Next Update: November 28, 2007

This Thursday is of course a traditional time of the year to count one’s blessings and give thanks for family, friends and freedom. Maryland fishermen have a lot to be thankful for this year; generous trout stockings despite the Whirling Disease problem at state hatcheries thanks to the generous help of the Freshwater Institute providing trout for our state anglers. Plentiful smallmouth bass in the upper Potomac and largemouth bass throughout the state is certainly something to be thankful for. Thanks for another fabulous spring trophy striped bass season, thanks for a good summer fishery for striped bass in the Chesapeake along with one of the best bay flounder seasons in a long time, thanks for plentiful bluefish and Spanish mackerel. A big thanks for croakers, spot and upper bay crabbers can thank the drought for an excellent crabbing season in the upper bay. Last but certainly not least Chesapeake Bay fishermen can give thanks to the M.A.R.I. Program and a multitude of volunteers and contributors of cold hard cash to begin a reef program once again in the Chesapeake to provide fish habitat such as this.

Fishermen in all regions of the Chesapeake Bay have been finding small to medium sized striped bass by casting to or jigging under diving sea gulls and also by trolling bucktails and spoons. Some of the most exciting news this week in regards to fishing is the arrival of the large fall migrant striped bass in the lower bay waters. Fishermen started to catch them last week and the opportunities to catch a large striped bass continue to improve this week. Fishermen are trolling large parachutes and bucktails in the top 25’ of the water column along channel edges to catch striped bass such as this one caught by Greg Bivens near Buoy 72A.

Freshwater anglers are enjoying good fishing for trout in many of the western and central regions trout waters; despite low water conditions. The fishing for smallmouth bass and walleyes in Deep Creek Lake has been very good recently as fish actively feed to prepare for the winter months. Freshwater fishing in the other regions of the state has also seen a dramatic increase in fish activity due to cooler water temperatures and heavy grass cover breaking up. Steve Poddo holds up a beautiful smallmouth bass for the camera before slipping it back into the waters of the upper Potomac River.

Coastal anglers are catching a nice mix of tautog in and around the Ocean City Inlet and large bluefish and increasing numbers of large striped bass are being caught in the surf. The boats venturing out to the wreck sites are finding them there and anglers are catching them.

Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 600 pixels. Please try to keep the file size small, under one megabyte. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.shtml
Include the following information:

• Date
• Angler(s)
• Hometown(s)
• Photo credit

• Location

• Weight/length of catch

• Bait/lure

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

Until next week,

Tight Lines,

Keith Lockwood
MD DNR Fisheries Service

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