Maryland Angler's Log - Share Your Catch!

To post a report please email your name, hometown, photos, location information, and the content for your report to fishingreports@dnr.state.md.us. All information is optional, but encouraged.

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by 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. All Photos will be made available on Fisheries Service Flickr Page.

The Snakehead Contest is being incorporated into an Inland Freshwater Survey on the Volunteer Angler Creel Survey webpage. For 2013 the end-of-year random drawing will include anglers reporting snakeheads to the Anglers Log as well as anglers participating in the Volunteer Angler Creel Surveys. We encourage anglers to continue to report snakehead catches. The information is helping our biologists better understand how this invasive species increases its range.

search the logs: 

  1. Nick Wallace, Recreational Angler
  2. Total Reports: 1
  3. View all reports by Nick Wallace →

Posted on February 14, 2013 | Permalink

Will We See More Red Drum This Summer?

Type: Chesapeake
Region:
Location: Chesapeake Bay

Do you think that we will see more and bigger red drum this upcoming season? Any chance they might have stayed here for the winter instead of leaving?

DNR Response: The majority of red drum that were in Maryland waters last year should have left. They are not extremely tolerant of cold water. We saw a large year class of fish in 2002 and they did not return the following year. The abundance of fish in 2012 was considerably higher than in 2002, indicating an even stronger year class. It is possible with so many age 2 fish around (based on size last years fish were age one) that some may have remained and/or will return. We have not seen that many juvenile red drum in the Bay in decades, so we are kind of in uncharted territory. The winter has not been extremely cold, and I have heard second hand reports of fishermen catching them in January around some of the power plant warm water discharges. Typically they remain in NC and to a lesser extent VA as they mature. Once reaching maturity at age 3-5 they move more off shore, become migratory and only infrequently enter Maryland's portion of Chesapeake Bay in decent numbers. A few stragglers show up every year. Most of the fish we saw last year will grow into the 18-27 inch slot limit next year. So in short, history is not on our side, but only time will tell if we get a nice fishing bonus this summer.

Tags: red drum


  1. Tom O'Connell, Fisheries Service Director
  2. Total Reports: 35
  3. View all reports by Tom O'Connell →

Posted on April 26, 2011 | Permalink

NEW REPORT

Ever Hear about the Freshwater Institute?

Type: All
Region:
Location: Shephardstown, MD

On April 14th, I had the opportunity to join our Inland Fisheries Division Director (Don Cosden) and Hatcheries Division Director (Brian Richardson) in a field trip to the Freshwater Institute located in Shephardstown, MD. The Freshwater Institute is one of the nation's premier research and development facilities dedicated to the sustainable use of water. The focus of our trip was to discuss partnership opportunties as the Federal funding that supports the Freshwater Institute is at risk.

Of particular interest was to learn more about their environmentally sustainable trout hatchery production operations. The Freshwater Institute may be able to provide technical assistance to improve our trout production and environmental sustainability of our production facilities.

For those of you that may have caught or heard about someone catching one of our stocked 'holdover' rainbow trout, it may have been produced by the Freshwater Instituate. You see, when the Freshwater Institaute completes its research projects, they need to get rid of their fish. A couple of years ago, the Freshwater Institute began providing these large 'holdover' rainbow trout to MD DNR Fisheries Service for stocking. The day following our visit, our hatchery staff picked up some really nice sized 'holdover' rainbow trout for stocking. These fish have already been stocked, and I hope that some of you have been able to catch one.

The Freshwater Institute is also conducting an aquaculture research project that looks to identify production techniques to improve the sustainability of land-based, closed containment systems for Atlantic salmon. Aquaculture is a priority of Governor Martin O'Malley's Administration (i.e. shellfish aquaculture development plan implemented in 2010). Based upon the information that the Freshwater Institute provided us regarding the economic viability of fish aquaculture, there are some great opportunities for Atlantic salmon and yellow perch aquaculture in Maryland. With the consolidation of Maryland's aquaculture program being transferred to MD DNR Fisheries Service, effective July 1st, we will have the opportunity to improve the promotion of these sustainable aquaculture operations.

For those of you that would like to learn more about the Freshwater Institute, I encourage you to check out their website: http://www.freshwaterinstitute.org/. Attached picture is of Don Cosden (MD DNR Inland Fisheries Division Director) and Steve Summerfelt (Freshwater Institute, Director of Aquaculture Systems Research). Attached video is of the contained aquacutlure system being used for Atlantic salmon.

Tags: Freshwater institute


  1. Gary Bowman, Recreational Angler
  2. Derwood, MD
  3. Total Reports: 2
  4. View all reports by Gary Bowman →

Posted on August 30, 2010 | Permalink

Old Rag and Summer

Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Upper Potamac

Took kayak out to Upper Potomac. Water was low and gin clear. Lots of SAV and algae. Got on the water about 4:00PM. First two hours was OK. Sunfish were very active . Hitting small topwaters on just about every cast.

Got two smallmouths on wacky style worms. Fish came from downcurrent side of rocks. About 6:30 switched on a 3” jointed firetiger Rapala and it was like someone rang the dinner bell. Just about every cast near a rock produced a hit.

Cast, land, twitch and POW! I lost count. Landed many smallmouths and missed quite a few too.

Tags: Smallmouth Bass

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