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Maryland Fishing Report: Oct. 24
Photo by Travis Long
We are now deep into a fall fishing pattern, with classic cold fronts and gusty northerly winds. This past weekend, anglers who were able to get out before or after the winds found good striped bass fishing over a wide area of the Chesapeake Bay, from Love Point down to the Calvert Cliffs gas docks area.
Maryland Fishing Report: October 17
One of the first things any young angler learns is to get a good grip on that trout! Photo courtesy of Nathan Williams
This week offers some exciting fishing opportunities for Maryland anglers – the weather is just about right, the changing color of the leaves paints a beautiful backdrop to outdoor activities and there are plenty of eager fish to catch.
For the next few weeks, state hatcheries are stocking most trout management waters throughout Maryland. The trout are providing quality fishing close to home and allowing success on a fishing adventure, especially for our young anglers.
At the Atlantic coast, sea bass, flounder and dolphin are biting.
And in the Chesapeake Bay, autumn is one of the most anticipated times for striped bass fishing. Rockfish like the cooler water temperatures and begin to feed aggressively to build up lost body stores. Cooler water also forces baitfish in the form of bay anchovies, juvenile menhaden and silversides to exit the tidal rivers and head down the bay.
Maryland Fishing Report: Oct. 10
Grant Morris caught this nice snakehead while kayak fishing. Photo by Don Goff
We have been in a warmer, dry “Indian summer” weather pattern. Many anglers have been getting out on the bay to enjoy action with top water striped bass, late season bluefish and the last of the Spanish mackerel.
Maryland Fishing Report: Oct. 3
Photo by Rich Watts
Welcome to “Rocktober!”
Heavy rains continued through much of last week, but we finally had some beautiful sunny weather over the weekend. Many anglers got out on the bay to enjoy action with striped bass, bluefish and southern visitors such as speckled trout and red drum.
Maryland Fishing Report: September 26
As the sun sets in all its glory over the Tred Avon River, it seems to say goodbye to summer. Photo by Keith Lockwood
With the fall equinox behind us, the days are getting noticeably shorter. There’s no sweeter time of the year – or place to be — than late September and October in Maryland, whether you are a fisherman or a hunter or just someone who likes to enjoy the sights and sounds of autumn.
Maryland Fishing Report: September 19
La’Tanya Demory recently had a favorable day of fishing at Perry Point on the lower Susquehanna River. Photo courtesy of La’Tanya Demory
For those who work hard, a day off is a precious opportunity to spend time the way we want. Few activities afford us the peace to be had dangling a line in the water and being with our thoughts. Sometimes fate smiles on us and we actually have one of those days where everything works in our favor.
Some upcoming events offer some opportunities for anglers of all ages.
National Hunting and Fishing Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Washington County Izaak Walton League in Clear Spring. Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff will be there to run a casting clinic and answer questions about fishing around the state, along with shooting sports demos and hunter safety clinics.
The Second Annual Rod and Reef Slam Tournament will be held Sept. 22 at various artificial and restored oyster reef sites along the Eastern Shore. This is a catch, release and photo tournament.
Note to anglers: The Talbot County section of Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park will be closed to the public until further notice while the staff installs new lighting fixtures. The trails and parking lot will remain open.
Maryland Fishing Report: September 12
Young Isaac rose to the occasion when grandad asked if he wanted to go fishing in the rain, and he loved every minute of it. Photo by Eric Packard
Living close to the water gives one an interesting perspective on impending storms. At ports all-around the bay and coastal areas, boat owners have been lining up at boat ramps and moving their vessels to safer areas. Low-lying areas can expect flooding and it sounds like we may in for some more rain, which is nothing new. Please pay close attention to the forecast and any safety advisories issued for Maryland waters before fishing this weekend.
The fact is most fishermen seem to have a disdain for fishing in the rain but others just make the most of it — the fish don’t care, since they’re already wet.
Maryland Fishing Report: September 5
Photo by Meredith Bradshaw
Labor Day weekend is a fleeting memory now and although we are under an intense heat wave cooler weather is anticipated as we move through September.
There is still plenty daylight at the end of the day to spend some time in the outdoors with family and friends.
Children love adventure and when Vincent Casagrande of Frederick went crabbing for the first time with his grandfather in the South River, it was a time he’ll never forget. They managed to catch a bushel using collapsible crab traps. Vincent even got to drive the boat under grandad’s supervision.
You can read their story and others in the Angler’s Log.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 29
Photo by Eduardo Marte
Labor Day weekend approaches and many of us are wondering, “How did we get here so soon?”
The kids will be going back to school and we will slowly start to see cooler temperatures in September. If you’re trying to fit in some family fishing time, remember who your audience is – kids just want to have fun. They will enjoy the action fishing for bluegill sunfish in a local pond or for white perch in a nearby tidal river. Leave your own fishing rod at home and give them your full attention, and just enjoy the smiles.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 22
Photo by Andrew Ashby
This past weekend, I happened to pull up behind a pickup truck at a traffic light and I could not help but notice something about the license plate that impressed me.
First off, there was a bumper sticker that said “Stress is caused by a lack of fishing” and there were several years’ worth of ramp passes stuck one on top of each other, but what impressed me most was the license plate.
It was an older Maryland plate and it looked like it had been attacked by a gorilla with a 5-pound ball peen hammer. That relayed to me that this guy had spent a lot of time hooking up a boat trailer by himself and the trailer tongue hit the license plate now and then signaling “far enough.” The plate showed years of this and that this guy spends a lot of time fishing out of his boat.
As he pulled away, I gave him a mental salute. Here was a guy who knows how to handle stress.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 15
Travis Long was enjoying catch-and-release fishing for large red drum in the Chesapeake Bay recently and holds up a prize caught while jigging, before slipping this big girl back into the bay waters. Photo courtesy of Travis Long
One of the fun and exciting things about fishing is you just never know what surprises await when you cast your fishing line into the water. Some have been surprised with a record-breaking catch, a novelty catch or just a fun encounter with a fish to help round out a peaceful day. Enjoying the outdoors tends to be that way; you never can be sure what is around the next bend in a trail, or what a day out on the water has in store for you.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 8
Poppy Lewis is all smiles with her white perch that she caught all by herself. Photo by Keith Lockwood
It is often said that summertime is for kids, and truer words could not be spoken this month.
August will be gone in a flash so don’t delay getting any youngsters you know out or near the water to enjoy some fun fishing.
Two fish that are always ready to accommodate our young anglers are bluegill sunfish and white perch. Kids need plenty of action to keep them interested and these two species can provide that if you take the steps to ensure success.
It is pretty hard to beat worms and a bobber for bluegills at a local pond or fishing under a dock with grass shrimp and a simple one-hook bottom rig for white perch.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 1
Photo by Kevin McMenamin
Recent heavy rains caused a lot of changes to our Chesapeake Bay waters. Large volumes of water coming down from Pennsylvania necessitated the opening of more than 20 gates at Conowingo Dam, causing high water levels in the lower Susquehanna River and floating debris entering the bay.
Boating will be difficult in the upper and middle bay, and water contact should be kept to a minimum. Boaters should report any navigation hazards to the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888, or the U.S. Coast Guard at 410-576-2693.
One positive side effect of the water release is that the striped bass in the upper bay got a break with cooler temperatures and mixing of oxygenated water.
Maryland Fishing Report: July 25
Jane Millman made time to go fishing with friends off Ocean City and holds up a beautiful blueline tilefish she caught. Photo by Kevin Thomas
We all face daily challenges that tug at how we spend the dear time that is given to us. All anglers and outdoor enthusiasts know how hard it is to follow their favorite pursuits.
Summer is fleeting, make time.
