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Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge Heads Into Second Weekend
Anglers reeled in 13 tagged fish during first week of tournament
ANNAPOLIS — As the Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge heads into its second weekend, anglers around the state are gearing up for the opportunity to catch a tagged fish that could be the ticket to big money. Since the tournament kicked off on June 3, 13 tagged fish, 11 largemouth bass and two striped bass, have been caught and certified by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service biologists.
“The cool water in the Bay has started to warm up to optimal temperatures and anglers can anticipate hooking greater numbers of striped bass, croaker and white perch,” said Martin L. Gary, a DNR Fisheries Ecologist. “We expect to see more and more tagged fish caught with each passing day.”
The lucky anglers who landed tagged fish this week will all receive a $25 gift certificate to Boater’s World and a Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge t-shirt. They will also be entered into the drawing to play for the $1 million prize. They are:
June 9June 8
- David Dragovich of Grasonville caught a 20" striped bass (tag #485) while casting in the shoreline shallows of the Chester River.
June 7
- Kevin Beaudean of Elkton caught a 16" largemouth bass (tag #218) in Swan Creek off the Susquehanna Flats.
- Gerard "Jerry" Tegges of Bel Air caught a 17.5" largemouth bass (tag #209) on the Susquehanna Flats near Havre de Grace.
June 6
- David Hammond of Spring Grove, Pa., caught a 20" striped bass (tag # 106) while trolling off the mouth of the Severn River near Tolley Point in 60 feet of water.
- Frederick "Al" Bougourd of Baltimore caught a 16.5” largemouth bass (tag #225) from shore at Tydings Park in Havre de Grace.
All catches, including a photo of the angler with his or her fish, are listed on the Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge website, which is located at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/. The site also contains official rules and frequently asked questions about the tournament.
The Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge is sponsored by Boater’s World and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). Approximately 2,000 fish have been fitted with a bright green tag and released into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Anglers who catch one of specially tagged striped bass, largemouth bass, Atlantic croaker and white perch are reminded NOT TO REMOVE THE TAG from the fish and to immediately call the phone number listed on it. A DNR Fisheries biologist will come out to verify the catch within 24 hours and only after that should the angler release the fish back into the water.
June 10, 2005The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov