Natural Resources News
Macro Mini Maryland
Maize calligrapher fly by Edwin Guevara
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” ~Dr. Wayne Dyer
Have you ever looked at someone you’ve known your entire life and realized you never noticed something about their appearance? For many of us who have lived in Maryland a long time, it’s easy to leave our homes and walk right past a wealth of natural beauty without so much as a second glance. A few years ago, as the constant use of cell phone cameras was becoming the norm, I discovered a nifty little gadget that forever changed the way I look at the natural world: a clip-on macro lens! Read more…
Chlorophyll Leaf Prints in 5 Easy Steps
The art of leaf printing has been around for hundreds of years, with the first example discovered in the year 1,228 CE. From the 13th to the 19th century, botanists, herbalists, and doctors all over the world used herbal prints for medical research and identification. In this country, Benjamin Franklin began printing a leaf on the back of paper money in 1739. He had noticed in leaf prints created by his friend, botanist and artist Jacob Breitnall, that no leaf had identical veins. That made leaf printing a great way to combat counterfeiting. Fast forward to modern times, and both fingerprints for adults and footprints for newborn babies are actively used to maintain unique identities. Read more…
Habitat Tip: Helping Birds Beat The Heat
Blue jays in bird bath by Mike’s Photos (CC BY-SA 2.0)
As we move into the sultry dog days of summer, don’t forget our feathered friends. Birds don’t have sweat glands like people, so they’ve evolved other ways to cool off. Panting, like your dog, is one way, especially for our smaller songbirds. Their fluffy down feathers insulate from the heat, as they do from the cold. Birds will change their schedules to be out and active during the cooler parts of the day, and take a siesta in the shade during the peak heat. And birds like to splash in shallow water to cool off and rehydrate. Be it streams, puddles, or bird baths, a nice dip in cool waters is refreshing! Read more…
Native Plant Profile: Yours Frondly, Ferns
Northern maidenhair fern by Sarah Witcher
Who needs flowers when you have fiddleheads? Ferns not only provide foraging space for ground-feeding birds, but they create vital shelter for numerous species of Maryland wildlife. Let’s explore a bit about why ferns are fascinating and look at some of the benefits of planting them in your home habitat. Read more…
Natural Heritage Program Spotlight: Maryland’s Natural Areas
Wild Rice Flower by Kerry Wixted
Government land management titles are often a tangle of acronyms, with federal and state programs differing in their terminology, but remaining just similar enough to be confusing. Generally each defining term has meaning when it comes to things like how a land parcel was chosen, what it intends to conserve, and how it’s managed for the future. One of the lesser-known recognitions highlighted by the Department of Natural Resources is a Maryland Natural Area (for more on this, check out this page). Despite their quieter existence, Natural Areas are something pretty special. Read more…
What’s New in Maryland State Parks?
With record levels of investment in recent years, Maryland State Parks are expanding, with new parks and facilities being opened and existing properties undergoing upgrades. Statewide, landscape restoration projects are also underway to improve wildlife habitat, restore streams and shorelines, and plant trees.
These efforts are designed to ensure that Maryland’s award-winning state park system serves as a model of natural resource conservation that will inspire all Marylanders to join along with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources mission–to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance our environment for this and future generations. Read more…
Terrapin Station: Deal Island Partners Create Protective Barrier for Traveling Turtles
Carrie Samis
Wild turtles are on the move in spring and summer, looking for love and a place to nest. During nesting season female turtles don’t travel far from their typical homes, often attempting to cross busy roads to reach ideal nesting habitat. Deal Island Road in the Deal Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is one such location, and local residents have expressed concern about multiple occurrences of turtle mortality on the road. Read more…
From the Field: Letha Grimes, Natural Resources Biologist
Letha with the department’s new First Catch Fish Trailer
Letha Grimes grew up exploring nature. As a young angler, she loved fishing local farm ponds and the upper Potomac River. The outdoor experiences of her childhood inspired Grimes to take an entry level job as a conservation technician at the Albert Powell Trout Hatchery in Hagerstown. At this Maryland Department of Natural Resources facility, which hatches more than 600,000 trout eggs every year, Grimes engaged in fisheries training, including an independent four-year project. Read more…
Worth Its Salt: Maryland’s Free Saltwater Angler Registration
Ocean Sunrise by Dennis Garcia
More than a decade ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began requiring anglers to pay a fee and register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry before fishing for anadromous species–those that move between saltwater and freshwater habitats. The registry is a tool that helps NOAA survey anglers to estimate recreational fishing effort and impacts. Read more…
Whale Watch: Offshore Monitoring to Protect Marine Mammals
Photo by Mark Baumgartner
The waters off the Maryland coast are home to diverse marine life, including sea turtles and marine mammals such as dolphins, porpoises, and whales.
Marine mammals, including humpback whales, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972; this and other species such as sei, right, and fin whales are also listed as endangered. In fact, current population estimates of the North Atlantic right whale suggest there are fewer than 350 individuals remaining, making it a critically-endangered species. Since 2016 and 2017, respectively, increased numbers of dead or seriously injured humpback and North Atlantic right whales have been observed along the Atlantic coast from Canada to Florida. Read more…
Dry Hydrants
The success of fire suppression operations depends on having a readily available watersource. In cities and developed suburban areas, fire hydrants are connected to public water systems and are readily accessible for firefighters. But many rural areas of the state do not have pressurized fire hydrant systems. In many cases, firefighters require water to be shuttled by tanker from the closest available source, usually from a town pressurized system, and it can be difficult for firefighters to maintain an uninterrupted water source at the scene. Read more…
Outside Perspective
Every summer since I have been Secretary, I have been proud to share with you excerpts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Annual Report. We have long produced this document highlighting the achievements of our multiple operating units during the previous year in an effort to keep you informed of our activities. Since 2019, the 50th anniversary of our department, we have also made it a feature of this magazine. Read more…
Waterfowl Hunting Set at Deal Island and Fairmount Impoundments
Permit Applications for Somerset County Wildlife Management Areas Now Available
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area, photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the annual schedule and process for waterfowl hunting at the Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area impoundments. The current program is being managed to reduce crowding and maintain the quality of waterfowl hunting opportunities during the regular duck season. Read more…
DNR Graduates Maryland Conservation Corps Class of 2022
Program Provides Career Training for Environmental Stewards
Photo by Sara Marcinak, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) honored 35 members of the 2021-2022 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program on August 3. The ceremony commemorated the members’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work, and stewardship with the Maryland Park Service.
Members from across the country, all between the ages of 17 and 25, completed at least 1,700 hours of service. This year’s crews planted more than 10,046 native trees, bay grasses and plants; treated almost 7,000 trees against harmful insects and diseases; and taught environmental education programs to more than 21,565 students, youth, and park visitors. Read more…
Conservation Jobs Corps Graduates Class of 2022
Maryland Teens Complete Outdoor Jobs Skills Program
Photo by Luke Terrell, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
More than three dozen young Marylanders celebrated their graduation from the Conservation Jobs Corps August 2 after five weeks of job training, conservation education, hard work, and fun.
The ceremony was held at Sandy Point State Park in Anne Arundel County with former Veterans Conservation Corps crew leader Calvin Ogburn as the keynote speaker. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – August 3
Christine Virgin holds up a big red drum for a picture before slipping it back into the Bay. Photo courtesy of Christine Virgin
This is an exciting week for fishing and crabbing in Maryland! The Chesapeake Bay striped bass season has reopened, and more seasonal fish are arriving in the Bay, rivers, and Atlantic Ocean.
Remember that hot weather creates tough conditions for undersized striped bass that are caught and released. From now until September, DNR once again will run its striped bass fishing advisory forecast so anglers can better plan their fishing for striped bass to lessen mortalities.
Grants Gateway Open for Resilience and Restoration Funds
Department Accepting Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2024
Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the Grants Gateway application is open for local governments and organizations for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins July 1, 2023. Through this process, funding is available for projects that restore local waterways, increase communities’ resilience to climate change and storm impacts, strengthen local economies, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, and foster sustainable development and use of Maryland waterways with projects that benefit the general boating public. Read more…
June 2022 Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report
Chesapeake Bay Dissolved Oxygen Conditions Better than Average
Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were better than average in June 2022. The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.51 and 0.98 cubic miles during early and late June monitoring cruises, compared to historical early and late June averages (1985-2021) of 0.87 and 1.31 cubic miles.
During their respective time periods, the early June volume ranks as the 8th best on record and late June was 12th best. Additionally, a small volume of less than 0.1 cubic miles of anoxia – waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was observed during the late June cruise. Hypoxia was essentially zero (0.0002 cubic miles) in May. Read more…
DNR Awards Outdoor Environmental Education Grants for Watershed Studies
Funding Supports Projects Fostering Science and Stewardship
Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced $128,000 in awards for student and youth outdoor science, and watershed education in the state. The following schools and nonprofit organizations will receive funding during Fiscal Year 2023. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 27
Eleven-year-old Kierce Thompson shows off a beautiful and large rainbow trout caught recently in a Frederick County trout stream. Photo by Brittany Vance
As we approach the end of July, families are enjoying vacations and anglers of all ages are fishing together. Sometimes the unbounded hope of angling offers up some surprises.
For those anglers who are also photographers, be sure to enter your best shots in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest. Entries for the 2022 contest are due Monday, August 1, and details are on the DNR website.
Salisbury University, in partnership with DNR, is hosting the Nanticoke River Invasive Fishing Tournament on Saturday, July 30 at Cherry Beach Park in Sharptown. There is no fee to enter the tournament. A tournament registration form is available online, and more information is available on the Salisbury University website.
The Bay and its tributaries will reopen for striped bass fishing on August 1. The annual July two-week closure is to protect striped bass from summer’s warm water and air temperatures that cause unacceptable catch-and-release mortalities. To further help protect the fishery, we resume our striped bass fishing advisory forecast for the reopening of the season.
Board of Public Works Approves Community Parks and Playgrounds Funding
Governor Hogan’s Budget Supports Outdoor Access Across Maryland
Maryland DNR photo
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) request to fund the first group of Community Parks & Playgrounds Program for Fiscal Year 2023.
Overall, Governor Larry Hogan’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget included $5 million to 39 local projects statewide, providing greater access to outdoor recreation for all Marylanders. The first round included 16 of the projects. The Board of Public Works will review the funding items during the coming fiscal year.
Once the funding is released, DNR provides flexible grants to municipalities to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks, create new parks, or purchase and install playground equipment. Read more…
Maryland Awards Climate Resilience Grants to 12 Communities
Funds Support Planning and Design of Green Infrastructure Solution
Deal Island’s living shoreline and marsh enhancement work was supported by a 2021 climate resilience grant. Photo by Nicole Carlozo, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the award of more than $2 million to 12 climate resilience projects to help communities prepare for, and recover from, climate-related impacts. These competitive grants are designed to help communities plan and design solutions to withstand flooding and other weather-related events.
The projects selected will identify and prioritize vulnerable communities, incorporate climate change data and information into existing plans and policies, and develop nature-based or natural solutions to control flooding. Funding is provided by Governor Hogan’s Resiliency Through Restoration Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 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…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 20
Photo by Bob Bruns
Chesapeake Bay anglers received a welcome surprise this week with the arrival of wonderful numbers of speckled trout, bluefish, and spot. These offer great alternatives during the striped bass closure in the Chesapeake Bay through July 31 and the tidal Potomac River until August 21.
Elsewhere, the waters off Ocean City are offering excellent fishing for a mix of species including black sea bass, tuna, and white marlin. There is also plenty of great fishing throughout Maryland waters for freshwater anglers.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is always looking to encourage more Marylanders to take up the exciting sport of fishing. DNR invites college students and adults aged 18 and older to free mentored fishing training and practice sessions in August. The program will comprise four sessions in various locations in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, culminating with a fishing tournament on August 13. Space is limited – check the DNR website for details.
