Coastal Fisheries Publications

Over the years the Coastal Fisheries Program and Shellfish programs have written and contributed too many publications pertaining to the Coastal Bays. These reports are available from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Library by emailing library.dnr@maryland.gov.



Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean
and coastal ba​y finfish stocks: Annual Reports

Casey, J. F., R.C. Raynie, and A. E. Wesche. 1991. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1992. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration. Fisheries Division. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1993. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration. Fisheries Division. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1994. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration. Fisheries Division. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1995. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1996. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1997.Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1998. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 1999. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2000. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and coastal bay finfish stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2001. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2002. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Casey, J. F. and S. B. Doctor. 2003. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-13. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Luisi, M., S. Doctor, and Staff of the MDNR Atlantic Program. 2005. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: Annual Report 2004. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-14. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.​

Bolinger, A., S. Doctor, A. Luettel, M. Luisi, and G. Tyler. 2006. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2006 Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-15. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Bolinger, A., S. Doctor, A. Luettel, M. Luisi, and G. Tyler. 2007. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2007 Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-16. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Bolinger, A., S. Doctor, C. Kennedy, A. Luettel, and G. Tyler. 2008. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2008 Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-17. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Doctor, S., C. Kennedy, A. Luettel, G. Tyler, and A. Willey. 2009. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2009 Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-18. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD. 

Capossela, K., S. Doctor, C. Kennedy, A. Luettel, G. Tyler, and A. Willey. 2010. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2010 Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-19. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Doctor, S., C. Jones. C. Kennedy, G. Tyler, and A. Willey. 2011. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-20. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Doctor, S., C. Jones. C. Kennedy, G. Tyler, and A. Willey. 2012. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2012 Final Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-21. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Doctor, S., C. Kennedy, G. Tyler, C. Weedon, and A. Willey. 2013. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2013 Final Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-22. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.

Barker, L., S. Doctor, C. Kennedy, G. Tyler, C. Weedon, and A. Willey. 2014. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: 2014 Final Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-23. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Annapolis, MD.




Doctor, S., G. Tyler, C. Weedon, and A. Willey. 2019. Investigation of Maryland's Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bay Finfish Stocks: July 2018 - June 2019 Final Report. Federal Aid Project No. F-50-R-27. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Annapolis, MD.  ​





Maryland Catch Card Census


Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2022​. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2021. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2020. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2019. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2018. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2017. Maryland Catch Card Census. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler, G. and A. Willey. 2016. 2016 Maryland Catch Card Census Program for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Billfish, and Sharks. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services.

Tyler. G. and A. Willey. 2015. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT), Billfish (White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) and Shark Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., C. Kennedy, and A. Willey. 2014. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT), Billfish (White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) and Shark Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., S. Doctor, C. Kennedy, and A. Willey 2013. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., S. Doctor, and C. Kennedy 2012. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., S. Doctor, and C. Kennedy 2011. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., S. Doctor, and C. Kennedy 2010. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., S. Doctor, and C. Kennedy 2009. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., A. Bolinger, S. Doctor, and C. Kennedy 2008. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., A. Bolinger, S. Doctor, and M. Luisi. 2007. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Tyler, G., A. Bolinger, S. Doctor, and M. Luisi. 2006. Survey of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) and Billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish and Sailfish) Recreational Landings in Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service

Tyler, G., A. Bolinger, S. Doctor, and M. Luisi. 2005. Maryland Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and Billfishes, and Swordfish Creel Census Study Report, 2005. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Pevler, A., J. Casey, and S. Doctor. 2003. [Maryland' Bluefin Tuna Sportfishing Creel Census Study Report]. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

Pevler, A., A Wesche, J. Casey, and H. Speir. 2002. 2002 Maryland' Bluefin Tuna Sportfishing Creel Census Study Report. Maryland Department of Natural

Rodriguez, A., A Wesche, J. Casey, and H. Speir. 2001. 2001 Maryland' Bluefin Tuna Sportfishing Creel Census Study Report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service. Resources Fisheries Service.



Other Reports by Project Staff


Weedon C., S. Doctor, G. Tyler and A. Willey. 2022. Juvenile finfish relative abundance surveys in Maryland’s Coastal Bays. American Fisheries Society  Presentation, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Service.

Casey, J. F. 1982. Benthos and finfish: a study of the effects of tidal fluctuation over a coastal bay shoal. Maryland. Dept. of Natural Resources.

Casey, J. F. 1992. Results of a study of cull rings and their use in crab pots in Maryland waters. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 1995. Analysis of crab harvest in Maryland's coastal bays. Fisheries technical memo no. 4. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. 

Casey, J. F. 1996. Effects on crab catch by number and placement of cull rings in crab pots in Chesapeake Bay and the St. Martin's River, Maryland. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 1997.    Local concerns involving catches by out-of-state commercial fishing vessels operating out of the port of Ocean City, Maryland. Fisheries Technical Memorandum No. 7. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 1997.  Commercial Trawling within Maryland's state waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Fisheries Technical Memo No. 8. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 1999. Commercial and recreational fishing gears used in Maryland tidewater and nearshore Atlantic Ocean: Fisheries Technical Memo No. 17. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 1999. Current status of important finfish stocks in Maryland's coastal bays: Technical Report No. 30. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tidal Fisheries Division. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. 2001. Three New Exotic Species of the Chesapeake and Coastal Regions. Fisheries Technical Memo No. 20. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F. and Alan E. Wesche. 1997. Commercial trawling within Maryland's state waters of the Atlantic Ocean: Fisheries Technical Memo No. 8. 

