Maryland to Keep Oyster Limits

 Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Maintains Oyster Harvest Limits Despite Market Challenges

This week, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shared there will be ‘no change’ to current oyster harvest limits for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The Statewide Oyster Industry Committee, which includes representatives from 11 county watermen’s associations, voted in support of maintaining bushel limits. This decision reflects current market struggles that have plagued Maryland watermen in recent years.

Despite a growing oyster population in the Bay, watermen have faced numerous economic challenges—from weather to changing markets. The committee supported conservative bushel limits that would prevent more inventory from flooding the market and further depressing prices.

Thanks to significant large-scale restoration efforts, oyster abundance has more than tripled since 2005. A key driver of this success has been Maryland’s oyster sanctuary network. Oyster sanctuaries are areas of the Bay where harvesting oysters is prohibited. These reefs remain protected so they can filter Maryland’s waterways, provide habitat for fish and crabs, and support recreational and commercial fishing. Oysters on sanctuaries also reproduce and repopulate nearby reefs that are open to harvest.

Sanctuaries have helped watermen recover from devastating harvest lows in the early 2000s, with harvest having increased more than 300 percent since the establishment of the sanctuary areas. Today, only 24 percent of Maryland’s oyster reefs are protected as sanctuaries. The other 76 percent remain open to harvest.

Despite more oysters in the Bay, Maryland’s oyster fishery has faced significant economic pressures, including shifting consumer demand, competition from out-of-state fisheries, poaching, and extreme winter weather last season.

This uncharacteristically conservative of MDDNR. Ordinarily, if they found oyster population higher, they would allow more fishing.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

MD Set to Set New Striper Regs

MDE, Maryland Set to Adopt Changes to Chesapeake Bay Recreational Striped Bass Season

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing to implement a shift in the season for recreational striped bass, or rockfish. The seasonal shift opens April to catch-and-release fishing and closes all of August to targeting striped bass.

These adjustments are intended to simplify existing regulations, while allowing more recreational fishing opportunities and protecting striped bass during the hot, final weeks of the summer.

On Wednesday, the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review approved DNR’s proposed regulation changes for the 2026 striped bass fishing season. The new 2026 striped bass regulations are scheduled to be published in the Maryland Register on March 20, and they will become effective ten days later.

This timing will enable the return of April catch-and-release fishing for striped bass. DNR is implementing the seasonal shift to enable anglers to catch-and-release striped bass in April when water temperatures are cooler, while closing the month of August for striped bass fishing when hot water temperatures make striped bass more likely to be accidentally killed by hook-and-line fishermen—known as recreational dead discards—while fishing them.

The 2026 recreational striped bass season in the Chesapeake Bay will be:

• January 1–April 30: Catch and Release
• May 1–July 31: Harvest
• August 1–31: Closed
• September 1–December 5: Harvest
• December 6–31: Catch and Release

 

“The new regulations simplify the recreational and charter boat seasons, making them easier to find and read,” said Kate Charbonneau, DNR’s Assistant Secretary of Aquatic Resources. “We are allowing for more access to recreational fishing opportunities without increasing mortality or total fish removed.”

The change has been under consideration for over a year and has been approved after extensive stakeholder engagement and consideration of thousands of public comments. Striped bass is one of the most popular recreational fisheries in Maryland. Recreational fishing and boating generate an estimated $701.5 million in value added economic activity in the state in 2024, according to outdoor recreation statistics compiled by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.

This is good news for Pete, who will not have to go to North Carolina for April, or play the "I'm fishing for Speckled Trout" game. You can catch specks in April, in the same places and with the same gear as for stripers, but not very many. Maybe none this year, with all the cold weather. 

The change was not made without a bit of kerfuffle. Just a few days ago, a hold on the regulations was made by a com-friendly legislator, potentially holding off the change until it would have made no difference. At Maryland Matters, Rockfish regulations on hold at General Assembly committee

The pause was ordered Friday by Del. Sandy Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City), a co-chair of the AELR committee, at the request of committee member Del. Jay Jacobs (R-Upper Shore). Rosenberg said he hopes to make a decision about the regulation by Wednesday, when Jacobs is expected to meet with DNR to discuss the matter.
...
Jacobs said he feels the regulations, which will also open a fishery when rockfish are swimming up the bay to spawn, deserve further discussion. He is requesting a hearing before the committee.

While one group of charter boat captains, such as the light tackle fishermen, support the regulations because they open an April fishery, another group opposes the regulations because of the August closure.

That second group was hit hard a few years ago, when the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a multistate compact, determined that charters in the bay could only keep one fish per person — as opposed to two. “They are very, very concerned because they took a huge hit,” Jacobs said. Now, it’s compounded with this August closure, Jacobs said. “There was no negotiating some other term, like people could fish in the morning,” Jacobs said. “I think there’s other solutions without entirely shutting down the business for an entire month.”

 The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Ersatz Gingermageddon up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

MDE Investigator Pins Calvert Cliffs Fish Kill on Recreational Fishermen

I already reported the fish kill, as well as my own thoughts, but now, at the BayNet: Dozens Of Dead Fish, Crabs And Birds Wash Ashore At Calvert Cliffs State Park In “Nexus Event”

The MDE investigator, Chris Luckett, agreed that winter die-offs of fish are rare. In this case, he attributed the deaths of multiple species to a “nexus” event — or a combination of factors that led to the deaths rather than a single incident. The birds, he said, may indicate some kind of disease. Blue crabs, on the other hand, do occasionally experience winter die-offs. It’s not common, but has been documented in cold winters. Crabs spend their winters dug into the sediment in the bay — those who chose to do this in shallow waters are more vulnerable.S

The fish deaths were where Luckett’s investigation took an unusual turn. Luckett, an investigator of 26 years who has personally worked on more than 500 fish death events, said he first looked for evidence of disease. He also looked for injuries that could indicate that fish were caught in a commercial fishing net.

Did he look for holes in their lips from being hooked? Fish lips heal fast, but not that fast.

Finding neither, Luckett moved on to water quality issues. He took water samples and was able to rule out low oxygen levels, algae blooms and pollution.

The most likely scenario, Luckett said, was that fish suffered from temperature stress related to catch-and-release fishing. He said that the water temperatures vary in certain spots in the bay. On a few key warm days in February, people took to the water for recreational fishing. During that process, they released fish into colder waters than the ones in which they were caught. A sudden temperature change, even of just a few degrees, can be a huge shock to the fish’s system.

Obviously he's talking about Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, one of a few warm water discharges in the Bay, and the only one in the vicinity of the incident.

“A lot of times, you walk down to the scene of something like that, and you see they’re all dead. And the simplest explanation is that they’re all related, but when you investigate you come to understand it’s not the case. We can say now that it’s scientifically correct to say they’re not connected events,” Luckett said.

Luckett is confident in his findings about the fish kill event. The waterfowl death event is being investigated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

“This is how it gets done at MDE,” Luckett said. “It’s based on strong science and evaluating the evidence to come to a conclusion.”

I am very skeptical of this explanation. Of course, I'm biased, as a person who has fished the warm water discharge at CCNPP. But let me explain. CCNPP is allowed to release water 10 F warmer than the water they take in. However, the outflow has a tremendous mixing effect (there's a lot of motion), and it is very rare to actually find water there more than 5 F warmer than the surrounding area. I don't really think that a 5 F temperature difference is enough to cause shock to a big Striped Bass. As an aquarist, I would try to avoid a 5 F temp shock, but I wouldn't be super concerned. Stripers move in and out the the discharge area all the time. They're looking for food, not heat. And how does he account for the dead Toadfish shown in the article? It certainly wasn't a victim of catch and release angling. Once in a blue moon a toad hits a lure intended for a striper, but I've never seen it in winter. 

That's not to say that catch and release angling doesn't kill some fish, it does, but only rarely in cold water. Once in a while, a fish sucks the lure down its throat or into to gills, and extraction causes considerable damage. However, that's pretty rare, probably way less than 10%.

So rather than use Occam's Razor to connect dead fish, dead crabs and dead birds to the extremely cold weather prior to the event as the explanation, he managed to concoct 3 different explanation for why fish, crabs and birds washed up simultaneously. There is a faction at DNR which seeks to restrict recreational fishing. I hope this isn't enemy action.

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Ersatz Gingermageddon up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Fish 691 Landed in Potomac River

MDDNR, Elusive Potomac River Muskie, Dubbed Fish 691, Caught for First Time After Years of DNR Study

(Garrett) Davis, of Clear Spring, landed a 16-year-old tagged muskie that has been studied by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists for more than a decade. This particular fish has been recaptured in surveys several times, but had never been caught and reported to DNR by an angler.

This is the story of Fish 691, a female muskie that has been closely tracked by DNR since 2013. It’s a tale that highlights the elusiveness of prized muskellunge, or muskies, which are voracious apex predators that exist in low densities across their range in the United States and Canada. Muskies are known as “the fish of 10,000 casts” due to their hard-to-catch reputation.

The species attracts many of the most dedicated and driven anglers. Maryland manages one “true” muskie population in the non-tidal Potomac River, which supports a naturally reproducing, self-sustaining, and popular recreational fishery.