Maryland Fishing Report: July 18
Sandy Point State Park
We’ve all learned in our lives that nothing ever stays the same, and this certainly holds true for the Chesapeake Bay. She started out as a river valley and became flooded after the last ice age to become the largest estuary in the United States.
The view from a drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge shows how much this treasure means to so many people — bulk carrier ships anchored and waiting to pick up their cargo, fleets of sailboats off the mouth of the Severn River, commercial crab boats tending their strings of traps, anglers fishing near the piers and throngs of people enjoying Sandy Point State Park.
More than 18 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The bay has had a difficult time putting up with us, but she always promises hope and keeps showing us that she is resilient.
Maryland Fishing Report: July 11
Photo by Mike Eversmier
If you spend enough time hanging around seasoned commercial or sport fishermen, you’ll often hear that it’s impossible to figure out why finfish and blue crabs are in certain places at certain times.
These thoughts came to mind this week as I spoke to some of the most respected captains on the Chesapeake about how this season’s fishing is shaping up. There is not enough space to share all of the classic statements, but many captains repeated the two that I have heard throughout my life on the water: “No two years are the same,” and “Just when you think you have them figured out, they make a fool of you.”
Maryland Fishing Report: July 4
Ryan Bishop is all smiles as he holds a big jimmy destined for some crab picking. Photo by Sherry Bishop
The Fourth of July is upon us, and although it falls on a Wednesday — missing that three-day weekend luster – it’s still a little extra time off to enjoy family and friends. Here in Maryland a lot of activities will focus on a nearby body of water, from Deep Creek Lake to the Atlantic Ocean and everywhere in between.
For those living near the bay or coastal waters, the Fourth of July often means crabs and sweet corn. Judging by early observations of recreational crabbers, there were a lot of crab feasts promised, and hopefully the gatherers will be able to deliver.
Recreational crabbing continues to slowly gain momentum as more crabs enter the legal fishery after shedding – and most likely last week’s full moon was a big shed.
Those crabbing in less than 12 feet of water tend to be catching the most crabs in the lower and middle bay. Razor clams tend to top the list as the best bait.
Maryland Fishing Report: June 27
Nick Pirchio caught this striped bass fishing with his dad in Chesapeake Bay, when they tried some jigging after spotting some bait. Photo courtesy of Nick Pirchio
We’ve all heard it – 10 percent of anglers catch 90 percent of the fish. Good fishermen are often able to anticipate or adjust to changes in conditions or fish behavior. This trait lies deep in that hunter-gatherer instinct of those who can read the signs that Mother Nature provides them.
This kind of savvy and experience is usually part of what you’re paying for when hiring a charter or guide. Of course it is all the more exciting and certainly more rewarding when we can figure it out by ourselves.
In this first full week of summer, our freshwater fisheries have settled into a predictable pattern. Chesapeake Bay and ocean fisheries are usually in a state of flux and that is especially evident at the moment.
Don’t forget there is one more free fishing day coming up July 4. If you can think of someone who might like fishing, this is a great opportunity for someone to try the sport without buying a license.
Maryland Fishing Report: June 20
Ava Krasauskis enjoying a day fishing with her father. Photo by Karl Krasauskis
Fishing offers many things to many people, and they all have their own reasons why it’s so special.
For some it’s an adventurous location or pursuit of a certain fish, usually preceded by a lot of study and anticipation before the big trip. For others it may be the unwinding process from a stressful day.
One thing many anglers get particular joy out of is sharing the experience with others – often the sign of a true sportsman is when they involve first-time anglers or children.
That’s why in these fishing reports we like to show our fishing community holding large, admirable fish, to inspire us all and to highlight the bounty we have available to us here in Maryland. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: June 13
Photo by David Jackson
Many of us who have spent a lifetime fishing remember the first fish we ever caught. For some, that memory might include a tough and pugnacious little rascal called the bluegill sunfish. It has a habit of attacking most any bait with total abandon and have the fighting strength of a bull – making it a perfect target for our youngest fishermen. A simple bobber-and-worm rig cast into a local pond is just the right recipe for impatient youth.