Fishing Mentorship Offered by Maryland Department of Natural Resources
College Students and Young Adults Can Get Free Instruction, Gear
Photo by Tristan Bapst
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites college students and adults aged 18 and older to free mentored fishing training and practice sessions in August. The program will comprise four sessions in various locations in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, culminating with a fishing tournament on August 13. Read more…
Maryland 2022 Black Bear Hunt Lottery Now Open
Application Deadline August 31; Drawing Sept. 7
Photo by Bob Geary
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the 2022 black bear hunt lottery. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the 6-day hunting season, which for the first time includes a Saturday. The hunt will be open October 24-29 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties.
The annual bear hunt, now in its 19th year, is an important management tool used to slow the increase of Maryland’s black bear population and limit expansion of Maryland bears into the eastern suburbs and cities. The department will once again issue 950 hunting permits this year. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 13
Photo by Eric Packard
Kayak fishing has gained many converts in the past few years. These small, human-powered watercraft are portable and offer easy access to waters throughout Maryland, and for our younger anglers provide an opportunity to be the captain of their own vessel.
Read more…
Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Process Now Available for 2022-23
Online Lottery, Virtual Appointments to Secure Hunting Locations
Photo by Jake McPherson, Ducks Unlimited
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online-only process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2022-2023 waterfowl blind site license. From now through July 26 at 11:59 p.m., hunters may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing through the department’s Compass licensing portal.
Hunters can register to be entered into a random lottery for a county of their choice. Landowners who would like to license their own property may also enter the same lottery. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – July 2022
Better Days Ahead in Maryland’s Waters
Upgrades at Chestertown Marina were funded by the Waterway Improvement Fund. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fifty-six years ago, Maryland’s Waterway Improvement Fund was established to fund waterway improvements, promote recreational and commercial boating, and improve the safety and navigation of Maryland’s waterways for the benefit of the general boating public.
Since its inception this important program has provided more than $300 million in funding for 4,500 projects at public boating access sites across Maryland. If you use a publicly owned boat ramp or marina in our state, there is a good chance that it was funded and is maintained with funding from this program. Read more…
Governor Hogan Announces $18.8 Million for Chesapeake Bay Restoration Projects
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Supports 22 Projects at 77 Sites
Native tree planting figures prominently in many projects funded by the Trust Fund. Maryland DNR photo
Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the award of $18.8 million to 22 ecological restoration projects that will improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, while building local resilience to climate impacts. These awards encompass 77 unique sites that will be restored using best management practices, including riparian buffer and reforestation plantings, stream restoration, stormwater management, and wetland creation.
“Our administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship has included making record investments in Chesapeake Bay restoration, including fully funding the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund,” said Governor Hogan. “Each of these projects plays a critical role in improving the quality of the bay, and making our ecosystem more resilient.” Read more…
Maryland Sport Fishing Achievement Awards Presented for 2022
Third Annual Awards from Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission
Captain Bruno M. Vasta (third from left) and family of the late James W. “Jim” Gracie attend the Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Awards presentation in Annapolis. Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are proud to announce Captain Bruno M. Vasta and the late James W. “Jim” Gracie each as recipients of Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Awards for 2022. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 6
Photo by Eric Packard
Maryland is full of outdoor adventures, and getting out on the water is one of the most enjoyable. Being the captain of your own vessel can be a thrill and a learning experience for our younger anglers, under the watchful eye of adults tagging along and capturing those special moments.
Read more…
Safety Urged for Maryland Waterway Users This Holiday Weekend
Enhanced Enforcement to Target Impaired Boaters on the Waterways
Maryland Natural Resources Police patrol the waters off Sandy Point State Park. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland’s waterways are expected to be crowded this weekend, and officials from federal, state, and local law enforcement and water rescue are working to make sure the fun is not mixed with tragedy.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources joined with the U.S. Coast Guard and Anne Arundel County Fire Department to send this message during a news conference June 29 at Sandy Point State Park. The Maryland Natural Resources Police also announced plans for its annual participation in Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated effort to educate boaters about the dangers of boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Read more…
Anne Arundel County No Discharge Zone Takes Effect July 1
New Protection in Place for 13 Bodies of Water
Photo by Emily Carter Mitchell
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), along with the Severn River Association, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis, announce that a federally approved No Discharge Zone (NDZ) designation for 13 bodies of water in Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis Harbor, takes effect July 1, 2022.