Due to this popular sport fishery, DNR Biologists have been tracking muskies in the Potomac since the late 1990s. They do so by inserting individually numbered external dart tags into captured fish to monitor growth, movement, and estimate exploitation–or if fish are being removed at a faster rate than they can reproduce. To protect this sensitive population, DNR recommends avoiding fishing for muskies when water temperatures meet or exceed 80 degrees.

To date, DNR has tagged 1,011 muskies in the Potomac, and 466 have been reported recaptured for a 46% recapture rate. From 2017 to 2021, biologists also conducted a radio-telemetry study to better understand seasonal movements and habitat preferences.

Over the years, anglers have provided recapture data on tagged fish that paint a picture of that individual fish’s life, with some telling a more interesting story than others. When Davis reported his recent catch, it highlighted the evasiveness, longevity, and resilience of a riverine muskie in the southern part of their range.

 

The first capture and first recapture

DNR Freshwater Fisheries biologists annually monitor the Potomac River’s muskie fishery from Seneca in Montgomery County to Cumberland in Allegany County. During a routine electrofishing survey in March 2013, biologists collected and inserted tag 2414 into a female muskie measuring 30.25 inches. This was DNR’s first encounter with the muskie that would later be dubbed Fish 691. Exactly two years later, in March 2015, this muskie was recaptured for the first time during another routine electrofishing survey in the same general area, where she measured 36.5 inches.

 

Second recapture

In March of 2017, biologists began implanting radio transmitters into muskies. Tag 2414 was collected during this effort, marking her second recapture by scientists. She measured 39.75 inches, weighed 15.5 pounds, and was aged at 7 years using a cross-section of her anal fin ray.

Biologists anesthetized her using electronarcosis and surgically implanted a radio transmitter that allowed them to monitor her movements throughout the summer and fall of 2017. At the time, they dubbed her fish 950.

Tracking data throughout 2017 revealed this particular muskie was rather sedentary. She had a distinct home range and rarely moved out of the “pool” habitat where she resided. When transmitter batteries expired in winter 2017-18, the fish went undetected again.

 

Third recapture

In 2018 and 2021, grant money through Muskies Inc. was awarded to DNR to continue investigating summer habitat occupancy of muskies in waters that exceed their temperature tolerance. Staff purchased larger radio transmitters with an increased range of detection and longer battery life.

On March 9, 2021, biologists recaptured fish 950 for the third time. Now 11 years old, she measured 43.75 inches and weighed 20.75 pounds. Biologists replaced the existing transmitter with another unique radio frequency – she now became Fish 691.

Fish 691 was tracked weekly throughout 2021 and provided valuable data, exhibiting similar behavior with a relatively small home range and minimal movements through the duration of the telemetry project.

 

In addition to annual electrofishing surveys, biologists conducted a muskie population estimate in spring 2022 in the section of the river where this fish had been documented to have spent most of her life. Extensive work was done to collect and recollect as many muskies as possible to gain an accurate estimate of the current population, but despite biologists’ growing fondness for her, Fish 691 was not recaptured in this effort. The survey indicated that there are approximately 7 to 11 adult muskies greater than 30 inches long per river mile on this stretch of the Potomac.

The area where Fish 691 was known to reside experiences some of the highest angling pressure for muskies in Maryland. Despite having a defined preferred area, Fish 691 had still not been reported by an angler since DNR started tracking her presence in the area in 2013.

 

Davis lands the muskie

On January 4, that changed–Fish 691 took the end of Davis’s line and he reeled her in, marking her fourth recapture. For the first time in her 16-year life, she was caught on hook and line by an angler. Davis noted her tag number and snapped a few photos before releasing this true trophy Maryland muskie.

“I was very fortunate to catch her,” said Davis. “And, it was awesome to hear the story behind her.”

That's quite a biography for a fish. And since he released the fish, we may get even more later.

I did spend a few days Muskie fishing with Tom in Presque Isle Lake in Wisconsin. We didn't catch any, but we had two follow up close to the boat. We made at least 10,000 casts. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: All You Can Eat marinated and ready for consumption at The Other McCain.

MDDNR Looking at Striper Bass Reset

A pretty good discussion for From Kent County News, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Allison Colden discusses DNR's striped bass reset

Since 2019, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has implemented numerous changes to recreational and commercial fishing regulations in their efforts to improve striped bass survival rates. While these measures have helped reduce overall mortality, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said they've created "a complex patchwork of time and area closures that can confuse anglers." According to the Foundation, the existing closures also don't necessarily align with the times when striped bass face the greatest stress from low oxygen and high water temperatures, prompting DNR to propose a "baseline reset" of recreational fishing seasons. Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Maryland Executive Director and fisheries expert Allison Colden, discusses these potential new regulations and their implications for both fish and fishermen.