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2000. The blue crab resources of Maryland's coastal bays: a description of the commercial and recreational fisheries and the current status of the stocks. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2001. Blue Crabs in Maryland's Coastal Bays 2001 Annual Report. Fisheries Technical Memo No. 25. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2001. A Pilot Survey of Maryland's coastal bays to determine locations of overwintering sites of mature female blue crabs. Fisheries Technical Memo No. 26. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. F., S. B. Doctor, and A. E. Wesche. 2001. A study of collapsible crab traps as used by recreational crabbers in the coastal bays of Maryland. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Wesche. A. 1997. Maryland's coastal bays as shark nursery areas: Fisheries Technical Memo No. 10. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.


Featured Coastal Articles on Fisheries Website by Project Staff


Casey, J. Life History of Black Sea Bass and Fishing for Them off Maryland's Coast. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/blkseabass.pdf

Casey, James F. 2001. Three New Exotic Species of the Chesapeake and Coastal Regions. Fisheries Technical Memo No. 20. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland.

Casey, J. and H. Speir. Managing Maryland's Recreational Bluefin Tuna Fishery. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/bfttagging.pdf

Doctor, S. Horseshoe Crab Spawning. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/hsc0404.pdf

Doctor, S. The Status of Summer Flounder in Maryland During 2000. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/summerflounder.pdf

Weedon. C. 2003. Wreck Diving in Maryland. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service. Annapolis, Maryland. dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/divewreckstory.pdf


Reports for Coastal Bays


Tarnowski, Mitchell. 2002. Coastal Bays Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. Annapolis, Maryland.

Tarnowski, Mitchell. A History of The Hard Clam Fishery in the Maryland Coastal Bays. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. Annapolis, Maryland.

Lukacovic, Rudolph. 2005. Diamondback terrapin and crab pot interactions and effect of turtle excluder devices on crab catch in Maryland's Coastal Bays. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. Annapolis, Maryland.


Theses using data from the Coastal Bays Fisheries Investigation


Barkman, Jennifer. 2011. Assessment of populations with spatially explicit dynamics and the consequences for marine protected areas. M.S. Thesis, Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/11640/1/Barkman_umd_0117N_12​015.pdf

Colton, Amanda. 2011. An evaluation of the synchronization in the dynamics of blue crab (callinectes sapidus) populations in the western Atlantic. M.S. Thesis, Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/12023/1/Colton_umd_0117N_12602.pdf

Murphy, R. F. 2005. Fish assemblage structure in Maryland's coastal lagoon complex. M.S. Thesis, Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/3007/1/umi-umd-2807.pdf


Publications using data from the Coastal Bays Fisheries Investigation


Peters, R. and P. Chigbu. 2017. Spatial and Temporal patterns of abundance of juvenile black sea bass (Centropristis striata) in Maryland coastal bays. Fishery Bulletin. 115: 504-516​.

Love, J. W., P. Chigbu, and E. B. May. 2009. Environmental Variability Affects Distributions of Coastal Fish Species (Maryland). Northeastern Naturalist. 16:2, 255-268.

Love, J. W. and E. B. May. 2007. Relationships Between Fish Assemblage Structure and Selected Environmental Factors in Maryland's Coastal Bays. Northeastern Naturalist. NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD.

Murphy, R.F. and D.H. Secor. 2006. Fish and Blue Crab Assemblage Structure in a U.S. Mid Atlantic Coastal Lagoon Complex. Estuaries and Coasts. 29: 1121–1131.

Pincin, J. S., M. J. Wilberg, L. Harris, and A. Willey. 2013. Trends in relative abundance of fishes in Maryland's coastal bays during 1972-2009. Estuaries and Coasts. 37: 791–800.


Cooperative Publications

Bohlen, C., and W. Boynton. 1999. Today's treasures for tomorrow: status and trends report on Maryland's Coastal Bays. University of Maryland. Solomons, Maryland.

Maryland Coastal Bays Program. 1999. Today's treasures for tomorrow: towards a brighter future: a comprehensive conservation and management plan for Maryland's Coastal Bays. Maryland Coastal Bays Program. Berlin, Maryland. Today's Treasures for Tomorrow​

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Bays Fishery Advisory Committee. 2001. Coastal Bays Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan. Annapolis, MD.

Wazniak, C., M. Hall, C. Cain, D. Wilson, R. Jesien, J. Thomas, T. Carruthers, and W. Dennison. 2004. State of the Maryland Coastal Bays. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Annapolis, Maryland. State of the Bays 2004​

W.C. Dennison, J.E. Thomas, C.J. Cain, T.J.B. Carruthers, M.R. Hall, R.V. Jesien, C.E. Wazniak, & D.E. Wilson. 2009. Shifting sands: environmental and cultural change in Maryland's coastal bays. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. ian.umces.edu/

Maryland Coastal Bays Program. 2015. Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, Ocean City, Maryland (revised 2015), first published in 1999.  Maryland Coastal Bays Program. Berlin, Maryland.

Willey, A. L., L. S. Barker, and M. Sampson. 2016. A comparison of circle hook and J hook performance in the recreational shark fishery off Maryland. Fishery Bulletin. 114, 3: 370-372. st.nmfs.noaa.gov/spo/FishBull/1143/willey.pdf
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