The state of Maryland is investigating a growing niche in the fishing world: Microfishing.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is surveying anglers to determine how much interest exists in this unique style of fishing, where participants use extremely small hooks to target small-bodied, non-game fish.
“A 4-inch fish would almost be a trophy for some of the species you're looking at,” said Russ Merritt, a local angler who has been practicing microfishing for nearly a decade and documenting the hobby on video.
Though the practice has yet to gain widespread popularity, it is slowly building a community. “So it is a really niche kind of aspect of fishing,” Merritt said. He added, “Especially with all the invasive species we have going on now—you know, between the snakehead and the catfish and things—catching tiny versions of them before you even know a large one is in the area.”
The DNR's survey aims to gauge both participation and interest in microfishing, asking anglers whether they’ve ever tried the technique.
Local angler Ryan Fisher said he’d consider giving it a try, but for a different purpose. “Just to target smaller fish to target some bigger game,” said Fisher.
In addition to usage trends, the DNR also wants to understand anglers’ attitudes toward native species. Merritt said microfishing requires careful attention, since juvenile striped bass can be easily misidentified.
“Young stripers, you know, can easily be mistaken for a minnow or something else because it's that long,” he said, encouraging a catch-and-release approach.
This strikes me that DNR is getting pretty desperate to sell more fishing licenses. Catching small fish is fun, but catching big fish is more fun.
The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Head On ready and willing to accept your clicks.
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