What changes is DNR proposing to the striped bass fishing season?

Colden: As you can see in the charts above, Maryland DNR is proposing to reopen a few days of catch-and-release fishing in April and enforce a no-target closure for the entire month of August. The red sections of the timeline represent when water temperatures are highest and striped bass are most at risk of dying when caught.

That'll make Pete happy. Maybe he won't go to South Carolina for April like he's been threatening. 

What do anglers and the public think about the proposed changes?

Colden: Maryland DNR has solicited public feedback on the baseline reset proposal through several venues. First, to develop the proposal, DNR convened a workgroup of fishing stakeholders that provided input on how best to balance access to fishing opportunities with the need to conserve striped bass.

The proposal was then included in an update of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) coastwide striped bass management plan, which went through public hearings and an open public comment period last year. Through that process, the majority of public comments supported the baseline reset versus maintaining existing seasons.

I really haven't heard fisherman complain too much about the regs. Maybe some grumbling about the complicated system of time and area closures for the springtime. Simpler is better. Head boat charter fisherman are upset with the 1 fish limit, as it really does affect the willingness of their clientele to pay for a trip. Light tackle guys like me for the most part, don't really care if we can't take one home. 

What is the point of these adjustments if they likely won’t result in any more or fewer fish deaths?

Dr. Colden: From a technical standpoint, the baseline reset is considered “equivalent” to the current fishing seasons. Using the current models we have for striped bass, there’s no functional difference between the current season and the new proposed season, which begs the question—why make a change at all?

Well, we need to consider what we know is true for Chesapeake Bay versus the entire Atlantic coast. For example, managers assume that nine percent of striped bass die after being caught and released across all seasons, based on estimates developed for the full Atlantic coast. However, studies conducted in Maryland show that, in the summer, the mortality rate is closer to 30 to 40 percent due to the additional stress of low oxygen and high water temperatures. These hot conditions are most prevalent from mid-July to August, which is why a longer closure in August, as proposed in the reset, will likely have significant conservation benefits for the striped bass population, even if they aren’t captured by the coast wide model.

Additionally, the current fishing calendar looks like a confusing checkerboard—some days open for harvest, some catch-and-release, and some closed entirely for a few weeks at a time. DNR’s proposal would simplify that schedule immensely. This leaves less margin for error and can help improve angler compliance with fishing regulations. Our understanding about the health of the striped bass population is based on the assumption that anglers are fishing according to regulations, so ensuring the rules are clear and easy to follow is key.

 

Why are striped bass so vulnerable in the summer?

Colden: High water temperatures put a lot of stress on striped bass, and when they’re in this stressed state, additional exertion from being hooked and reeled in can just be too much to bear. Even if handled properly, striped bass are much less likely to survive being caught under hot conditions.

As mentioned above, studies indicate that 30 to 40 percent of striped bass can die when caught and released in Maryland in the summer. More specifically, according to a Maryland Department of Natural Resources study, when air temperatures are above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, about 17 percent of shallow-hooked striped bass died after being caught and released. A full August closure would help mitigate those high risks.

 

Are there concerns about expanding fishing in the spring during spawning season?

Colden: The Chesapeake Bay is where up to 90 percent of all striped bass along the Atlantic coast are spawned. Therefore, protecting spawning striped bass in Maryland waters is critical.

Some have expressed concern with the baseline reset’s allowance for additional catch-and-release fishing in April and early May when spawning fish are traveling up the Bay. In terms of catch-and-release, striped bass are much less likely to die from stress during this time, when air and water temperatures are significantly cooler, and estimates of catch-and-release mortality are less than one percent.

Fortunately, large adult spawning fish have actually seen a rebound in recent years due to conservative management, unlike the small young fish which have seen multiple consecutive years of low numbers. The baseline reset maintains closure of the striped bass “trophy” fishery, which traditionally targeted the largest spawning fish. Instead, it limits fish harvested to 19 to 24 inches in length, consistent with size limits throughout the rest of the season.

Right now, the big fish seem pretty plentiful, but there don't seem to be very many smaller fish following them up.

Why not put a moratorium on striped bass fishing until they can recover?

Colden: Many remember the historic moratorium Maryland put on striped bass fishing in the 1980s. That action is broadly considered a conservation success story.

We can and should learn from that success, but it’s also important to consider the circumstances of what we’re seeing today and the real underlying issues striped bass face. In the 1980s, we saw a low number of spawning adult fish, with overfishing as the primary culprit. Striped bass’s severe downturn led to the moratorium, which explains why when fishing stopped, the population rebounded quickly.

