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Secretary’s Message – Good Weather, Diverse Opportunities, and Great Guides Make Spring the Perfect Time to Discover Maryland Fishing
A worldwide charter booking service lists Maryland as the No. 2 fishing destination state. Fishing charters and guides introduce many new anglers to Maryland’s waters. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
For many Marylanders, springtime is synonymous with fishing and the state’s waterways offer a bounty of different fish to pursue. Most Maryland anglers already know about the diverse fishing opportunities throughout the state, but now the word is spreading about what makes Maryland a premier fishing destination.
The website FishingBooker recently published its fourth annual list of the best US fishing states, and this year Maryland moved up several spaces to No. 2. Maryland previously placed seventh in 2025 and eleventh in 2024. The worldwide online charter booking service considered factors such as consistent demand and widespread appeal among anglers; exceptional access to bays, rivers, tidal systems, and nearshore Atlantic waters; and being a comparatively cost-effective destination.
“With roughly a fifth of the state covered by water, Maryland offers outstanding opportunities for both saltwater and freshwater anglers,” the website noted. I couldn’t agree more.
In addition to being a point of pride, our fishing reputation also means investment. The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently reported that activity related to boating and fishing brought in more than $700 million in added value to Maryland’s economy. That’s a significant portion of an overall $10.6 billion generated by the entire outdoor recreation industry in our state. Read more…
DNR Study: Bowfishing Contributes Heavily to Chesapeake Channa Harvest
Maryland DNR biologists Joe Love (second from right) and Dan Goetz (second from left) worked with Captain Nick Mather (left) of Working Class Outdoors to harvest 23 Chesapeake Channa, or northern snakeheads, as part of its collaborative project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The team is working to learn more about how bowfishing is helping to control the invasive predator’s population. Maryland DNR photo
A new Maryland Department of Natural Resources study revealed that bowfishing and gigging – using a pronged spear – are the most common ways Chesapeake Channa (also known as northern snakehead) are harvested in Maryland. These methods eclipse hook-and-line, commercial, and departmental management harvest of the invasive fish.
The study, published in Integrated and Comparative Biology, also found that bowfishermen are successfully removing larger, more fecund female Channa (those with more eggs) than traditional anglers, a key factor in limiting population growth. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – December 10
Red Chapman is happy with the first striped bass he has ever caught while on a recent outing on the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Travis Long
Anglers are now picking the days they fish based on weather, and there will be those sunny days with little wind that will invite anglers to wet a line.
After December 10, the 2025 striped bass season will be closed in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. The tidal Potomac River and Virginia waters will be open to striped bass fishing through December 31. In Maryland’s portion of the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays, and their tributaries, anglers may catch and keep one striped bass 28-31 inches in length per day. Catch-and-release fishing for striped bass is allowed in all Maryland waters during this time.
This is our final weekly Maryland Fishing Report for 2025 – we will resume in early 2026. As 2025 ends, we look back on an exciting year for Maryland fishing. Four new state records set in the Atlantic Division, two in the Chesapeake Division, and one in the Invasive Division. The state record program strives to showcase the quality of fishing opportunities in Maryland. We also saw eleven anglers reach the milestone award of Master Angler by catching ten different qualifying fish species for the FishMaryland program, and there were also numerous Expert Angler and other achievement levels. Check our website for all the ways to get involved in this rewarding program.
If you have a fishing friend on your holiday shopping list, you can buy them a Maryland fishing license or hard-card license on the MD Outdoors licensing site. And remember it’s always a good time to introduce new people to the excitement of fishing.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 29
You can rest assured that young Mark Figgins has a big smile on his face behind this big largemouth bass that he holds up for a picture before releasing it. Photo by Mark Figgins
The fall months offer comfortable temperatures for plenty of outdoor fun and the scenery of the changing foliage is icing on the cake. It is a wonderful time to share good times fishing together.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 15
Justin Lynch was fishing in the lower Chesapeake Bay recently when he caught and released this large red drum. Photo courtesy of Justin Lynch
Fair skies abound this week as the recent Nor’easter is just a memory. There is plenty of good fishing to be found this week as mild temperatures and sunny weather have moved in across the state.