After receiving a request for an NDZ from the Severn River Association, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis, DNR and MDE applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for additional protection of Anne Arundel County waters in May 2020. After significant review and public comment, the NDZ is now final. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 29
Viyaan Ranjith caught his very first fish while fishing with his dad and it was a bluegill sunfish. Congratulations Viyaan! Photo by Ranjith Kunjayi
Summer is in full swing and we’re going into one of the most popular weekends of the season – Fourth of July! It is a wonderful time to spend time with family and friends enjoying all that Maryland has to offer. The feisty bluegill is one of Maryland’s treasures that entertain anglers young and old in small community ponds to our larger reservoirs. Read more…
Bird-Safe Window Treatments Installed at DNR Headquarters
Protective Applications Help Birds Avoid Glass
Photo by Claudia Donegan, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Safe Skies Maryland recently partnered to install special window treatments that reduce and prevent bird collisions with windows at the department’s Tawes State Office Building headquarters in Annapolis. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 22
Dominic Kronk spent Father’s Day fishing for white perch with his dad. Photo by Kenny Kronk
The arrival of summer provides plenty of opportunities for special family time in the great outdoors. This past Sunday was a wonderful Father’s Day for dads, grandads, and other father figures to spend fishing with sons and daughters.
Read more…
Summer Waterway Users Should Be Alert for Marine Wildlife
Citizens Should Report Stranded Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles
Photo by Dennis Raulin, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
As summer approaches, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources would like to remind people that marine wildlife — dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, whales, and others – are making their seasonal return to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, as well as the Atlantic Ocean and coastal bays. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report — Spring
Maryland Natural Resources Police photo
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) this spring issued citations throughout the state for waterfowl poaching, deer spotlighting, turkey baiting, illegal fishing and oystering, outdoor fire violations, and more.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website lists all state regulations for hunting and fishing. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 15
Photo by Alan Klotz
We often hear that we should take more time outdoors with family and friends, and fishing is a great way to do that. A dedicated angler never feels they are fishing enough – time is short so grasp every opportunity you can. Read more…
Snakehead Derby Returns to Gunpowder Falls State Park June 25
‘Snakes on the Dundee II’ Invites Anglers to Battle Invader
Entries are judged during the 2021 Snakes on the Dundee fishing derby. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is teaming up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to host its second annual snakehead derby at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Baltimore County. Snakes on the Dundee II will take place June 25 at Dundee Creek Marina.
Anglers of all ages are invited to participate in this free event, which features fishing lessons, door prizes, a fileting demonstration, a fish printing activity, and cooking techniques. Prizes will be awarded in two age groups, for anglers 17 and younger or 18 and older. Read more…
Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund Awards $13.5 Million for FY2023
Projects Funded Statewide for New and Improved Boating Access, Navigation, and Safety
Solley Cove Boat Ramp in Anne Arundel County, completed in 2021 with support of the Waterway Improvement Fund. Photo by Carla Fleming, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to enhance and improve public boating access, facilities, and navigation throughout the state.
This funding is awarded to 45 applicants statewide, supporting efforts that include new public boating access, amenities, and facilities; dredging of navigable waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important infrastructure and initiatives. Read more…
Nesting Platform Initiative in Maryland Coastal Bays Begins Second Year
Conservation Partnership Again Deploys “Island” for Colonial Nesting Waterbirds
Tern platform with new solar platform, May 2022. Photo by Archer Larned, Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
The partnership of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and Maryland Coastal Bays Program is continuing an innovative conservation project to preserve three of Maryland’s state listed endangered colonial nesting waterbirds — the common tern, royal tern, and black skimmer.