Maryland state fish hatcheries do a little genetic engineering to create a hybrid bluegill by crossing it with a green sunfish, sort of the Jack Russel terrier of the sunfish world –making an even feistier adversary for the bobber-and-worm crowd. Our department has a program that stocks these hybrid bluegill sunfish in ponds for youth fishing events.
If you want to enjoy a fun day with young aspiring anglers, check out our fishing rodeo schedule.
Maryland Fishing Report: June 6
Photo courtesy of Andy Fox
Note: If you’re looking for the June 13 report, please click here.
The northern snakehead has gotten a lot of press attention and has been called “Frankenfish.” It inspired a movie called “Snakehead Terror” about 8-foot long fish terrorizing a lakeside community, which helped create a common belief that snakeheads can walk on land.
In reality, snakeheads are an invasive species that is spreading quickly through the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They eat anything that moves within their watery environment and they grow large. One saving grace is they make excellent eating and are often what’s for dinner for many fishermen.
The use of any legal recreational gear is considered eligible for a Maryland state record in the invasive division of state records. A Virginia angler currently holds the world record for a hook-and-line snakehead at 17 pounds, 12 ounces. Maryland anglers have taken several larger than that with bow and arrow, including our new state record of 19.9 pounds set on May 24 by Andy Fox in Charles County.
Now we need someone to top these records with hook and line and bring Maryland the bragging rights for the world record – so here’s a tip: Northern snakeheads are aggressive predators and nothing seems to drive them crazier than a buzzbait over or near grass beds.
Maryland Fishing Report: May 30
Photo by Letha Grimes
Memorial Day weekend is now behind us – an important pause to remember and reflect on those who gave their lives for the freedoms and rights that we all enjoy. It also means the “summer” season has begun.
The fishing rodeo season is in full swing. For those not initiated, these are free youth fishing events held around the state by civic organizations and partners for the enjoyment of children and families. The sites are usually well stocked with fish and it is great fun with a little bit of a competitive edge tossed in for the kids, with prizes and trophies.
Gather up your kids – or perhaps a group of neighborhood kids – and head out to one of these fun events near you.
Maryland Fishing Report: May 23
Photo by Letha Grimes
Many of us found ourselves fishing in the rain last week. I was with a friend on the lower Choptank River last week enjoying some striped bass topwater action — the fishing was fun and the overcast weather showed us one of nature’s many moods to be enjoyed.
Often less-than-perfect weather gives us a unique perspective on the world around us. As we all know, the fish do not care if it’s raining and low light conditions can be beneficial.
Heading into Memorial Day weekend it looks like we’ll have a little respite from the rain. Whether you will be heading to the mountains of Maryland, to the coastal areas, or staying closer to home, be sure to spend close-up time with those dear to you. There is no better way to do that than fishing together.
Maryland Fishing Report: May 16
Rodney Butler got to spend a fine day with his brother Derrick while fishing at Piney Run Park. Photo by Derrick Butler
Most anglers know we had been going through a bit of a dry spell for several weeks, but, oh boy, did that come to an end. The heavy rains and stormy conditions moving through the state the past few days are expected to last through the weekend.
But the sun will shine again and it will be time to share the outdoors with family and friends. Fishing offers family time – catching up or reminiscing about growing up together – like no other activity.
There are some free fishing days coming up June 2, 9 and July 4. If you can think of someone you might like to introduce to fishing, this is a great opportunity for someone to try the sport without buying a license.
Maryland Fishing Report: May 9
Nick Long had some topwater catch and release fun while fishing with his mom and dad on the Chesapeake Bay this past weekend. Photo by Travis Long
Those who fish know that the waters they love have many moods, and perhaps one of our favorites is when they are quiet and calm.