Juvenile striped bass, which stay in the Chesapeake Bay year-round, are enduring a number of environmental challenges that are contributing to their high mortality. The major trends we’re seeing right now are high rates of summer mortality and low recruitment of young fish. In fact, the number of spawning adult fish is on the rise, thanks to conservative actions taken in recent years. But young striped bass are not surviving the challenges of early life, due to habitat loss, pollution, and invasive predators like blue catfish. These impacts are driven by the environment, not by overfishing. The proposed baseline reset is intended to try to mitigate these environmental impacts by reducing fishing pressure on resident fish when they are most stressed. 

The moratorium was a success. Until it wasn't. But if we don't get some decent YOY soon, it may be necessary. 

What else can anglers do to help the striped bass population?

Colden: Anglers are the first line of defense in protecting striped bass. In addition to ensuring compliance with fishing regulations, anglers can:

Avoid fishing for striped bass when air temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Even during the fishing season, anglers can and should reference Maryland DNR’s Striped Bass Advisory Forecast to determine if air and water temperatures are safe to catch and release striped bass.  Practice ‘Careful Catch’ fish handling techniques to minimize stress and increase survival of fish that are caught and released. Utilize circle hooks, barbless hooks, and other tackle that minimizes gut hooking and damage to fish. Target other species, like invasive blue catfish, instead of striped bass. Think of it as a challenge!

Who wants to go out when the air temperature is 90+, which usually means the humidity is also about 90.

What’s next?

This month, DNR submitted their proposed regulatory change to Maryland’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) to begin the administrative process. AELR Committee members are currently reviewing the proposal, and Maryland DNR plans to share the regulations publicly on Jan. 23. Members of the public will be able to review and provide input at that time.

 he Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: All You Can Eat marinated and ready for consumption at The Other McCain.

The Wednesday Wetness

MDDNR, Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Shows Hypoxia Conditions Improved in Late August and September

Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University showed an above average volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l of oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia in early August, that then decreased to below average in late August and September.

Early August hypoxia remained consistent with late July with a volume of 1.85 cubic miles. and the tenth-highest early August volume in the past 38 years sampled. Anoxia – waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was more than double the average at a volume of 0.54 cubic miles.

Hypoxia volumes decreased in late August to just below average, and anoxia also decreased to 0.06 cubic miles, one-third of average observed volumes.

September saw a further decrease in hypoxia volumes to less than half the average volume, and no anoxia was present; however, mechanical issues during the Sept. 15-17 cruise resulted in some missing data in the mainstem Bay around the Maryland/Virginia state line.

So, basically, not much different than the past. I'm sure glad we spent a lot of the $25 Billion Bay Diet on fixing hypoxia. But at least the bureaucracy is healthy.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Barbara Eden up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

News from MDDNR

Two missives from Maryland DNR. First, Public Should Report Marine Mammal and Turtle Sightings and Strandings in Maryland to DNR

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.

“Citizen reports allow us to have eyes on Maryland’s 3,190 miles of tidal coastline,” said Stranding Response Program Coordinator Amanda Weschler. “The data provided about each deceased animal and the select necropsies we perform contribute valuable information to the scientific understanding of the challenges protected species face in our waters.”

Since 1990, Maryland’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Response Program ha s collected reports of more than 1,590 strandings.

One of the first cases the staff responded to in April was a West Indian manatee, reported by a private citizen kayaking on the Pocomoke River in Worcester County. DNR biologists determined that it likely stranded in late summer or early fall of 2024.

This was the first known stranded manatee in Maryland since November 2016. West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) are considered an “out-of-habitat” species in Maryland, making this sighting particularly rare.

Other animal strandings to which DNR has responded in 2025 are:

• 13 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
• Two grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)
• One harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
• One humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
• Five loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)
• One minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
• Five short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis)

Not all reported animals are viable for necropsy due to factors such as decomposition, resource availability, and the accessibility and safety of the stranding site. In cases where necropsy is not feasible, Stranding Program staff collect morphometric data, stranding location information, and take photographs. The deceased animal may be left at the stranding site to decompose naturally, benefiting the ecosystem. Alternate disposal methods include burial on-site or removal to designated disposal facilities, depending on the circumstances and local regulations. A list of relevant contacts for individuals seeking assistance with disposal is listed on the DNR website.

The department urges anyone who encounters a stranded animal, alive or dead, to maintain a safe and respectful distance and record details, including photos, to provide with a report.

I haven't found anything recently, but a few years ago, a dead dolphin washed up at Matoaka and a few years before that a sea turtle on Calvert Beach.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rolling out New Licensing System, MD Outdoors

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will introduce its new online licensing system, MD Outdoors, on June 24. This centralized system replaces the current system, COMPASS.

