Spend more time being a waterman and less time reporting.
E-Reporting with FACTS allows charter captains
in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and tributaries to submit harvest reports directly
to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources electronically on the day of
harvest. The FACTS mobile web application makes it possible for captains to
have 24/7 access to their harvest records, provide fisheries managers real-time
harvest information, and could help to manage your business. You can report on
your desktop, tablet, smartphone, or through the call center.
Program Update - May 28, 2020: Due to the executive order by Governor Hogan, the E-Reporting with FACTS in-person Charter training sessions have been cancelled. The E-Reporting Team is working remotely and appreciates your patience as we continue our outreach and training efforts. Online and video training options for new Charter users are available and take less than thirty minutes to complete. Please use the E-Reporting Sign Up button to learn more about the pilot program and get started with FACTS.
Available Training Options:
- Online Training - This tutorial takes about 30 minutes and covers everything you would
hear at an in-person Charter training session. It is a self-paced
combination of brief videos and information that lets you get the most out of
your FACTS account. The link to the training will be emailed to you by the
E-Reporting Team.
- Fast FACTS Video - This brief program overview is about 10 minutes long and covers just the basics for the FACTS Charter program. It is designed to help get people started with FACTS and then we'll offer in-person training at a later date when circumstances allow. The link to the supporting Training Documents is available on our website and the Fast FACTS video link will be emailed to you by the E-Reporting Team..
- Mentoring - Know a FACTS user? See if they can show you the basics and we'll provide the training
support with the Training Documents and program videos. Please be safe and observe appropriate social distancing requirements
when working with others.
NOTE: All program participants need a DNRid in order to have a FACTS account. If you need a DNRid, please use the
COMPASS Tutorial to sign-in and create an account in the
COMPASS licensing system to have one assigned to you.
Why aren't recreational anglers using FACTS in Maryland?
With the department's pilot program for the for-hire fleet successfully launched, we've heard some questions about why the recreational fishery is not able to use the system. Beyond the budget limitations of funding such a program, the Maryland licensing requirements make it more difficult to implement any census, including a real-time reporting system for such a large and changing population of recreational anglers. View this
Handout to learn more