Bethesda Angler Catches Diamond Jim Imposter Near James Island

$25,000 Diamond Jim Still On The Loose, Challenge Ends September 6

Annapolis, Md. (August 26, 2010) — The third Diamond Jim imposter of the 2010 Maryland Fishing challenge was caught on August 22 by Devin Singer of Bethesda, Md. Singer was enjoying his first-ever fishing trip near James Island aboard the Charter Boat "Never Enuff," skippered by Captain Shawn Pruitt out of Solomons, Md., when he caught the tagged striped bass. The Diamond Jim imposter, worth $500 in prize money, was one of nearly 600 rockfish tagged so far this summer.

“Congratulations to Mr. Singer on catching one of the Diamond Jim imposters and becoming a winner of the 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John Griffin. “As a first-time fisherman, Mr. Singer shows that the Fishing Challenge is a great incentive for all Marylanders to get out on the water and enjoy Maryland’s beautiful waterways and abundant natural resources.”

“I didn’t know what it was when I caught it; I’ve never even been fishing before,” said Singer. “Everyone else on the boat knew. It kind of hit me halfway through the fishing trip when the captain called the verification number to report it and then I knew. I think we’re going again in September. A bunch of my friends are out all during the season and I’ll probably be piggy backing with them a lot more now.”

Over the summer, three batches of specially tagged striped bass – one authentic Diamond Jim and the rest imposters – have been released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The current Diamond Jim, which was released July 29, is worth $25,000. Also still on the loose are as many as 599 imposters worth $500 each.

The Maryland Fishing Challenge Featuring Diamond Jim is a free, year-round tournament sponsored by DNR’s Fisheries Service, 27 recreational fishing organizations and generous donors across the State. The purpose of the event is to promote Maryland’s excellent fishing opportunities and the importance of children in the outdoors as an essential key to future environmental stewardship.

The 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge ends at midnight on Labor Day with a grand awards celebration at Sandy Point State Park to follow in conjunction with the 43rd Annual Maryland Seafood Festival on September 11. Qualified anglers can vie for grand prizes including a Tracker boat package from Bass Pro Shops Arundel Mills and a 7-day dream excursion to the island of Tobago courtesy of the World Fishing Network. Other prizes include thousands of dollars in fishing gear, merchandise from Under Armour amd kayaks from Kent Island Kayaks and Bass Pro Shops Arundel Mills.

Through the citation component, more than 60 species of fish are eligible for the grand prizes, 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.

Anglers under age 16 who take part in any of the 50 fishing rodeos across the state and win their event are invited to the finale and guaranteed a “fishing trip of a lifetime,” sponsored by supporting Fishing Challenge partners and sponsors.

“Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley in April 2009. The bill is part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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 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