MD Outdoors will continue to offer products for all outdoor activities, including all Maryland hunting and fishing licenses and associated stamps and permits, boat and off-road vehicle renewal registration, and other services that will be available in this one convenient location. The system is designed to streamline the process of renewing licenses and permits as well as make it easier and more simple for new and returning customers.

Current license-holders will retain their DNR ID number; the new website will provide clear instructions on creating a new username and password for MD Outdoors, where customers can retrieve their account information. The new system includes auto-renew options, an easier-to-navigate interface, and an app that stores your license information, and can help direct people to new hunting and fishing opportunities. Other benefits and capabilities will be added in the future.

Along with improvements in the user experience, Maryland for the first time is offering the purchase of durable license cards that demonstrate fishing and hunting license validity. These rugged, collectable cards feature various images of Maryland fish and wildlife. 

That reminds me. My fishing license expires July 1. I might as well go over and check out the new site.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Overall Beauty up more or less on time and under budget.

Largemouth Taxonomists Reclassify Largemouth Bass

Southern Maryland Chronic, Genetic Study Splits Largemouth Bass

Maryland’s most popular freshwater sportfish, the largemouth bass, has a new scientific identity following a groundbreaking study that distinguishes it from its Florida counterpart, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on May 23, 2025. The American Fisheries Society has officially recognized the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass, prompting a change in the scientific name for Maryland’s bass from Micropterus salmoides to Micropterus nigricans.

 

A Yale University study, published in 2025, analyzed the genetics of 394 fish and confirmed distinct differences between bass from Florida and coastal Georgia and those found elsewhere, including Maryland. The research validated observations made in 1949 by black bass researchers Carl Hubbs and Reeve Bailey, who noted physical differences like scale counts and coloration patterns. While these traits were insufficient for species separation at the time, modern genetic testing has provided conclusive evidence.

For Maryland anglers, the reclassification changes little in practice. The fish, still called largemouth bass locally, remains a favorite for its size, fighting spirit, and the tournaments hosted across the state’s lakes, tidal rivers, and nontidal rivers. However, the scientific name update to Micropterus nigricans will be reflected in Maryland’s fishing regulations, as proposed by the DNR. In Florida, what was once considered a largemouth bass is now classified as Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides).

 

“Recognizing them as separate species helps natural resource agencies like DNR manage and conserve these fish more effectively,” a DNR spokesperson said in a statement. The genetic distinction allows fisheries managers to tailor stocking and conservation strategies to each species’ environmental adaptations. Largemouth bass in Maryland are well-suited to the state’s cooler waters and shorter growing seasons, while Florida bass thrive in warmer southern climates with longer growing seasons.

 

The reclassification highlights behavioral and growth differences. Florida bass are known for reaching trophy sizes in their native range, benefiting from warm waters, but may not achieve the same growth in Maryland’s colder climate. Conversely, largemouth bass are prized for their aggressiveness and adapt better to northern waters. Stocking Florida bass in Maryland could lead to reduced catch rates or lower reproductive success, according to DNR fisheries biologists.

Maryland’s stocking strategy remains unchanged. Bass for tidal waters, such as the Potomac River, will continue to be sourced from local largemouth bass broodstock to ensure optimal survival and reproduction. This approach mirrors practices in states like Arkansas, where warmer southern regions are stocked with Florida bass and cooler northern areas receive largemouth bass.

Well, if the DNA says they're different species, and there are enough physical difference to warrant giving them separate scientific names, then so be it. Just don't pull some political renaming like Chesapeake Chana (instead of the long time name Northern Snakehead, which was perfectly descriptive, they belong to the genus of other snakeheads, and they were the northernmost species in the group.) Just FYI, there is another lookalike relative, the Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus), "native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters as an invasive species."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Lewis Grizzard Memorial Post ready on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

MDDNR Encourages Smaller Fishing

 WBOC, Maryland Investigates Rise of Microfishing as Hobby

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.

MDDNR Seeks Women

MDDNR. ‘Women on the Water’ Fishing and Boating Workshop Welcomes New and Returning Anglers

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is hosting “Women on the Water,” a free introductory workshop on boating and fishing for women and girls 12 and older, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 7 at Seneca Creek State Park. While designed for women and girls, this program is open to anyone 12 and older. Registration is available now on the “Women on the Water” event page.

New or returning boaters and anglers can receive information about boating opportunities followed by fishing and kayaking instruction. Department staff will provide fishing gear for the event and teach the basics of fish identification, rigging a rod, and casting techniques.

 

Following instruction on land, participants can take to the water in a kayak, which will be provided along with required safety equipment. Kayak instructors will teach the basics and guide participants onto Clopper Lake for an evening of paddling and fishing. Participants who prefer to stay ashore can practice casting into the lake from shore.