This past weekend with overcast skies and little wind was one of those times that the waters we fish seem to talk to us – from the bubbling mountain streams, to the calmer waters of ponds, lakes and Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland Fishing Report Now Available as Amazon Alexa Skill
Innovative Partnership Enhances Communications and Customer Service
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that it is expanding its communications channels and services to include Amazon Echo.
Through an innovative partnership with NIC Maryland, the department will now offer the Maryland Fishing Report, which provides anglers with the latest fishing hotspots, catch of the week, water and weather conditions and more, as an Alexa Skill.
Anglers can use the new Skill on a desired Amazon device by simply saying “Alexa, open Maryland Fishing Report.” Then they can choose to hear the entire fishing report or information for specific areas or regions, including the upper, middle or lower Chesapeake Bay, freshwater fishing or Atlantic Ocean and coastal bays.
Maryland Fishing Report: May 2
Violet Sisler spent a fun time with her mom using her Barbie fishing rod to catch her first trout. The smiles say it all! Photo by Rebecca Sisler
Warmer and more seasonable weather has finally descended upon the Maryland landscape, offering a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors. The warm air temperatures and sunny weather, along with relatively cool water temperatures make for perfect fishing conditions in many local waters.
Community ponds, trout management waters and lakes offer fun shoreline fishing adventures that are particularly tuned for children. Many are stocked with bluegills, and some are stocked with trout and set aside for youth fishing. There are also fishing rodeos and other youth events held all over the state.
Fall Foliage Report for November 7, 2024
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Cecil County. Photo by Ranger Lesley Leader.
All of Maryland is now past peak foliage for the year.
A drought that has affected Maryland throughout the year continues. As of Nov. 5, more than 53% of the state is experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 83% of Maryland is experiencing moderate drought.
These dry conditions have made for a dangerous wildfire season. Firefighters across the state are busy fighting and monitoring brush fires. Since Oct. 1, the Maryland Forest Service has responded to more than 30 wildland fires statewide. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: There is a Place for Everyone in Maryland’s Outdoors
In October, more than 150 people attended the inaugural Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit. The event, held at Rocky Gap State Park, represents a milestone for the Department of Natural Resources.
We welcomed academics, park rangers, business owners, students, nonprofit leaders, and others who are engaged in outdoor recreation activities to the summit to build networks, share environmental stewardship ideas, and expand economic opportunities. As part of the event, attendees joined excursions and activities such as kayaking on Lake Habeeb, landscape painting at Rocky Gap, and mountain biking the Great Allegheny Passage. Other outdoor activities included campfires, birding expeditions, rock climbing, and disc golf. Read more…
Fall Foliage Report for October 10, 2024
Welcome to this week’s Fall Foliage Report for the Old Line State – or maybe it’s the Gold Line State. That’s what many of the hickories and birch trees in our state are showing right now – leaves with yellow, golden hues.
Overall, foresters and rangers continue to report a lackluster leaf show for 2024. Recent wind and rain have knocked down dry leaves.
Oaks are dropping acorns. In this issue, you can read more about how to tell the difference between Maryland’s oaks and acorns in Forester Melissa Nash’s report. Parts of the state are experiencing “peaks” in foliage for certain tree species.
In the Bear Pond Mountains in Washington County, areas of hickory, maple, birch, and black gum are peaking, according to forester Aaron Cook.
“This weekend would be a fantastic time to hike the Appalachian Trail in Washington County, or explore neighboring Frederick County at Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, or Gambrill State Park,” Cook said. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Science is the Key to Discovering Maryland and Protecting the Chesapeake
Secretary Josh Kurtz assists with a trout survey in the Gunpowder River. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Science is the foundation of everything we do at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. To emphasize this point, DNR conducted its second annual Science Week from Sept. 23 to 27 to highlight the department’s field experts working to conserve and protect our lands, waters, and wildlife.
