The Maryland Fishing Challenge runs annually from 12:01am the day after Labor Day until 12:00am (midnight) Labor Day of the current year. Anyone who catches a fish matching the minimum size requirements and checks it in at a local Award Center will be eligible to enter into the challenge. You will receive more information via letter when you recieve your Maryland Fishing Challenge Award certificate in the mail.

1. Anyone is eligible except a professional guide, a charter boat captain or a crewman of a for-hire boat or anyone who offers his fish for sale. No registration fee is required.
2. All fish registered must be caught on rod and reel. No other person may touch the rod or line until the leader is within grasp or the end of the leader has reached the rod tip.
3. Fish that have been snagged, shot, gaffed, speared, scaled, or mutilated are not eligible.
4. The catch must be lawful. Anglers should be aware of the rules pertaining to fishing and eligible sizes of fish at all time.
5. The Maryland Fishing Challenge reserves the right to refuse any application that is not complete.
6. The decision of the Maryland Fishing Challenge will be final.
7. Special awards can be awarded upon approval of the tournament director in the case of unusual catches or extenuating circumstances.

*Exceptions will be made for the establishment of a new state record, in which case the fish must be weighed.

Where to Fish

• Freshwater Division: All freshwater ponds, lakes, impoundments and non-tidal waters.
• Chesapeake Bay Division: The entire Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its' tidal tributaries, including the tidal Potomac River and it's Maryland tributaries.
• Atlantic Coast Division: Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City Inlet, Chincoteague Bay, Sinepuxent Bay, Isle of Wight Bay, and Assawoman Bay (and their tributaries) bounded to the north by the Maryland-Delaware Line and to the south by the Maryland-Virginia Line and Federal waters off the coast of Maryland provided the trip embarked from Maryland.

Entering Your Catch

1. Fish must be registered at an official Fishing Challenge Recognition Award Center.
2. All entries with the exception of sharks and billfish must now be measured. All measurements should be in total length (tip of the nose to the tip of the longest extended portion of the tail of the fish). Exceptions will be made for the establishment of a new state record, in which case the fish must be weighed.
3. All marlin, sharks and red drum must be released alive with a photograph and the signature of the captain of the vessel accompanying the entry in order to be eligible for the tournament.

Diamond Jim Rules and Cash Payouts

During the 2013 Maryland Fishing Challenge, striped bass will be tagged with specially marked chartreuse tags and released into Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay during the contest time frame of May 24, 2013 through midnight, September 2, 2013. Each month, specially tagged striped bass will be tagged and released into the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay with only one being the authentic Diamond Jim. The remaining tagged striped bass are known as imposters, and are valued at a minimum reward of $500. There is no limit to the number of tagged fish you can catch.

During the months of June, July and August of the Maryland Fishing Challenge, if you catch a striped bass tagged with the special 2012 Diamond Jim chartreuse tag, you could win up to $25,000. During these three months of the tournament, striped bass with a chartreuse tags will be released - one of the tagged striped bass each month will be worth a minimum of $10,000 if caught in the month it was released or possibly up to $25,000 if the prior months' "Diamond Jim" was not caught.

• JUNE: On May 24th, striped bass will be released into the Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. One of the tagged striped bass will be designated the "Diamond Jim" worth $10,000 if caught between May 24th, 2012 through midnight June 30, 2012. The remaining tagged striped bass are known as imposters, worth a minimum of $500 if caught between May 24th, 2012 and September 3, 2012. If the June "Diamond Jim" striped bass is not caught before midnight June 30, 2012, that striped bass becomes an imposter fish, worth at least $500, and a new "Diamond Jim" striped bass is selected from a new group of striped bass which are tagged and released on June 30, 2012 which will be worth $20,000.
• JUNE: On or about May 24, 2013, striped bass will be released into the Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. One of the tagged striped bass will be designated the "Diamond Jim" worth $10,000 if caught between May 24th, 2013 through midnight June 30, 2013. The remaining tagged striped bass are known as imposters, worth a minimum of $500 if caught between May 24th, 2013 and September 2, 2013. If the June "Diamond Jim" striped bass is not caught before midnight June 30, 2013, that striped bass becomes an imposter fish, worth at least $500, and a new "Diamond Jim" striped bass is selected from a new group of striped bass which are tagged and released on or about June 30, 2013 which will be worth $20,000.
• JULY: On or about June 28, 2013, additional striped bass are tagged and released into Maryland's portion of Chesapeake Bay. Again, one of the newly tagged striped bass is "Diamond Jim", and eligible if caught before midnight July 31, 2013, and the remaining fish are known as imposters, each of which is worth a minimum of $500. If the June "Diamond Jim" striped bass is caught, the July Diamond Jim striped bass is worth $10,000 in cash. If the June "Diamond Jim" striped bass is not caught, the July "Diamond Jim" striped bass reward will be worth $20,000.
• AUGUST: On or about July 26, 2013, additional striped bass are tagged and released into Maryland's portion of Chesapeake Bay. Again, only one of the newly tagged striped bass is "Diamond Jim", eligible if caught before midnight on September 2, 2013, and the remaining striped bass are imposters, worth a minimum of $500. If the July "Diamond Jim" striped bass is caught in the specified time frame, the August "Diamond Jim" is worth $10,000. If the June "Diamond Jim " striped bass is caught in the specified time frame and the July "Diamond Jim" is not caught in the specified time frame, the August "Diamond Jim" is worth $20,000. If neither the June or July "Diamond Jim" striped bass are caught in the specified time frame, the final "Diamond Jim" is worth $25,000.
• If no authentic "Diamond Jim" striped bass are caught during the contest. Any imposter striped bass which have been caught between May 24, 2013 and September 2, 2013 and are certified by MD DNR officials to have been caught consistent with the rules of the contest will divide $25,000 equally among the anglers qualifying.
• Anyone is eligible except a professional guide, a charter boat captain or a crewman of a for-hire boat or anyone who offers his fish for sale. All fish registered must be caught on rod and reel. No other person may touch the rod or line until the leader is within grasp or the end of the leader has reached the rod tip. Fish that have been snagged, shot, gaffed, speared, scaled, or mutilated are not eligible. The catch must be lawful. Anglers should be aware of the rules pertaining to fishing and eligible sizes of fish at all time.