Anglers aged 16 and older must possess a Maryland non-tidal/freshwater fishing license prior to attending if they wish to fish in the lake. Licensing will NOT be available at the event. Fishing licenses can be purchased online, at DNR service centers, or at sport license agent retailers.

Questions about the event can be emailed to Donna Morrow at donna.morrow@maryland.gov.

Maryland DNR needs to sell more fishing licenses and boat registrations. What better way than to make boating and fishing more with the distaff half of the population.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: San Romero Knights ready and awaiting clicks at The Other McCain.

Crab Season Open

At the Southern Maryland Chronic, more than you need to know: Get Ready: Blue Crab Season Hits Maryland April 1

The Chesapeake Bay blue crab season officially opens on April 1, 2025, ushering in a beloved Maryland tradition that runs through December 15. For recreational crabbers, this marks the start of prime time to harvest the iconic “beautiful swimmer,” Callinectes sapidus, known for its sweet meat and vibrant blue claws. With the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) overseeing regulations, the 2025 season brings updated rules, time-honored crabbing tricks, and some of the best early-spring hotspots across the state.

The Chesapeake Bay, the heart of Maryland’s blue crab fishery, supports over 50% of the U.S. harvest, making it a cultural and economic cornerstone. After a record low of 227 million crabs in 2022, the 2023 winter dredge survey showed a modest rebound to 323 million, though juvenile numbers remain below average. This has prompted careful management to ensure sustainability, blending science-based limits with the traditions of watermen and recreational enthusiasts alike.

 

2025 Recreational Crabbing Regulations

The Maryland DNR sets strict guidelines for non-commercial crabbers to protect the blue crab population and other species, like the diamondback terrapin. Here’s what you need to know for 2025:

• Season Dates and Times: April 1 to December 15 in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. From April 1 to December 15, crabbing with gear like trotlines or crab pots is allowed from one half hour after sunrise to sunset (April, October-December) or one half hour before sunrise to sunset (May-September). Handlines and dip nets can be used 24 hours a day. Wednesday crabbing is prohibited, except when a state or federal holiday falls on a Wednesday or Thursday.
• Size Limits: Hard male crabs must measure 5 inches across the carapace from April 1 to July 14, increasing to 5¼ inches from July 15 to December 15. Male peelers require 3¼ inches (April 1-July 14) or 3½ inches (July 15-December 15), while soft crabs need 3½ inches year-round. It’s illegal to keep egg-bearing (sponge) crabs or female hard/peeler crabs.
• Catch Limits: Unlicensed individuals can take one bushel of male hard crabs daily or two bushels per boat with two or more people. Licensed crabbers face gear-specific limits (e.g., 10 pots yield one bushel).
• Gear Rules: Handlines, dip nets, trotlines, and collapsible traps are permitted, but crab pots require annual registration and must feature two cull rings and a turtle reduction device (TRD)—a rectangular wire or plastic piece (1¾ inches high by 4¾ inches long) at each funnel entrance to prevent terrapin bycatch. Traps that auto-close, like the “Crab Alert,” are illegal. Gear must be marked with the owner’s DNRid or name and address and kept 100 feet from others’ setups.
• Licensing: No license is needed for handlines or dip nets. A recreational crabbing license ($5-$15) is required for trotlines, net rings, or more than two pots. Waterfront property owners can register up to two pots license-free.
• Prohibitions: Selling crabs, harvesting while SCUBA diving, or tampering with others’ gear is banned. Fines for violations, like missing TRDs, can reach $1,000.

The Natural Resources Police (NRP) will ramp up enforcement in 2025, following a 13.6% increase in citations from 2022 to 2023. Compliance with TRDs remains critical, with past checks showing rates as low as 53%.

Time for the Bay to start filling up with crab pots. I like to eat crabs, but fishing is more fun.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Eva Sinclair up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

MDDNR Seeks Higher Fishing License Fees

WMDT, Fishing fees could increase if proposed House Bill 40 is passed

A proposed House Bill sponsored by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources could change fees for fishermen across the state. The impact of this legislation extends beyond Marylanders to include non-residents.

Delegate of District 37B, Tom Hutchinson, feels there is a deeper motive for the proposed bill. “$5 to $12, just on their sport fishing license. Historically, senior citizens were exempt from paying a stamp trout, and now they are required to pay a stamp trout, which is going to be $20.”

 

House Bill 40 has delegate Hutchinson concerned. “So many seniors apply for the stamp trout, which is freshwater fishing, and so now we’re seeing an increase going from $5 to $32. I believe think is excessive and unnecessary.”