During this week I traveled more than 500 miles with department leaders from locations in western Maryland to the southern Eastern Shore to join our department’s field staff and view their work firsthand. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Report: Summer 2024
Ofc. Charles Faith holds the antlers of an illegally-harvested 19-point whitetail deer in Frederick County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) issued various citations and made numerous arrests for violations of criminal and natural resource law this summer. Charges filed against individuals include overfishing, theft, weapons violations, spotlighting deer, various incidents at Maryland State Parks, and other crimes. Read more…
Montgomery County Angler Catches First Maryland State Record Yellowedge Grouper
The 38.0-pound grouper caught in the Atlantic Ocean is only 10 pounds short of the world record.
Jian Feng Li, center, caught the new Maryland state record yellowedge grouper from an Ocean City charter boat. Photo by Gary Tyler, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recognizes Jian Feng Li of Silver Spring as the first state record holder for yellowedge grouper (Caulolatilus microps) in the Atlantic division.
Li caught the 38.0-pound, 43-inch fish on August 27 while fishing in Poorman’s Canyon off Ocean City. He was deep-dropping with false albacore strips for bait and was using a hand-cranked conventional reel. Read more…
Public Asked to Report Marine Mammal and Turtle Sightings and Strandings Online or by Phone
Hotline or online form available; reports contribute data to marine science
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks residents and visitors enjoying coastal and tidal waterways to remain alert for marine mammals and sea turtles through the end of summer and 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.
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…
Anglers Report Multiple Sightings of Tarpon in Maryland Waters of Chesapeake Bay
Usually associated with warmer areas, the legendary sport fish is a rare sight in the state
Blurry shapes just below the surface of the Chesapeake Bay, multiple tarpon school together in waters near Hoopers Island Lighthouse on Aug. 1. Credit: Tom Weaver
Scouting for red drum near the Hoopers Island Lighthouse on Aug. 1, Capt. Tom Weaver saw something roll in the flat, calm waters a couple hundred yards away.
He looked for the wake and followed a disturbance in the distance. When he got close and shut the motor off, he saw huge shapes under the water. The fish looked familiar—and Weaver soon realized he recognized them from his years fishing in the Florida Keys.
“When you run out of Annapolis, you don’t expect an hour and a half later to be running across a tarpon,” Weaver, who runs a charter business Fish With Weaver, said. “My brain took a few minutes to process.” Read more…
Looking at Maryland’s Stream Health Over Time, DNR Report Finds Mixed Results
Temperatures and non-native fish species have increased, while acidity has lessened
Maryland Biological Stream Survey staff conduct electrofishing in Frederick County. DNR photo
A Maryland Department of Natural Resources report found mixed results for the health of the state’s non-tidal streams, with some conditions getting better, others worse, and some remaining the same.
For this report on potential changes in stream conditions, the department’s Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) staff sampled hundreds of stream sites across the state, then compared what they found to data from those same sites 14 or 20 years earlier.
While the results highlight ongoing challenges for streams in the state, Scott Stranko, the department’s director of monitoring and nontidal assessment, said the report also demonstrates the importance and efficacy of work to protect Maryland’s streams.
Avid Kayak and Shore Fisherman from Solomons becomes Eleventh FishMaryland Master Angler
New Master Angler Eric Packard fishes more than 200 days a year
Eric Packard holds a hickory shad. Photo courtesy of Eric Packard
Eric Packard of Calvert County has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) FishMaryland program. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Packard is the eleventh Master Angler since the program began in 2019. Read more…
Tenth FishMaryland Master Angler is First Youth Angler to Achieve Milestone
Lucy Moore, 11, awarded for catching diversity of species
Master Angler Lucy Moore with a bluegill. Photo by Nick Perez
Lucy Moore of Cecil County has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) FishMaryland program. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten different trophy-sized species of fish in Maryland. Moore, 11, is the tenth Master Angler since the program began in 2019, the first female angler, and the youngest by a decade. (NOTE: Moore’s surname was previously recorded as Perez, however the family has updated her preferred name.) Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Reports Results from the 2024 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey
Photo by Jennifer Dudley, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
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 (VIMS), estimates 317 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2024, compared to 323 million crabs last year.
