New State Record Warmouth Caught

Bowie, MD — A Maryland angler, Don Perantoni, has set a new Maryland state record for a warmouth. In the welter weight category of fish, the catch is a champion by all accounts at 9.76 ounces and 9.065 inches in length. Don’s catch sets a precedent for all other warmouth catches, as this is a new State record category.

On August 7, Don was fishing at Cash Lake at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center’s Outreach and Education Center when the warmouth grabbed a surface popper that he had cast.

“Warmouth are a relatively small freshwater native species in Maryland and are a member of the sunfish family,” said Keith Lockwood, of DNR Fisheries Service. “They are an aggressive, hard fighting fish and are popular with anglers.”

The 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge is a great opportunity to search for another very special fish – Diamond Jim! Designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, the challenge began Friday, May 29th and runs through Labor Day, September 7, 2009. As of today, Diamond Jim is worth $25,000, and more than 145 imposters are still on the loose, which are worth $500 each if caught. To learn more about the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge, visit http://dnr.maryland.gov/fishingchallenge/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 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 12 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