Entering Your Catch:

A chartreuse tag will be placed on a select number of striped bass that are part of the "Diamond Jim" promotion. If this fish is caught, DO NOT REMOVE THE TAG FROM THE STRIPED BASS. IF THE TAG IS REMOVED, THE FISH WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PRIZES. Call the phone number printed on the tag, and leave a message (the voicemails are retrieved daily). Place the fish on ice or freeze the fish. A DNR Fisheries biologist MUST physically examine the striped bass with the tag still attached for the fish to be eligible. If the tag is removed, the catch will be disqualified. The chartreuse fish tag will have the words ""MD 2013 DIAMOND JIM FISHING CHALLENGE INELIGIBLE IF TAG IS REMOVED - Phone Number- Tag number". It may take several days for an inspection to be conducted, so PLEASE FREEZE OR ICE YOUR FISH WITHOUT REMOVING THE TAG.

If the MD DNR official(s) inspect and certify your fish as eligible, the angler who caught the tagged striped bass will be required to sign a certificate of recapture which contains an under penalty of perjury statement. If the angler is under the age of 18, the legal guardian will also be required to sign the certificate of recapture form. Upon signing this certification form, MD DNR officials will conduct an investigation including, but not limited to, requiring the winner and a witness to the catch to complete a DNR NRP polygraph examination before the prize is awarded.

By participating in the 2013 Maryland Fishing Challenge, you agree to be mentioned by name in the media (i.e. newspaper, television, radio, internet, etc.) and photographed for use during Fishing Challenge promotions. Each winner is responsible for paying any and all taxes on any prize(s) won. You must provide your contact information (and those of your parent or guardian, if you are under 18 years of age) and your fishing license (if applicable) at the time of the inspection. DNR must certify that you are qualified before your name will be entered into the final prize drawing.

Awards

1. Awards will be mailed to an angler whose catch equals or exceeds the minimum sizes listed on the eligible species list.
2. Because of the change in billfishing and shark fishing ethics, the Maryland Fishing Challenge will no longer provide awards for marlin, sharks, swordfish, or sailfish which are killed and returned to port. The only exception to this rule will be in the event a new state record is established, in which case the fish must be weighed. Anglers and captains should be aware of the current record sizes of marlin and sharks. Due to the implementation of this rule, all marlin and sharks caught and released will receive awards, however no division winner will be awarded. In addition, due to restrictions on the harvest of red drum along the Atlantic coast, only catch & release awards are available for this species above the newly certified minimum size.
3. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Catch and Release Program rewards fishermen who release their catch alive. An angler who meets or exceeds the minimum size stated in the Size Requirements on the Maryland Fishing Challenge website and if the species is in season, will receive a Fishing Challenge Award. A Photo must be submitted with the application.

1. Fish must be caught in Maryland waters by rod and reel and released alive and in good shape.
2. Fish must meet or exceed the minimum Angler Award length. Fish must be measured from tip of jaw to tip of tail to determine if eligible, lay the fish on a tape measure or ruler to photograph so that the species and size can be verified.
3. Only one Angler Award per species per day is allowed.
4. To advance to the Grand Awards Event in the Maryland Fishing Challenge, catch and release entries must include a clear photograph of the fish and the signature and contact information of a witness, then register at an Angler Award center. Digital photos are acceptable.