Chesapeake Bay 2025 Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey Results
Slight improvement documented, but spawning success is still below average
A juvenile striped bass caught and released by a survey crew in the Nanticoke River. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2025 juvenile striped bass survey recorded a young-of-year index of 4.0. This is an improvement over recent years, but still well below the long-term survey average of 11. This marks the seventh consecutive year of low spawning success for striped bass. The annual survey tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in Chesapeake Bay. Read more…
Anne Arundel County Angler Breaks State Record for Pompano Dolphinfish, Earns Master Angler Award in Same Week
James L. Frazetti Jr. landed a record-setting fish one day and caught his 10th award-eligible fish the next
Maryland Master Angler James Frazetti Jr. holds his state record pompano dolphinfish. Photo courtesy James Frazetti
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized James L. Frazetti Jr. of Crownsville with a state record for a 7-pound, 8-ounce pompano dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis) and also as recipient of a FishMaryland Master Angler Award.
Frazetti is a saltwater and offshore fishing specialist who says fishing the blue water offshore is his favorite type of angling. The award-winning catches were made just one day apart in early October.
Frazetti was fishing with friends aboard the charter boat Talk’n Trash, based out of Ocean City. The 58-foot Gillikin custom Carolina offshore sportfishing boat is captained by Chris Little and mate Jake Bialk.
The crew had been trolling for tuna near the offshore canyons when they noticed a school of small dolphinfish (mahi-mahi). They were trolling lures when they boated a 32.5-inch fish that looked a little different. The pompano dolphinfish is very similar to the common dolphinfish, and the two species are often found together in schools. They are highly migratory, ranging from tropical to subtropical waters in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Summer 2025
Natural 1, piloted by Sgt. John Buchanan, flies over Sandy Point State Park as part of a June 2025 Natural Resources Police demonstration. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police took action related to alleged violations of criminal and natural resource laws from June through August this year. During those months, individuals were charged for violations including fishing without a license, hunting out of season, weapons charges, oyster and crabbing violations, forestry citations, and other crimes. Read more…
One for the Books: What Does it Take to Land a Maryland Fishing Record?
The Maryland state record common dolphinfish, also known as mahi, was caught Aug. 16, 2019 by Pasadena resident Kristy Frashure (seen here with husband Ryan) during a fishing tournament in Ocean City. She broke a record that had only held three weeks, but before that it had stood for 34 years. Photo by Steve Doctor, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Almost any angler would be thrilled to hold claim to a state record title, but few plan on it. A consistent theme among anglers who catch state records is their surprise when they land the fish, often thinking it was another species or even a snag because of the unexpected weight on their line.
While you can’t harness luck, there are steps Maryland anglers can take to increase their chances of hooking the largest fish of a given species in one of four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive.
For a record to stick, this fish must be caught legally. This means the angler must hold an active Maryland fishing license (unless exempt) and use legal fishing gear for the waterway they are fishing. Gear rules vary by waterway, season, and species. Brushing up on legal fishing methods is an important step all anglers should take. Rules can be reviewed on the Maryland e-regulations website or in the printed Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing.
With the launch of the new MD Outdoors online licensing system, buying a license, checking its status, and renewing it—which now can be done automatically— is simpler than ever. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 30
Angler Chhaya Muth caught and released a 37.5-inch red drum in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Chhaya Muth
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 the season begins, anglers are urged to use the best catch-and-release practices since water temperatures in the Bay are in the upper 80s and very stressful for striped bass. Fish should be brought in as quickly as possible and released in the water if they are above or below the required slot size of 19-24 inches. The larger fish most often have a more difficult time with heat stress.
