susquehanna River. The Conowingo Dam is opening gates in a mid-day power generating schedule and creating fishing opportunities for striped bass, smallmouth bass and channel catfish as water temperatures drop to the 73-degree mark.
     Fishermen are reporting that striped bass have been spread out over a wider area since Irene moved through the region. This may be due to cooler water temperatures and the increasing number of bait in the region. Striped bass in particular are free to roam a wider range of water depths and areas when cooler water temperatures prevail. As schools of bait form, jigging and casting to breaking fish will become more common as a fall pattern of fishing begins to develop. Trolling can be a good option for fishermen with bucktails, Storm shads or spoons near channel edges and structure. Structure such as the Bay Bridge piers and the sewer pipe just north of the bridge on the eastern shore continue to good places to fish. Shallow water fishing with lures for striped bass and white perch is also becoming a good option for fishermen.
     Middle bay region fishermen report clear water in most areas and good fishing. Water temperatures have dipped to 76-degrees and the salinity at the Gooses was listed at 5.4 p.p.t.; which is about half of what it was before the Irene deluge. Despite low salinities fishermen are still catching Spanish mackerel as far north as Eastern Bay and finding larger bluefish as well. The cooler water temperatures may also be having an effect on the live lining fishery at the False Channel area as fishermen report more difficult fishing. Crowded conditions and a slow bite at times are causing some consternation among fishermen looking for a more peaceful and rewarding fishing experience. Fortunately the cooling water temperatures has caused the striped bass in the region to begin to roam more, searching for schools of bait throughout the region from the shallows of the shorelines to channel edges where strong currents sweep schools of bait with the tides. Light tackle jigging and casting to breaking fish is what September and October are all about in the Chesapeake when fishing for striped bass.
     Cooler water temperatures are causing white perch to be more active this week and fishing along shoreline structure with light tackle and an assortment of small lures can provide some fun fishing and tasty fillets. Fishing with bait such as grass shrimp, bloodworms and small minnows near deeper shoreline structure is another fun and productive way to catch a fine mess of white perch when fishing from shore.
     Lower bay region fishermen are seeing fewer effects of the heavy runoff from Irene this week and good fishing for a variety of species. Striped bass are still being found off the Gas Docks in about 30' of water by the live lining fleet. Live spot are still relatively easy to obtain from the Patuxent River and there are plenty of striped bass and increasing numbers of bluefish more than eager to chomp down on a lively spot sent to the bottom. Larger bluefish have become more common in the lower bay region and are joining in with Spanish mackerel and striped bass to chase schools of bay anchovies. Trolling at a good clip with small planers and Drone spoons is a good way to catch the Spanish mackerel. Slower speeds will get one into bluefish and striped bass. Casting into breaking fish and speed reeling metal lures is a fun way to catch Spanish mackerel and bluefish: jigging underneath is often where the largest striped bass are holding. Trolling spoons in the region from the Middle Grounds to Hooper's Island can also get one into some exciting catch and release action with the large red drum that have been frequenting the region.
     Large spot and medium sized croakers are being caught in the regions tidal rivers and the Tangier Sound area and shallow water light tackle fishermen are finding plenty of action for a mix of striped bass, speckled trout and bluefish along the eastern shorelines. The early morning and evening shallow water fishing for striped bass is becoming the real deal now that water temperatures are down into the seventies.
     Recreational crabbers are reporting mixed results so far this week in the upper bay regions tidal rivers with collapsible crab traps and trotlines. The chances of catching a full bushel in an outing increases in the middle and lower bay regions with most crabbers talking of heavy 7" crabs.
     Cooling water temperatures in the western region lakes and ponds is causing largemouth bass to become more active later on in the day as the fish begin to break out of their summer mode of behavior. Western region trout streams and rivers are showing good flows and trout are more active now with cooler water temperatures.
     Largemouth bass throughout the states many lakes, ponds and tidal rivers are becoming more active as water temperatures cool, giving fishermen a much longer window of time to enjoy good fishing. Largemouth bass can be found near the edges of grass beds and most any kind of submerged structure looking for prey items. Fishermen are reporting that spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater lures and soft plastics are all working well.
     Ocean City fishermen are reporting that sea conditions have calmed down in the offshore waters and water clarity has greatly improved in the back bay areas. Surf fishermen are catching small bluefish in the surf, a few large spot, croaker and kingfish. Large inshore sharks and rays are also present. Bluefish and striped bass are being caught at the inlet mostly at night. The bluefish are being caught on Got-Cha lures and striped bass on live eels and swim shads. Flounder are being caught in the back bay areas and at the inlet on traditional baits and live spot.
     Captains report that the sea bass fishing improved after Irene and flounder are also being caught around the wreck and artificial reef sites. Captains have also been stopping closer to shore to fish on croakers that are holding in the slough areas. Offshore fishermen are reporting white marlin releases approaching double digit figures per day. They are also reporting false albacore, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna and dolphin being caught as well.