The number of spawning age female crabs decreased from 152 million crabs in 2023 to 133 million crabs in 2024, but is still well above the management threshold of 72.5 million crabs. The threshold indicates whether the female crab population is being overfished or not.
Adult male crabs also experienced a slight decrease from 55 million crabs in 2023 to 46 million crabs in 2024.
The number of juvenile crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has been below average for the past four years, but rose to 138 million juvenile crabs in 2024. Blue crab reproduction is naturally variable and influenced by many factors such as oceanic conditions, available nursery habitat, predation, and other environmental impacts. Read more…
Horseshoe Crabs Begin 2024 Migration onto Maryland Beaches
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Something ancient is making its way onto the shores of Maryland – the annual spawning migration of horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus.
The migration usually takes place from May through July, and its peak culminates with high tides on or around each full and new moon in May and June. Dating back an estimated 350 million years, this yearly event along the Atlantic coast is believed to be the world’s oldest and largest wildlife migration. Read more…
Maryland’s License-Free Fishing Days Provide Access to Angling for All
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will offer license-free fishing days for all state residents and visitors on June 1, June 8, and July 4. These annual events provide anglers a unique opportunity to explore the state’s diverse fishing without needing a fishing license, trout stamp, or registration.
The department hosts license-free fishing every year on the first two Saturdays of June and on the Independence Day holiday to take advantage of peak spring and summer fishing. On these days, any individual may catch and possess finfish for recreational purposes in any tidal and nontidal waters of Maryland. All anglers must follow all current regulations, including size and catch limits found in the department’s fishing and crabbing guide. Read more…
Join the Hunt: How to Catch a Blue Catfish in Maryland
Angler Melissa Blair caught a 32-inch blue catfish at Kent Narrows Bridge in April 2021. Photo by Tristan Bapst
The bad news: Blue catfish can be easily found in a majority of Maryland’s rivers, both tidal and non-tidal and out in the Bay itself, and they eat almost anything.
The good news: Blue catfish can be easily found in a majority of Maryland’s rivers, both tidal and non-tidal and in the Bay itself, and they eat almost anything.
For anglers, blue catfish have become an attractive target because they are challenging to catch, but not elusive. They can be fished with light tackle from shore or on a boat. They can be found easily and are attracted to a variety of bait. Read more…
Blue Catfish Are Spreading Rapidly in Maryland Waters, as State Officials and the Fishing Community Work To Contain the Invasive Species
The invasive species is quickly becoming abundant in Maryland rivers
Blue catfish are big, fast predators that spread quickly and can tolerate salinity. Now in all Maryland’s major rivers, blue cats are preying on and outcompeting native fish. Photo by Winn Brewer, DNR
The first catch of the afternoon was a white catfish—saved by its wider head and a few less anal fin rays, and tossed back into the water.
The blue catfish came next—two in quick succession. “It only takes a few minutes for them to start biting,” said Capt. Marcus Wilson, whose Rock-N-Robin Charter Fishing, operated together with Capt. Robin Payne, runs blue catfishing trips on the Potomac River several months of the year.
It ended up being a slower day for the charter boat, but they often catch 50 blue catfish at a go. And with no catch limits, customers end up bringing home a lot of fish.
Anglers across the state are seeing more and more blue catfish, an invasive species that only reached Maryland waters in the 1990s and 2000s. Eric Packard, a recreational fisherman and a member of Maryland’s Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission, described it as “bizarre” how many blue catfish you can catch. Read more…
Allegany County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Fallfish
Record 3.2-pound fish reeled in from upper Potomac River
Blake Cronk with his Maryland state record fallfish, photo courtesy of Blake Cronk.