Frederick County Angler Sets New Maryland State Record for False Albacore
New state mark for species set just eight days after 30-year-old record fell
Jack Dorman broke the Maryland state record for false albacore on July 20, 2025. Photo courtesy of Jack Dorman, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
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 set earlier this month. Read more…
Anne Arundel County Angler Breaks Maryland State Record for Chesapeake Channa
The record invasive fish, also known as northern snakehead, weighed 21.8 pounds
Matt Foreman of Crownsville holds the state record Chesapeake Channa, a 21.8-pound fish caught June 7, 2025. Photo courtesy Matt Foreman.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Matt Foreman of Crownsville as the new state record holder for Chesapeake Channa— also known as northern snakehead (Channa argus) — in the state’s Invasive Division. Foreman caught the 21.8-pound fish on the evening of June 7 in the Susquehanna River below the Conowingo Dam.
It was a pleasant evening, with a light breeze, when Forman set out on a Working Class Outdoorsman charter, captained by Nick Mather. Foreman used a Vadersbow Saber X bow with a generic tip to catch his record-sized fish. The 26-foot aluminum vessel was outfitted with a custom lighting system to search for fish. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Reports Sustainable Population in 2025 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey
Next year’s blue crab stock assessment expected to inform management options, help better understand low juvenile recruitment
Blue crabs await measurement during the 2024 winter dredge survey. Photo by Joe Zimmermann
The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, estimates 238 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2025, a decrease from last year’s 317 million crabs.
The results showed decreases in the abundance of adult male and female crabs, as well as a decline in the juvenile population, marking the sixth consecutive year of below average juvenile recruitment found in the survey.
“We saw a very high mortality rate among blue crabs this winter, likely due to several cold snaps,” said Mandy Bromilow, DNR’s blue crab program manager. “With the results of the stock assessment next year, we hope to have more insight on what could be contributing to the ongoing low juvenile recruitment and what we can do to support the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crabs. Until then, we need to maintain caution in our management approach for blue crabs.” Read more…
Maryland Oyster Stock Assessment Records Long-Term Increase In Oyster Abundance
Benchmark stock assessment completed this year estimates more than 12 billion oysters are in Maryland’s waters of the Chesapeake Bay
Oysters sit in a bucket after being measured by Department of Natural Resources staff as part of the annual fall survey, a major data source for the stock assessment that found an increase in Maryland oysters. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR
The population of Maryland’s oysters has grown significantly in the past 20 years, according to the results of the latest benchmark stock assessment for the species.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science released the summary results of the stock assessment on Monday.
“Good news for oysters is good news for the Chesapeake Bay,” DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “This stock assessment shows that oysters have made important progress during the past two decades. That’s a testament both to our continued investment in oyster restoration and our careful management of the oyster fishery. These findings will help guide management decisions during the next several years.” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – April 23
Vincent Tucciarella holds up a large specimen that he caught in the lower Susquehanna River recently. Photo courtesy of Vincent Tucciarella
Warm springtime temperatures not only provide us with comfortable outdoor activities, but rising air temperatures and bright sunlight also warm our Maryland waters and cause many fish to become more active. The Chesapeake Channa, commonly known as the northern snakehead, is one of those fish that is responding to the weather.
The Cooperative Oxford Laboratory is hosting an open house April 26 in conjunction with Oxford Day, where you can stop by and talk to Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists. Bring the family for a fun day in Oxford – you don’t want to miss the parade down Main Street.
Get Hooked on Blue Catfish! Comprehensive List of 2025 Blue Catfish Fishing Tournaments in Maryland
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland anglers can do their part to help the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem by catching and removing blue catfish from waterways. These nonnative fish are top predators that consume native species such as blue crabs, white perch, and menhaden. Avid anglers looking to put their skills to the test can register for tournaments and try to catch the biggest and most blue catfish in Maryland this year.