Maryland Fishing Report by Fisheries Biologist Keith Lockwood

     Annapolis, Md. -- It was a very interesting weekend for sure and I hope that all of you faired through it without too many problems. Over here on the eastern shore we received a lot of wind and rain causing problems with downed trees, flooded roads and houses built in flood plains. I was working the Fisheries booth at the state fair in Timonium on Friday and when I started to get close to Route 50 on my way home, I couldn't help but feel empathy for all those attempting to head west. The bumper to bumper traffic stretched all the way to Easton. As I crossed the Bay Bridge I noticed a line of small boats headed for the ramps at Sandy Point State Park to be hauled out as a safety measure. There was even a convoy of YP (Yard Patrol) boats from the Naval Academy headed north to the safety of Baltimore I suspect.
     Irene did a good job of stirring up the bay and ocean waters and fishing should begin to show changes from the stretch of summer doldrums we've experienced due to high water temperatures. Water temperatures are on a downward move into the seventies and saltwater and freshwater fish will begin to become more active. If you find yourself in cloudy water conditions when fishing think of dark colored lures, lures with rattles and spinners that send vibrations through the water to help fish locate your offerings.
     A look at the Conowingo Dam shows mid-day power generation that is within normal releases; although waters are discolored to some degree fishing in the upper reaches of the bay show promise. Water temperatures are slowly decreasing and are now holding around 78-degrees. Fishing below the dam hole should improve with these water releases and the cooler water temperatures for striped bass and smallmouth bass as well. White perch fishing has been good in the lower Susquehanna and tidal rivers and creeks of the upper bay. Fishing for striped bass tends to focus around chumming and chunking at the Love Point area and to a lesser degree near channel edges near the mouth of the Magothy and around Hart/Miller Island.
     Trolling is a good option along channel edges and structure with medium sized spoons, bucktails and swim shads in tandem or behind umbrella rigs. Live lining, jigging and chunking near the pier bases at the Bay Bridge also has been productive this week.
     Middle bay region fishermen are finding Spanish mackerel all the way up to the Bloody Point area by briskly trolling small Drone spoons behind inline weights or planers. Slower trolling speeds offer the opportunity to catch striped bass. Most of the bluefish in the middle bay region are still in the 12" size range although a few 18" bluefish show up now and then. The False Channel is still holding striped bass and fishermen got right back into the saddle right after Irene passed by and winds calmed. Spot are still available in shallower waters and are being live lined or chunked on the channel edge at the False Channel. Breaking fish composed of a mix of striped bass, small bluefish and Spanish mackerel are being spotted throughout the region and there is plenty of action this week.
     Fishing for white perch and spot continues to be good in Eastern Bay, Hackett's Bar and the lower sections of most of the tidal rivers in the region. Croaker fishing along channel edges in the evening or deep during the day seems to be tapering off. Cooling water temperatures have spurred the shallow water fishery for striped bass and white perch along the shorelines of the bay and tidal rivers. Casting surface lures, jerkbaits, swim shads or spinnerbaits is a great way to enjoy some early morning or evening action.
     Fishermen in the lower bay region are finding plenty of striped bass holding at the Gas Docks with an appetite for live spot within a day of Irene's passing. The shallows of the Patuxent are holding a good supply of spot so most private and charter boats have been anchoring up to form a fleet on any given day. Breaking fish composed of striped bass, Spanish mackerel and bluefish can be found chasing bay anchovies throughout the entire region. Casting metal into the melee is always fun and jigging underneath is a good way to find the larger striped bass. Trolling nearby at a good clip with small Drone spoons behind inline weights or planers is a good way to catch Spanish mackerel. Fishermen are reporting there are some larger bluefish in the vicinity of the Middle Grounds and large red drum are being caught and released from the Middle Grounds up to Hooper's Island. Fishing for a mix of large spot, croakers and flounder continues to be good in the Tangier Sound area.
     The few recreational crabbers that have been on the water after Irene reported that they were not disappointed with the crabs they caught from the Elk River south to Crisfield. Just about everyone reported the crabs were hungry, a lot of small ones and that crabs are fattening up.
     The waters of western Maryland escaped most of the heavy rain that the eastern side of the state encountered, so most areas were running clear and fishing is good. Fisheries biologist Mark Toms reports that the upper Potomac is little changed from last week, still low and clear. It may have risen ever so slightly but we received more wind then rain. Temperatures have cooled into the mid to upper 70's due to cooler nights.
     Largemouth bass fishermen are finding that the bass are breaking out of the somewhat sluggish summer mode of behavior as water temperatures drop into the seventies. Largemouth bass fishing is still best in the early morning and evening hours but bass are aggressively striking a variety of lures near cover such as grass, spatterdock fields and sunken wood. Shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits have been good choices as well as soft plastics.
     The fishing scene in the Ocean City area is starting to bounce back fairly quickly after Irene's passing. The surf is calming down and once again fishermen are finding a mix of kingfish, small bluefish, large spot, croaker, flounder and even a few pompano in the surf on small baits. A few cobia are being caught in the surf this week by fishermen casting larger baits. Larger bluefish have been coming in through the inlet at night and a few striped bass are caught each night on swim shads or live eels. During the day flounder are the game at the inlet and the Route 50 Bridge area. In the back bay areas flounder fishing picked right up again after the storm and there is also a mix of croaker and small bluefish inside.
     Reports from boats headed out to the wreck sites for sea bass or to the canyons for offshore species are scarce so far this week. Most boat owners either hauled their boats out or used two miles of ropes to tie them to something that would hold against the wind and tidal surge. As the week progresses towards the weekend progress will be made to get back out and the traditional September white marlin bite may start as soon as this weekend.