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the increased fees would support existing non-tidal fishery and management efforts under a state fund. However, Hutchinson deems the potential change unnecessary and excessive. He suspects the real reason for the bill, is because the state is trying to fight the $3 billion deficit.

“I see this as a way for them to look at any avenue to help resolve the deficit. It’s not that this money will stay in the fund, it is allocated for, and it will likely be siphoned over to help pay for the overall deficit in the general fund.”

Hutchinson said the proposal would damper tourism if passed.

“Our non-resident fees are going from $30 to $55 to the annual base on an annual basis, but more strikingly, if you want to visit Dorchester County or Talbot County, you’re going from $7 to $45 for just a seven-day license.”

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources sent WMDT a statement,

“The fee recommendations came out of a workgroup that represents our freshwater angling constituencies. The goal of the workgroup was to recommend fair and reasonable adjustments. These recommendations were directly incorporated into HB0040 and SB0258. We encourage people to visit our Inland Fisheries Website for more information.”

The bill passed its second reading yesterday, which means it only has one more hurdle before being passed into the Senate for consideration.

It's been a while since the price of fishing licenses went up, and after four years of Bidenflation, I'm not shocked the money doesn't go a far as it used to. I also suspect the younger generation is losing interest in fishing in favor of surfing the internet, and that too is cutting into their revenues. Also, Maryland has a well known propensity for taking money allocated for one purpose and allotting it to another.

I always buy the boat license, which has been $50 a pop for years. I wonder how much more they'll ask for that.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Casual up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

MDDNR Set Sights on Blue Catfish

MDDNR, Maryland DNR Introduces Commercial Blue Catfish Pilot Programs

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Applications are now open for the Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial and Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Programs. Commercial watermen and charter boat captains can apply to participate through online forms on the DNR website.

“The silver lining to the challenges blue catfish pose in the Chesapeake Bay is they taste great,” said DNR Invasive Fishes Program Manager Branson Williams. “These pilot programs aim to reduce barriers for commercial fishermen to catch and sell more blue catfish. Our goal is to reduce biomass, and these programs will help with those efforts.”

Blue catfish – Ictalurus furcatus – are problematic due to their voracious and indiscriminate appetites, high reproductive rate, and potential to harm native species, some of which are commercially and recreationally important to Maryland, including blue crabs.

The pilot programs are part of a larger effort by the department to mitigate the negative impact blue catfish have on native species and ecosystems. Other initiatives include incentivizing charter captains to gather harvest data on their catfish and Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) trips, supporting invasive species tournaments, and working with stakeholders and other agencies to increase removals. There is no season or limit on recreational blue catfishing for anglers holding the appropriate Maryland fishing license. Details of the two new programs are below.

Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial Pilot Program

The Blue Catfish Charter Pilot Program allows participants to run for-hire and commercial fishing trips simultaneously and removes crew limits on commercial hook-and-line fishing trips that target blue catfish. This action will financially incentivize captains to sell excess blue catfish after a charter rather than releasing the fish alive.


There is no maximum number of pilot participants for this project. Applicants must hold an appropriate commercial fishing license, target blue catfish on the charter trip, and complete daily reporting for the charter trip and commercial activity.

Applications for the program are open now and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Maryland DNR image of Trot Line

Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Program

The department is considering relaxing regulations prohibiting finfish trotlines south of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge to combat increased abundance and expanded distribution of invasive catfishes through additional commercial harvest.

The Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Program will allow a small number of harvesters to use finfish trotlines (see illustration) in the mainstem Chesapeake Bay south of the Bay Bridge. The department will examine bycatch, user conflicts, and other issues encountered during the pilot before proposing regulation changes to allow widespread use.

Flathead Catfish

Finfish trotlines are an effective gear commonly used to harvest invasive blue and flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Trotlines accounted for 26% of Maryland’s blue catfish harvest from 2019 through 2023.

Program participants must possess a Maryland Unlimited Tidal Fish License (TFL) or Unlimited Finfish Harvester License (FIN). All harvest must be reported after each trip via an electronic reporting form or logbook provided by the department.

Current license holders can still use finfish trotlines to harvest blue catfish and other fish in legal waters of the state without participating in this program.

Applications are open now through February 20, 2025. A limited number of permits will be issued based on weighted selection criteria.

I think the real problem with using commercial fishing to fish down the population of Blue and Flathead Catfish are the low prices they get at the market, rarely getting as high as $1/lb. Striped Bass, in contrast get $5 or more. But the price is driven by both low demand, coupled with more than adequate supply to meet that demand. The way to break that problem is to make catfish (particularly Blue Catfish) a more popular food item. Perhaps Gov. Moore should host some catfish fries for his supporters in Baltimore and elsewhere. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Casual up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.