All About Striped Bass
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4/30/2013
Applications for Advisory Commission Vacancies Now Being Accepted
Due to term expirations, there will be several vacancies on Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission (SFAC) and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission (TFAC) beginning June 30, 2013. The SFAC advises the Department on recreational fishing issues and the TFAC advises the Department on commercial fishing issues. SFAC Commissioners serve 4 year terms and are required to attend 4 quarterly meetings annually. TFAC Commissioners serve 2 year terms and are required to attend 4 quarterly meetings annually. Meetings are held from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. Commissioners are reimbursed for travel (mileage) and meal expenses. For more information, including meeting agendas, summaries, and Sport and Tidal Fisheries Commission operating guidelines, visit the Management Committees at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fmp/. If you are interested in applying to serve on either the SFAC or TFAC, please contact Martin Gary at (410) 260-8289 or mlgary@dnr.state.md.us. The application deadline is 5:00 pm Friday, May 24. The Department will review and make recommendations to the Governor's Appointments Office for consideration. Selection of new Commissioners will be completed by June 30.
4/23/2013
Change Coming to Maryland’s Commercial Striped Bass Fishery
DNR Sets a May 10 Striped Bass Commercial Control Date for Quota Allocation The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service is making a significant management change to the commercial Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass fishery. DNR is working to meet fishing industry goals, create a more sustainable system, increase accountability and make it easier for police to enforce the law. The system will also comply with new Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirements. These changes are the result of extensive meetings with the Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission's Striped Bass Industry Workgroup over the past 18 months. The proposed change is the allocation of individual quotas to fishing permit holders based on their Striped Bass catch histories from January 1, 2001 through February 29, 2012. New regulations will impact Striped Bass permit holders fishing in 2014. DNR has set a cutoff (control date) of May 10, 2013 as the date when a waterman with a record of catching Striped Bass must possess a commercial Striped Bass permit in order to be eligible for a 2014 allocation. "There are watermen who participated in the Striped Bass fishery in the 2001 to 2012 period but no longer have a Striped Bass permit. There are also watermen working with a temporary transferred permit who have accumulated a catch history, which could justify a quota allocation for them under the new management program," said Mike Luisi, director of DNR Fisheries Estuarine and Marine Division. "It's important that these watermen understand that their catch history will not be considered if they don't possess a Striped Bass permit on May 10." "We are asking that any permit owner or potential buyer considering a permanent Striped Bass permit transfer after May 10th consult with us before committing to a sale. We want fishermen to be well informed regarding the allocation impacts when making this business decision," said Luisi. Fishermen with any questions may contact Mike Luisi at 410-260-8341 or mluisi@dnr.state.md.us, or Janelle Mueller at 410-260-8270 or jmueller@dnr.state.md.us.
4/19/2013
Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Spring Striped Bass Season to Open
With the spring season opener kicking off tomorrow, Maryland's iconic striped bass, better known as rockfish, has area anglers preparing to get out on the water in hopes of reeling in a big one. Maryland's Chesapeake Bay spring Striped Bass season opens at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 with a one fish per person per day limit and a minimum size of 28 inches through May 15. "The third Saturday of April marks the moment Bay anglers await to test their skill and luck in catching a trophy-sized rockfish," said Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service Director Tom O'Connell. "It's a great time to join friends and family in pursuit of our State fish." The Striped Bass regulations for Maryland's Chesapeake Bay are listed below by season dates and fish limit per angler, per day. Size is measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. April 20 – May 15, one fish, minimum 28 inches Fishing for Striped Bass is restricted to Chesapeake Bay waters from the Brewerton Channel to the Virginia Line, including Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. Fishing for Striped Bass is not allowed in any other bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers in order to avoid disrupting striped bass spawning activity. May 16 – May 31, two fish, minimum 18 inches, with just one over 28 inches Legal Striped Bass Fishing area expands slightly; click here to check the online Striped Bass Fishing Map. June 1- December 15, two fish, minimum 18 inches, with just one over 28 inches All Maryland Chesapeake Bay and tributary waters open for Striped Bass fishing. DNR reminds anglers to minimize the harm to fish when engaged in catch and release fishing. You should consider all striped bass fishing to be potentially catch and release considering the relatively high size limit and low possession limit. Click here for an overview of prudent catch and release practices. Striped Bass fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, Maryland's Coastal Bays and coastal tidal tributaries is open year round with a two fish daily limit and a minimum size of 28 inches. Maryland's reservoirs (Liberty, Piney Run, Tridelphia, Conowingo, Bradford Lake, Jennings Randolph and Rocky Gorge) are also open to Striped Bass fishing all year with an 18-inch minimum size, two fish per day creel limit, with only one of the two being longer than 30 inches. For detailed information on Maryland regulations, sport fishing species and fishing licenses, check out the new digital Maryland Fishing Guide. Anglers who register a Striped Bass of 40 inches or more (36 inches in nontidal waters) at any of the more than 60 Maryland Angler Award Centers across the State will receive free admission and a chance to win prizes at the 2013 Maryland Fishing Challenge Finale. The event will take place at the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park on September 7. Prizes include tackle packages from Bass Pro Shops and Bill's Outdoor Center, a boat/trailer package from Tracker Marine, a vacation from World Fishing Network, Under Armour gear and other great prizes. DNR invites all anglers to help in the fisheries management process by participating in the online Volunteer Angler Survey. The department is looking for trip information for Bluefish, Blue Crabs, Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass and tournament Largemouth Bass. The Maryland Angler's Log is a family-friendly fishing report page where anglers share what they are catching, fishing hotspots and techniques. For DNR Fisheries Service updates, sign up to receive the Maryland Fisheries News email and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
May 20, 2013
43.5 Inch Rockfish
by Russell Owen
May 20, 2013
Clopper Lake Bass
by Stephen Mac
May 20, 2013
A Little Flounder Action
by Joe Gillespie
May 20, 2013
Bush River White Catfish
by John Horgan
May 20, 2013
North Point Catfish
by Mike Stilwell