Angler Catches State Record Longnose Gar on the Pocomoke

     Pocomoke City, Md. -- Justin Kelly, 20, of Westover, Maryland, was fishing on the Pocomoke River near Pocomoke City July 31 when he landed a state record catch. Kelly reeled in a 17-pound, 49-inch longnose gar using a metal leader with a live bluegill for bait.
     "When the fish got close, I thought we were going to need a bigger net," Kelly said.
     Realizing the its large size, Kelly took his catch to the nearest Maryland Fishing Challenge award center. The center measured and weighed the fish, then checked the Maryland Fishing Guide to find that it exceeded the 36-inch minimum angler award size and broke the previous state record of 16 pounds for longnose gar. Keith Lockwood, a biologist with the Maryland DNR, examined the fish and certified the catch.
     The longnose gar's ancestry dates back to among the most primitive of species. This brackish water fish features a long, cylindrical body with tough scales and rows of large, sharp teeth. Its bony mouth makes it difficult to catch.
     Kelly is now one of Maryland's more than 90 fishing record holders. He will also join Maryland's other angler award winners on September 10 at the Maryland Fishing Challenge Grand Finale event during the 44th annual Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park.

Kids Can Join the Club for Free with the Maryland DNR

     Annapolis, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has opened its virtual doors to a free online fishing clubhouse for anglers between the ages of 5 and 15.
     “This fishing club is a fun and helpful way to instill a sense of community and environmental stewardship in young anglers and their families,” said DNR’s Fisheries Director Tom O’Connell.
     The club will allow DNR to interact with young anglers and their mentors to promote upcoming youth events across Maryland, share fishing stories on the youth angler’s log and access dependable information on how to succeed in fishing.
     “We eventually hope to learn from our young anglers what works for them in developing an appreciation for the outdoors, so we may better support them in their endeavors,” said Letha Grimes, the club’s coordinator.
     Membership in the Maryland Youth Fishing Club is free and subject to parental approval. New members will receive a Maryland Youth Fishing Club Patch and access to helpful information from DNR and experts from partner fishing organizations across the State.
     To join the Maryland Youth Fishing Club visit dnr.maryland.gov/keepfishing.
    For more information, contact Letha Grimes at lgrimes@dnr.state.md.us.

Anglers Can Access DNR Information with New App

     Annapolis, Md. -- The new mobile web application is a slimmed down version of the Department of Natural Resources' Fisheries Service Official Web Site. The mobile web app works on a broad range of mobile devices, these include iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, WebOS, and BlackBerryOS 6.0+. To access the mobile web app point your device's browser to http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/mobile. The application is designed for folks on the go who demand information at their finger tips.
Main Features:


Today Screen

Once the app is turned on the user will be greeted with a Today screen. The screen shows upcoming events, recent news, Angler's Logs, and the most recent Maryland Fishing Challenge Citation Award winners. The menu is accessed by clicking the icon at the top of the page.
Fishing Reports
This section has the Weekly Overview by Keith Lockwood, Angler's Logs submitted by local anglers around the state, and a button that allows you to submit an angler's log of your own.

Tide Finder
The Tide Finder will serve up to 14 days of information for more than 100 sites around the Chesapeake, Potomac, and Ocean.

Regulations
The app gives users access to recreational fishing regulations for all Maryland managed species. Users may also click on more than one species/regulation at a time for comparison.

News & Updates
Have access to Fishery Service News and Updates at any time. Keep up to date with new regulations, fishing hot spots, and fresh topics from Maryland DNR Staff.

Maryland Fishing Challenge
Gain entry to the latest news, Citation Award Winners, eligible species and length requirements, and a map showing all of the 70+ Fishing Challenge Citation Award Center Locations.