The project, now in its second year, is providing a floating wooden-framed platform as a nesting site for endangered colonial waterbirds, which have declined by a staggering 90-95% since the mid-1980s due to sea level rise and the erosion of their natural barren sand nesting islands in the coastal bays. The initial year of the project was an immediate success. The platform was successfully used for nesting by 23 pairs of common terns, making it the largest breeding colony of this species in the Coastal Bays in 2021. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 8
Young anglers (left to right) Ronae’ Heard, Emily Jackson, and Lincoln Christopher proudly hold up their first catches. Photos by (left to right) Angel Renee Stewart, Adam Jackson, and Kristin Christopher.
Even if it’s not official yet, summertime is here and families are enjoying time fishing together. Bluegill sunfish, white perch, and catfish are some simple species that are easy for our younger anglers to catch and feel the excitement that fishing can provide. Read more…
State Record Common Carp Caught in Susquehanna Flats
Baltimore County Angler Breaks Record Held 44 Years
Logan Kuhrmann of Essex is the new state record holder for common carp in the state’s Chesapeake Division. Photo by Matt Weber, used with permission.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed Logan Kuhrmann of Essex is the new state record holder for common carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio) in the state’s Chesapeake Division. Kuhrmann, 24, caught the 49-pound carp June 4 while bass fishing in the Susquehanna Flats area of the Chesapeake Bay. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – June 2022
By Land and Water, Maryland is Ready for the Summer
Fly-fishing at Morgan Run Natural Environment Area, Carroll County. Photo by Patrick Siebert, Maryland State House
June is Great Outdoors Month and we hope to see you out enjoying Maryland’s natural spaces, including our vast system of state parks and forests, and of course the state’s world-renowned waterways.
This is peak season for one of Maryland’s favorite pastimes, fishing, from the cold streams and rivers of Western Maryland to the Atlantic surf. If you want to try your hand at fishing in Maryland before deciding on getting your license, you can enjoy one of our license-free fishing days in June and July; and if you already know the joys of fishing in our waters, bring a friend! Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 1
This happy angler is all smiles with this massive northern snakehead. Photo by Josh Trenary
Maryland anglers are adjusting to some unexpectedly changing fisheries and are targeting invasive species. Northern snakeheads, blue catfish, and flathead catfish populations are expanding rapidly in Maryland waters, and anglers are taking up the challenge to reduce their populations. The old adage of making lemonade out of lemons comes to mind, since they all taste so good.
The next two Saturdays, June 4 and June 11, are license-free fishing days in Maryland waters, so don’t let them pass without taking someone out who has not been fishing in a while, or someone who has never fished before. The last free fishing day of the year will be July 4.
Horseshoe Crabs Begin Migration onto Atlantic Coast
Citizens Can Help Scientific Survey of Ancient Creature
Maryland DNR photo
The annual spawning migration of horseshoe crabs – Limulus polyphemus – is now returning to Maryland beaches. The peak of the horseshoe crab spawn depends on late spring and early summer high tides, culminating on or around each full and new moon in June. Dating back an estimated 350 million years, this yearly event along the Atlantic coast is thought to be the world’s oldest and largest wildlife migration.
Biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitor the returning horseshoe crab population for ecological and scientific research purposes. The department encourages the public to report any spawning activity and sightings of horseshoe crabs to DNR’s Horseshoe Crab Volunteer Angler Survey. Read more…
Maryland’s Spring 2022 Turkey Harvest Sees 8% Increase
Hunters Bag 4,208 Turkeys; Five Counties Set Records
Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland hunters harvested 4,208 wild turkeys during the spring 2022 regular and junior turkey seasons, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported. This year’s harvest was 8% higher than the 2021 harvest and just 2% below the record harvest of 4,303 set in 2020. Read more…
Maryland Urges Waterway Safety as Boating Season Hits Full Throttle
Safe Practices Can Help Avoid Tragedy
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The outdoor temperature is rising, and Maryland’s waterways are about to get a lot busier. The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reminds anglers, boaters, swimmers, and all waterway users to take proper precautions.
In 2021, Maryland had 145 reportable boating accidents; 51 of those accidents caused injuries, and six were fatal. These numbers are down from the previous year when Maryland saw 155 reportable boating accidents, 64 injuries, and six fatal accidents resulting in seven deaths. Read more…
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