There are no fishing restrictions on blue catfish. They can grow to tremendous sizes – the 82-pound state record has stood unbroken since 2012. These tournaments provide a chance for bragging rights and to win prizes. Whether anglers are looking to stuff coolers with wild-caught Maryland seafood or compete for prize money, angling for blue catfish can be rewarding. Read more…
Friends of Maryland State Parks Group Awards Funds Through 2025 ‘Small Grants, Big Impact!’
Funds support important projects in parks statewide
Friends of Maryland State Parks presented grant funds to Assateague State Park. Maryland DNR photo.
Friends of Maryland State Parks has awarded 22 grants totaling $37,855 to state parks across Maryland funds from the advocacy organization’s program, “Small Grants, Big Impact!” (SBGI).
These funds will support projects that enhance cultural history education, protect dunes, expand recreational access, and promote conservation. Since launching the SBGI program in 2020, the Friends have funded 95 projects with nearly $150,000 in grants.
Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – March 12
Karon Hickman caught this nice yellow perch recently while fishing with a small soft plastic jig in the Choptank River. Photo courtesy of Karon Hickman
Spring is slowly beginning to emerge with signs of warmer weather ahead. Spring fishing is already kicking into high gear with yellow perch and white perch spawning runs, plus the promise of the traditional opening day of trout season on March 29. In addition to stocking waters under closure until that day, hatchery crews are also stocking community ponds and lakes that can be fished now. Check out the trout stocking website and enjoy some local fishing.
The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is now available at license dealers, and the state’s fishing regulations are always available and up to date on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
State of the State Fish: What Marylanders Should Know About Striped Bass in 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists conduct the annual spring spawning survey. Striped bass are measured, sexed, tagged and released. Maryland DNR photo.
Maryland’s recreational and commercial striped bass fisheries is set for the 2025 season. While there remains uncertainty around future spawning potential for the species given recent population declines documented in juvenile surveys, Maryland is maintaining the recreational seasons, limits, and the commercial quota instituted last year based on the overall 2024 coastwide Atlantic striped bass stock assessment.
The following is what Maryland anglers and visitors should know about the status of this emblematic species in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Read more…
Maryland Stocking Up for Spring 2025 Trout Fishing Season
Second annual youth-only trout fishing day March 22; trout waters open to everyone March 29
Young angler Conor Somerville shows off two trout during the 2023 Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day. Photo by Jim Somerville
Maryland’s trout season officially opens March 29 at 6:30 a.m., and the Department of Natural Resources is set to release thousands of hatchery-raised brown, golden, and rainbow trout across the state.
For young anglers, the second annual Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day will take place March 22, one week before opening day. On this special day, children under 16 may catch and keep up to two trout (except brook trout) in designated areas. Read more…
Dorchester County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Longnose Gar
Fish reeled in from Marshyhope Creek weighing 20.5 pounds
State record longnose gar caught by David Confair on Feb. 8, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Confair, used with permission by Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes David Confair of Secretary in Dorchester County as a new state record holder for longnose gar – Lepisosteus osseus – in the Chesapeake division.
Confair caught the 20.5-pound, 49.5-inch fish on February 8 while fishing in Marshyhope Creek. He was fishing the bottom of the creek in about 15 feet of water with a two-hook sabiki rig with No. 4 hooks and small cut pieces of gizzard shad. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Midwinter 2025
This beautiful brown trout is an example of the wonderful catch and release opportunities available in some of the special trout management waters. Photo by John Mullican, Maryland DNR
The cold hand of winter may be loosening its icy grip on the Maryland landscape with warmer temperatures forecast this week. Fast-moving streams and creeks in the western region are providing excellent trout fishing opportunities.
The 2025 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is expected to be available by the end of February. A few sportfish regulations have been announced that would interest Chesapeake Bay anglers.
The 2025 striped bass recreational and charter boat summer and fall fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River will run from May 16, 2025, through July 15, 2025, and August 1, 2025, through December 10, 2025. Minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 24 inches.