Events Calendar
View upcoming Fisheries related events on the calendar.

Programs & Staff
Not sure who to call? Query Fisheries Programs for names and contact information.

Global Search
Tap the search button on the top green bar and you will be presented with a search box. From here you can type in a species and view all regulations, news stories, Angler's Logs, Fisheries Service staff contact, and state records for the species you searched for.

All information is accessible with the Fisheries Service Mobile Web (except on Windows 7) by visiting http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/mobile. Don't forget to bookmark and add to your device's home screen!

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report by Keith Lockwood

     Annapolis, Md. -- Fishermen are finding that fishing has settled into a typical summer pattern in the freshwater and Chesapeake Bay regions. Warm water temperatures and sunny conditions are offering some challenging but exciting freshwater fishing conditions for trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Striped bass in the Chesapeake waters tend to get finicky and on the move now that water temperatures in the bay have reached the 80-degree mark in many areas. Fishing offshore at Ocean City just gets better as the ocean temperatures rise and fishermen are experiencing some of the best fishing for tuna and marlin in recent memory. The sight of this beautiful white marlin alongside the boat is a lasting memory and treasure for any fisherman.
     A new batch of striped bass were tagged last week for the July component of Diamond Jim and one of these fish is worth a whopping $20,000. An exciting change to this year's Diamond Jim event is the fact that even the tagged imposter fish are eligible to split the grand prize. There are some exciting prizes up for grabs also for any fishermen who register their catch that meets the minimum size requirements for a wide variety of species; check the following link for details. www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/challenge/index.asp.
     Upper bay region fishermen are finding a typical pattern of summer chumming success at the Love Point area this week. The action there is best on a morning tide with the best fish being caught on fresh menhaden baits close to the bottom. Most of the action in the chum slick tends to be predominately sub-legal striped bass in the 15" category. Farther up the bay at the Conowingo Dam Pool a few legal sized striped bass are being caught at dawn by fishermen casting crankbaits, swim shads and live bait such as white perch and eels. There are plenty of channel catfish spread throughout the region in the upper reaches of the bay and its tidal rivers. White perch can be found on oyster lumps in the bay and also in the tidal creeks. Recreational crabbers are finding increasing numbers of crabs in the tidal creeks and rivers.
     The Bay Bridge has been a focal point for fishermen looking for larger striped bass that congregate near the bridge piers lately. The fish like the structure and wait for the tidal currents to sweep food items past the piers. Casting various types of soft plastic jigs, bucktails and metal near the bases of the piers can be a very effective way to catch some nice fish. Depth finders are very helpful in locating which piers are holding fish. Chumming can work at times and chunking or live lining spot are also good choices for fishing.
     Live lining spot has taken center stage now in the middle bay region as the supply of spot has become more abundant. The spot can be located in the shallower areas of the tidal rivers and transported to channel edges that are holding striped bass; typically the striped bass are holding in about 35' of water close to the bottom. The False Channel has been a favorite spot lately; especially since the supply of spot are close by, just off the channel at the #9 Green Buoy. The edges of the Hill and Thomas Point have been other places striped bass have also been holding periodically. Now that the heat of summer is upon us fishermen will often find the fish are moving quite frequently. Trolling is a good alternative at times and a mix of bucktails dressed with soft plastics and spoons can work well. Most captains are running inline weights or planers now since the fish are holding close to the bottom. Bluefish have not moved into the region in any appreciable numbers yet so soft plastics and live spot have a good chance of lasting a while.

July 4th is a Free Fishing Day in Maryland

     Annapolis, Md. -- Each year the state of Maryland encourages new anglers and visitors to sample the state’s excellent fishing opportunities by fishing without licenses on the first two Saturdays of June and on July 4th.
     “This is an excellent opportunity to check out the exceptional fishing that Maryland offers,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I encourage everyone to take their families and friends to our abundant streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, and bays for some quality time. Consider spreading your passion for fishing by introducing a new angler to the sport.”
     Free-fishing anglers must adhere to minimum size and creel limits for the 62 species that are managed by DNR, of course.
     Fishing regulations and a downloadable copy of the 2011 Maryland Fishing Guide are available online at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/regindex.asp. Copies of the 2011 Fishing Guide are also available at most tackle shops and at the seven DNR Service Centers around the state.
     Anglers fishing on state free fishing days do not need to register with the National Saltwater Angler registry.
     DNR Service Center information is available at dnr.maryland.gov/service/center.asp. For information on the National Saltwater Angler Registry go to dnr.maryland.gov/swregistry.asp.
     DNR encourages anglers of all ages to share photos of and information about the fish they catch by reporting through the DNR Angler’s Log—dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/log.