Next Update: July 1, 2009 (By 5pm)

Designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge began Friday, May 29th and runs through Labor Day, September 7, 2009. Any angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish will be eligible to win one of the official sponsor grand prizes including a boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and thousands of dollars in merchandise and fishing trips from Bill's Outdoor Center.

On May 28, 2009, fifty specially tagged striped bass were released at locations throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. One of the 50 will be Diamond Jim, a fish worth $10,000 cash if caught by midnight on June 30, 2009. The other tagged striped bass, Diamond Jim imposters, will be worth $500 each if caught at any time during the contest.

Here is the link to the Fishing Challenge website; a world of information there. www.dnr.state.md.us/fishingchallenge/

After weeks of dodging thunderstorms and heavy rains; fishermen may get a break this week and be able to enjoy some good fishing weather. Summer is official here now that the summer solstices occurred this past Sunday on Father’s day. Many fathers got to spend the day with family and for many sons and daughters fishing was involved. Garret Kelley and Chandler Parish look like they’re all ready to clean their mixed catch for their dad’s Father’s day fish fry. This may be the only day when dad doesn’t have to clean the fish.

Striped bass continue to be a major focus this week for fishermen in all three regions of the bay. Fishermen are employing chumming, trolling, jigging, casting in the shallows and live lining spot this week for their striped bass. The Love Point, Mud Flats has been a productive area in the upper bay; the western side of the shipping channel from Breezy Point to the Gas Docks is the place to look for striped bass in the middle bay region. Lower bay fishermen are finding a mix of bluefish and striped bass at the Middle Grounds and the mouth of the Potomac River. The Gas Docks continues to be striped bass central where fishermen are catching them by trolling, jigging and live lining.

Croaker have moved farther up the bay and the tidal rivers; less rain this week may be all that is needed to provide the really good fishing everyone has been waiting for in the middle and upper bay regions. Lower bay and Tangier Sound fishermen have very good croaker fishing this week with a healthy mix of small bluefish, flounder, spot and some speckled trout tossed in. Recreational crabbers are finding full heavy crabs this week in many of the bays tidal rivers and creeks.

Freshwater fishermen are enjoying good fishing this week for largemouth bass throughout the entire state. Moderate water temperatures still have them in a very active post-spawn feeding mode and fishermen are enjoying every opportunity to catch these fish. Brothers Addison and Daniel Goodley were fishing St. Mary’s Lake together and Addison caught this shot of his brother Daniel with a nice largemouth bass and a beautiful sunset.

Fishermen at the Ocean City area had a very exciting weekend during the annual shark tournament there. Jim Hughes caught the new official state record mako shark of 876lbs and Brent Applegit caught a pending state record thresher shark at 642lbs. Flounder fishing has been very good this week in the back bay areas; surf fishermen are catching a summer mix of bluefish, croaker and flounder along with a variety of large sharks and sting rays. Sea bass fishing remains good this week with some flounder and tautog also coming over the rail.

Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 600 pixels. Please try to keep the file size small, under one megabyte. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.html
Include the following information:

• Date
• Angler(s)
• Hometown(s)
• Photo credit

• Location

• Weight/length of catch

• Bait/lure

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture. By sending any photos or art to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources you are giving DNR permission to use the image(s) online and in print. You are also giving DNR permission to distribute the photo for non-commercial purposes to other media, print, digital and television for their use. You are not giving up your copyright, but are allowing the photo(s) to be used for educational and news purposes.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

Until next week,

Tight Lines,

Keith Lockwood
MD DNR Fisheries Service

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