The bluefish regulations will be the same as last year: three bluefish for recreational anglers fishing from private boats or shore, and five from charter or for-hire boats with a minimum size of 8 inches and no closed season. Summer flounder minimum size will be 16 inches from January 11 through May 31. The minimum size will be 17.5 inches from June 1 through December 31, the creel limit is four fish per day for anglers for both seasons. The cobia season for Maryland will be closed through June 14; a subsequent notice regarding regulations for the remainder of the season will be issued at a later date.
Underwater Grasses Show Resilience Despite Record Rainfall
2018 Saw Slight Decline, But Less Severe Than Expected
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports that Chesapeake Bay underwater grass abundance fared better than expected in 2018, despite extreme rainfall causing a spike in nutrients and sediments. An estimated 50,015 acres of underwater grasses were mapped in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.
Baywide, about 91,559 acres of underwater grasses were mapped in 2018. However, more than 20% of the region was not fully mapped in 2018 because of highly turbid water, weather, and security restrictions near military facilities — meaning the actual acreage could be significantly higher.
In 2017, a record-breaking 62,357 acres were recorded in Maryland, and about 105,000 acres were recorded baywide. Since 2012, Maryland has seen a net gain of more than 25,500 acres of underwater grasses and has achieved 63% of the state’s 2025 restoration goal. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – May 22
This little guy seems plum tuckered out while leaning into his older brother after a family fishing outing with dad.
Memorial Day weekend is upon us and many Marylanders will be headed to local festivities, to the mountains or to the beaches for family fun and relaxation. Fishing rods will be seen everywhere, poking out of campers, pickup trucks and roof racks. Fishing offers time for reflection, so please take a moment to remember those who sacrificed for the freedoms we all enjoy today.
Maryland’s Underwater Grass Exceeds Record 60,000 Acres
Baywide Total Breaks 100,000 Acres
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports 2017 was the third consecutive record-breaking year for underwater grass abundance in Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay.
An annual baywide survey showed 62,356 acres of underwater grasses were mapped in Maryland’s tidal waters, a 5 percent increase from 2016. This is the fifth straight year of expansion for Maryland’s underwater grasses, which surpassed the 2017 restoration goal of 57,000 acres in 2015 and continues to rise.
Baywide, the total acreage of underwater grasses exceeded 100,000 for the first time, reaching 104,843 acres. Read more…
Net Positive: DNR’s Seine Net Surveys Provide Essential Data on Life Below the Surface
A seine net yields numerous species for scientists to study. Maryland DNR photo.
The green-brown waters of the Chesapeake Bay can appear mysterious, but the Maryland Department of Natural Resources regularly conducts surveys to reveal life below the surface.
During Maryland Science Week in fall 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) gathered with Huntingtown High School’s AP environmental science class and staff from Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at Reed Education Center to demonstrate one way biologists gather data on the life in the Bay’s brackish waters—seine net surveys.
Students participated in a hands-on demonstration of this survey method and a discussion of how land use, particularly the construction of impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots, impacts fish habitat. Biologists explained that areas with 10% or more impervious surface can negatively impact fish habitat by reducing water clarity and dissolved oxygen.
As the group watched from the center’s beach, the crew deployed and retrieved a 100-foot-long, 4-foot-deep beach seine net from the Rhode River. They first waded out into the water to spread the net over a wide swath, then the crew gradually came closer together with the net, bringing the aquatic life within that area into a smaller and smaller space, until the scientists brought the entire net together and placed it in a container of water on the shore.
The net revealed a variety of local species, including striped bass, blue crab, menhaden, silversides, and even a horseshoe crab. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces Historic Year for Oyster Reproduction in Maryland Waters
Maryland biologists, including Mitch Tarnowski (center), who leads the survey, count the spat, or juvenile oysters, in samples of dredged material as part of the annual fall oyster survey. Photo by Joe Zimmermann/DNR
Governor Wes Moore today announced a historic year for oyster reproduction in Maryland waters. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the concentration of new oysters in 2025 was nearly six times higher than the long-term spatset average and the second highest ever recorded in the 41-year modern history of the state’s annual fall oyster survey.
