Invasive Chesapeake Channa can be found in most of the Chesapeake’s tributaries The Chesapeake Channa, or snakehead, has developed a dedicated following in the sportfishing community–even though they’ve been an unwelcome addition to Maryland waterways. These invasive predators known primarily as snakeheads were coined Chesapeake Channa by the Maryland General Assembly in 2024. Whatever you Read the Rest…
Survey of Maryland anglers shows interest in microfishing When most people think about fishing, they envision a proud angler holding a trophy-sized bass for an attention-grabbing photo of a personal best catch. But a type of fishing with the opposite approach has been gaining traction in recent years—microfishing. As the name implies, anglers use a Read the Rest…
It may be hot out but there is plenty of great fishing to be had throughout Maryland. Be sure to pack some fishing gear or charter a fishing trip and make some lasting family memories. The 2025 striped bass season will reopen in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay this coming Friday, August 1. Once Read the Rest…
New state mark for species set just eight days after 30-year-old record fell The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized Jack Dorman of Mt. Airy as the new state record holder for false albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus) in the Atlantic Division. Dorman’s 26.0-pound catch surpasses the previous record of 23.5 pounds that was just Read the Rest…
On Tuesday, August 5, Maryland will host an open house in Annapolis to provide information for the public about the recently released draft revisions to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Agreement is the voluntary plan – signed by Maryland, New York, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Read the Rest…
Marylanders are out enjoying the outdoors as we find ourselves in the peak of the summer vacation season. Anglers are finding good fishing in the tidal rivers for Chesapeake Channa. Anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are reminded that all fishing and targeting of striped bass is closed from July 16 through July Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will provide $20 million in Waterway Improvement Fund allocations to communities and projects throughout Maryland in Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1. The funds will support new and improved public boating access facilities, dredging of navigable public waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important Read the Rest…
Photographers and nature enthusiasts have until August 1 to submit their most beautiful images of the state’s flora and fauna to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2025 Photo Contest. As in past years, winning entries will be featured on the next Maryland DNR nature calendar to be published in late fall, and all winners Read the Rest…
Maryland is celebrating the creation of four brand-new mountain bike trails in Savage River State Forest, including the first adaptive mountain bike trail on state forestlands. Tucked in the mountains of Western Maryland near Accident in Garrett County, the Margraff Plantation Trail System offers six miles of newly-constructed trails – a 1.4-mile beginner trail, a Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Timothy K. Shaarda of Clayton, North Carolina, as a new state record holder for false albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus) in the Atlantic Division. Shaarda’s 23.5-pound catch breaks a record that had stood for 30 years.
Dissolved oxygen conditions show mixed results in May and June 2025 Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show an increasing volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l of oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia from early to late June. No hypoxia was observed in Read the Rest…
We’re in the peak of summer and people across Maryland can be seen traveling the roads for family vacation destinations. For many, fishing and enjoying the outdoors will be part of the fun, and with school out our younger anglers get to indulge in fishing. Anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are reminded Read the Rest…
Maryland DNR now accepting grant applications for Fiscal Year 2027 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Grants Gateway application is open for local governments and organizations for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1, 2026. Through this process, DNR connects Maryland communities with funding for projects and programs that improve water quality in local waterways, Read the Rest…
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, Community Parks and Playgrounds, and Rural Legacy programs The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.4 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The funding will be used for a new Read the Rest…
The Department of Natural Resources reminds Maryland recreational anglers that targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is prohibited from July 16 through July 31. This closure, now in its sixth season, is necessary to protect the species, because when water and air temperatures rise in the hottest part of summer, Read the Rest…
The Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer gives planners and decision makers access to the most current coastal flood data Maryland coastal residents can now explore local coastal flooding risks today and into the future. This month, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer, a user-friendly and interactive mapper that allows users Read the Rest…
Hunters can now enter the lottery selection process for the annual six-day black bear hunt in Western Maryland. The cost to enter the lottery is $15 and applications can be purchased from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through August 31. The 2025 bear hunting season will be open October 20-25 in all of Read the Rest…
Two Maryland organizations will receive support for education and stewardship programming to enhance environmental education in the state. Outdoor education and stewardship funding is made possible from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant. Specific amounts will be contingent upon federal funding availability and approval.
Strengthened ‘Operation Dry Water’ patrols crack down on drunk boaters The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged nine impaired boaters and investigated nine reportable boating accidents during its annual Operation Dry Water “saturation patrol” campaign, conducted from July 4 to July 6. Statistically this time is the busiest and most dangerous boating holiday. No boating Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced more than $1.275 million in competitive grants for six climate resilience projects to help communities plan, design and construct solutions to withstand flooding and other weather-related events. The selected projects will reduce risk for vulnerable communities, incorporate climate change data into existing plans and policies, and develop nature-based Read the Rest…
The “Races at Fair Hill” horse racing event to take place Aug. 30 for first time since 2019 Horse racing will return this summer to the turf track at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Cecil County, providing new opportunities for economic development through outdoor recreation and equine events. The turf track inside the Read the Rest…
The peak of the summer season is here and a time for vacations, relaxing on the water, and of course, fishing. As a reminder, striped bass fishing of any kind will be off limits in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from July 16-31. This annual summer break for our state fish helps protect them Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) selected Josh Montgomery as the winner of the Inaugural DNR Waterfowl Photo Contest, with his image of his retriever carrying a canvasback duck. This image will be available on a new hard-card license offered through the MD Outdoors licensing and registration system, and on the DNR 2026 Maryland Natural Read the Rest…
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is awarding $29 million from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to 27 ecological restoration projects encompassing 160 sites throughout the state for Fiscal Year 2026. These projects were selected based on their ability to improve water quality and provide other benefits such as resilience to Read the Rest…
The long-term effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay has made steady progress, and there is still more work to do. We’re on track to complete or have already completed more than half of the outcomes we set for ourselves in 2014, when all seven watershed jurisdictions (six states and DC), the federal government, and the Read the Rest…
The Chesapeake Bay is now home to one of the largest populations of the bird in the U.S. For 18 years, Glenn Therres watched the recovery of Maryland’s bald eagles from the window of a four-seater plane. The long-time bald eagle biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Therres had counted nests for the Read the Rest…
It’s Independence Day weekend, the kids are out of school, and summer is officially here – all wonderful things. Summer offers a fantastic time to get the whole family out for a fishing adventure tuned to their capabilities. July 4 is designated as a Free Fishing Day where no fishing license is needed to fish Read the Rest…
As summer has begun, Maryland Department of Natural Resources scientists caution the public to be vigilant about freshwater algae mats that can sometimes be a health hazard for dogs and other animals. Benthic algae mats are accumulations of algae that can vary in structure and appearance, but are often dense, green, and fibrous. Benthic cyanobacteria Read the Rest…
Funding approved for DNR’s Program Open Space Local, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, and Rural Legacy programs The Board of Public Works today approved more than $4.7 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve park facilities and conserve land in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Read the Rest…
Anyone convicted of impaired boating can spend a year in prison and lose their boating license This Independence Day weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) will ramp up patrols and enforcement efforts throughout the busiest boating holiday of the year. NRP will conduct its 17th annual Operation Dry Water, focusing on heightened outreach, education, Read the Rest…
Landowners, hunters can enter lottery to secure waterfowl hunting locations The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2025-2026 waterfowl blind site license. From July 16 through July 29, hunters and riparian landowners may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of Read the Rest…