Blake Cronk, of Westernport, has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for fallfish – Semotilus corporalis — in the state’s nontidal division.
Cronk caught the 3.2-pound fish on April 1 while fishing in the North Branch of the Potomac River, below the Piedmont Bridge in the Westernport area. He was fishing with worms and spinners in an area where he had caught several good-sized trout, and is also known to have frequent occurrences of large fallfish. Read more…
The Maryland Blue Catfish State Record Has Stood for 12 Years. Can It Be Broken?
Ed Jones, right, poses with his son, a friend, and a charter guide while holding the Maryland state record blue catfish in 2012.
The invasive fish has spread throughout Maryland in recent years, but the record held by an Oregon man still stands
Ed Jones, an Oregon resident, said he’ll never forget the day he caught the Maryland state record blue catfish. It was also the day he lost his phone.
“I can remember it as vividly as the day is long,” Jones said in March while recounting the fateful August 2012 catch. “I hooked him, was reeling him in, and as soon as we got him near the boat, I had my cell phone in my shirt pocket, leaned over the boat, and plunk. It fell right into the river. I had all these pictures [on the phone] and I lost them in the river.”
However, he still has at least one picture from that day. It’s a picture of him, his son, and others holding up the giant blue catfish he caught. That fish, at 84.0 pounds, still holds the Maryland blue catfish state record to this day.
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 Department of Natural Resources: Number of Wildfires, Acreage Burned Increased in 2023
Acreage burned by wildfires in 2023 was more than double the 10-year average, with one significant fire responsible for the increase
A Maryland Forest Service firefighter contains a wildfire. DNR File Photo.
The number of wildfires and the acreage of land burned by wildfires in Maryland last year significantly outpaced the 10-year average, according to the Maryland Forest Service’s Annual Wildland Fire Report.
The report, which is being released this month, covers data related to wildfires on 3.2 million acres of land overseen by the Maryland Forest Service.
In 2023, these lands experienced 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 acres. Both figures were higher than the 10-year averages of 127.8 wildfires per year and 2,376 acres burned, according to Forest Service data.
Warming Temperatures Bring Different Animals to Maryland
Climate change makes region more hospitable to some newcomers—and more difficult for native species
White ibises have started to nest at Martin National Wildlife Refuge.
A Salisbury man fishing for spotted sea trout Sept. 17 in the Chesapeake Bay pulled in a tall, silvery fish with a striking yellow underside.
It turned out to be the largest Florida pompano recorded in the state. It was also a living indication of a warming climate.
The Florida pompano is just one of multiple species of animals, largely fish and birds, that are appearing in the state more frequently at least partially as a result of climate change. Though these newcomers can increase biodiversity and generate excitement among residents and fishermen, scientists caution that they are also warning signs of a changing ecosystem.
Eastern Shore Angler Catches Maryland State Record Snakehead
Record 21.0-pound fish caught in Dorchester County
Angler Damien Cook with his state record Northern snakehead. Submitted photo, used with permission
Damien Cook of Rhodesdale has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for Northern snakehead – Channa argus — in the state’s Invasive Division. Cook caught the 21.0-pound fish on July 5 while fishing in a Dorchester County river. Read more…
Garrett County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Fallfish
Record 3.01-pound Fish Reeled in from Upper Potomac River
Angler Bryson Meyers with his state record fallfish. Submitted photo, used with permission
For the second time in a month, the state record for fallfish has been broken. Bryson Meyers of Oakland has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for fallfish – Semotilus corporalis — in the state’s nontidal division.
Meyers caught the 3.01-pound fish on June 16 while fishing in the North Branch of the Potomac River, in the Westernport area. He was on a fly fishing float trip drifting the river for trout when he hooked the impressive fallfish, which measured more than 20 inches in length. Read more…
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