“Oysters are the bedrock of the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay and provide economic opportunities for communities throughout the state,” said Gov. Moore. “Maryland is now seeing the best news for our oysters in decades; our robust and growing oyster population will help make sure we pass our Bay along to future generations as an heirloom—both as an economic driver for our seafood industry and for the environmental health of our waterways.” Read more…
DNR Extends Maryland Commercial Oyster Season for Two Additional Weeks
Extended season is being put in place to help watermen who have been unable to harvest due to ice-covered waterways
Photo by William Whaley, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with a two-week extension of the commercial oyster season to help watermen make up for lost harvesting opportunities after many waterways and parts of the Chesapeake Bay froze during frigid temperatures in January and early February.
The change will extend the state’s commercial oyster season to April 14 this year. It was originally scheduled to end on March 31. Under the extension, all current gear restrictions and bushel limits will remain in effect. Handscraping for oysters in hand tong areas is not permitted under the extension.
“Maryland’s watermen have faced a difficult oyster season after recent declines in market demand and ice on waterways blocked access to traditional harvest areas,” said DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. “This oyster season extension will give them additional opportunities to boost their livelihoods and the local communities where they live. DNR made this decision after extensive conversations with industry stakeholders and scientists. Coordinated oyster restoration and management efforts led by DNR have resulted in a multi-year increase of the overall oyster population in Maryland. We are confident that extending the season will not affect the ongoing resurgence of oysters in the Bay and local rivers.” Read more…
Maryland Takes Action to Protect Yellow Perch Following Low Recruitment
Recreational yellow perch catch limit for tidal waters and nontidal streams and rivers reduced to five
Angler Cayla Beam caught this yellow perch at Tuckahoe Creek on Dec. 6, 2025. For many anglers, winter fishing for yellow perch is an annual tradition. Photo by Justin Wilson
In response to six years of low recruitment, Maryland recreational anglers who fish this year for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in tidal waters, and freshwater streams and rivers will be allowed to keep five yellow perch per person per day. The minimum size for recreational anglers remains 9 inches.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the change to the recreational daily catch limit, which was previously set at 10, by public notice at the beginning of January. Read more…
Fins, Fur, and Feather: Maryland’s Destination Species Draw Anglers and Hunters From Afar
Maryland’s history and tradition of waterfowl hunting is as rich as anywhere in the nation. In fact, Maryland’s General Assembly passed the first state law concerning waterfowl hunting in 1833. Maryland DNR photo.
Each year, anglers, hunters, and other wildlife enthusiasts flock to remote areas of the United States in pursuit of regional species for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Many are familiar with the classics: Bull elk hunting in the Rockies, casting for elusive tarpon in the Florida Keys, and searching for ducks along the Mississippi Flyway. Each of these locations have a bona fide tourism industry that centers on the prized game it offers.
Maryland offers its own standout opportunities for destination hunters and anglers. Read more…
Maryland DNR Reintroduces Brook Trout to Once-Vacant Streams
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists relocate native brook trout into a stream. Maryland DNR photo.
In early fall, as the leaves on the trees in Maryland’s western counties signal their seasonal transition, brook trout prepare for a change as well as their spawning season will begin soon. During this time, males’ colors become more brilliant, and females create underwater nests called redds where they will lay their eggs.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists have a plan for a different type of change of scenery for a group of these native fish. They will carefully collect and move adult brook trout to a different stream where DNR and its partners are working to bring back local populations from zero.
Brook trout are Maryland’s only native salmonid. Despite their name, they are a type of char. Because they require cold, pristinely clean water to survive, brook trout are an indicator species for environmental conditions. Their habitat has been heavily impacted by urbanization and land development, and they are listed as a species of greatest conservation need in Maryland. Read more…
Governor Wes Moore Announces Completion of Maryland’s Five Tributary-Scale Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries
The oyster restoration projects–among the largest in the world–have been highly successful at helping bring back oyster populations and build habitat in the Chesapeake Bay
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, left, added dozens of spat-on-shell oysters to the mark the completion of the Manokin River oyster restoration sanctuary together with Mike Sieracki, Director of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory; Allison Colden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Executive Director; Angela Sowers, Integrated Water Resource Management Specialist at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; and Ward Slacum, Executive Director of the Oyster Recovery Partnership. Photo by Winn Brewer, Maryland DNR.
Governor Wes Moore today announced that Maryland will formally meet its commitment to restore five oyster tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay by completing oyster restoration in the Manokin River Sanctuary on the Lower Eastern Shore. The oyster restoration projects—among the largest in the world—have been highly successful at helping bring back oyster populations, building habitat and supporting economic growth in the Chesapeake Bay.
“This restoration supports our commitment to bringing the oyster population back in five rivers by 2025 and the larger effort to support the repopulation of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, which has more than tripled in the past 20 years,” said Gov. Moore. “Our success represents the best of government collaboration to systematically address a complex environmental issue with real economic impact.” Read more…
Chasing a Slippery Predator: Eight Places to Target Maryland’s Chesapeake Channa
Invasive Chesapeake Channa can be found in most of the Chesapeake’s tributaries
The toothy, slimy Chesapeake Channa isn’t native to our waters, but many Maryland anglers have a sense of pride in fishing for them. Maryland DNR photo.
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 call this fish, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologists and avid anglers have seen populations of Channa in Maryland grow since their arrival in 2002. They have spread rapidly through the Potomac River watershed and established a strong presence in nearly every tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Though they are considered a freshwater fish, Chesapeake Channa can tolerate moderate salinity and have been observed in the saltiest parts of the Chesapeake Bay, where rates range from 10% to 12%. Decreases in salinity from heavy rainfall and flooding increases dispersal of the species, enabling the fish to spread from rivermouths to the Bay’s mainstem, and into nearby rivers. Read more…
Public Should Report Marine Mammal and Turtle Sightings and Strandings in Maryland to DNR
This humpback whale washed ashore on Assateague Island in summer 2024 and was investigated by Maryland DNR’s Stranding Response Program. Photo by Amanda Weschler, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks residents and visitors enjoying coastal and tidal waterways to remain alert for marine mammals and sea turtles into summer through early fall.
Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, whales, and other marine wildlife are regular seasonal visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, the Atlantic Ocean, and coastal bays. So far in 2025, Maryland has reported a higher-than-average number of strandings.
The five-year average (2020–2024) for marine mammal strandings in Maryland from January to May was 10 cases. As of June, the stranding program has responded to 29 animals.
Anyone who sees a marine mammal or sea turtle in Maryland waters is encouraged to report it via the Maryland Natural Resources Police Hotline, 800-628-9944, or use a simple online form to report deceased marine mammals or sea turtles. Anglers, boaters, and beachgoers should especially be on the lookout for stranded, dead, sick, injured, or entangled animals. Read more…
Maryland’s Freshwater Bass Scene Reels In Nationwide Tournaments
Professional angler Chad Pipkens hooks up at the 2022 Bassmaster Northern Open in the upper Chesapeake Bay on his way to an eighth-place finish. Photo used with permission of Bassmaster.
When it comes to competitive bass fishing, Maryland stands out as a prime destination for anglers across the country. With abundant waterways offering diverse and healthy fish populations, the state provides ample opportunities to catch both sizable smallmouth and largemouth bass. From tidal rivers to expansive reservoirs to the nation’s largest estuary, Maryland’s waterbodies are among the best when it comes to fishing.
Professional and amateur anglers alike shouldn’t be surprised by abundant catches – and Maryland waters hold some big fish. The state record largemouth is an 11-pound, 6-ounce lunker caught in a Southern Maryland pond. Read more…
DNR Announces Next Three Large-Scale Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries
Effort comes as part of state’s new Four Point Oyster Sanctuary Plan
Oyster shell used for a planting at the Choptank River. Mitch Cannon/DNR
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the next three sites for large-scale oyster restoration in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, marking the beginning of the state’s next phase of major oyster restoration.
The department will conduct oyster restoration and monitoring in sanctuaries in Herring Bay, the Nanticoke River, and Hoopers Strait. Staff presented the selected sites to the Oyster Advisory Commission at its meeting Tuesday.
Planning for these new restoration efforts comes as the department concludes its initial restoration of the “big five” sanctuary sites as required in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Initial restoration is complete at four sanctuaries, with work on the last site in Manokin River scheduled to be completed on target for 2025.
“These three large-scale restoration sanctuaries represent a new chapter for oyster restoration in Maryland,” Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “We’ve had tremendous success with our existing restoration sanctuaries, and we’re excited to build on that achievement and keep up the momentum for oyster recovery in the Chesapeake Bay.” Read more…
Maryland Catfish Tournaments Offer Invasive Species Angling
Blue catfish caught at the 2022 Sharptown Catfish Tournament on the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
With record catches around the country tipping the scales at more than a hundred pounds, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become quite the draw for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Introduced in the 1970s as a recreational fishing target species in Virginia, invasive blue catfish populations have grown rapidly in Maryland waters.
As commercial harvests of blue catfish have risen exponentially, recreational fishing for the species is becoming more popular as a way to enjoy a day angling as well as bring plenty of fish home for dinner. Commercial landings of blue catfish have grown from 609,525 pounds in 2013 to 4.2 million pounds in 2023, more than a 500% increase in the past decade. The fish is increasingly showing up on menus and in grocery stores, helping it to become more appealing as table fare. Read more…
Maryland’s Oyster Restoration Sanctuaries Show Promising Signs for Shellfish Recovery
At restoration sites, oysters are establishing dense, productive reefs
A restored oyster reef in the Harris Creek sanctuary in 2021. In a thriving oyster reef, oyster shells accumulate into three-dimensional structures where crabs scuttle, sea squirts dangle and fish dart through clearings. Like coral reefs, oyster reefs support an ecosystem that flourishes around them. Photo by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
At first, oyster biologists were concerned. Monitoring efforts at some restoration sanctuary reefs in 2022 weren’t pulling up many oysters, even though the sites had previously been performing well.
So divers with the Oyster Recovery Partnership went into the water to investigate. What they found there wasn’t a shortage of oysters, but such a dense and mature population that the shellfish had cemented into three-dimensional reefs, thick enough that the team’s patent tongs sampling gear weren’t able to get them out of the water. Read more…
Maryland Underwater Grasses Hold Steady in 2021
Annual Report Shows Overall Improvement in Chesapeake Bay
Photo by Brooke Landry, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the 2021 underwater grass abundance in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay remained stable compared to the previous year, with a slight decrease of 1%, or 350 acres. Baywide, underwater grasses increased by 7%.
Despite record high rainfall and stream flows in 2018 and 2019, long-term monitoring by DNR has identified major reductions in polluted runoff entering the Bay as a result of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay restoration activities. These improving trends in cleaner water provide multiple benefits including being beneficial to the Bay’s underwater grasses. Read more…
Our Shared Role: Resilience abounds throughout the watershed
Blue crabs are harvested near the Honga River in Somerset County. The crab pots used to catch them were set by educators as part of the Teachers on the Estuary Workshop led by staff from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atomospheric Administration, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Progress. It’s a word with many definitions, including, “A forward or onward movement toward an objective or goal.”
At the Chesapeake Bay Program, progress is measured in the 10 goals of our Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. When our partnership—consisting of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency—signed the agreement in 2014, it did so with a vision toward an environmentally and economically sustainable region. We envisioned abundant life, clean water, conserved lands, water access and the engagement of a diverse array of citizens and stakeholders, and we set goals in order to make that vision a reality. Read more…