CCA MD to host blue catfish tournament

As a brighter spotlight is being shined on the dangers of invasive blue catfish, the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland’s (CCA MD) Central Region Chapter has scheduled a tournament and day of information to create greater awareness of the harm this species can do to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The event will be Saturday, March 21, at Smallwood Park in Marbury, MD. Festivities will run from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tourney is set for 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a party and information sharing following from 1-3 p.m. In addition to CCA MD, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Potomac Riverkeeper are co-sponsoring the day.

“The exploding population of blue catfish in the Chesapeake watershed has begun to upset the imbalance of the ecosystem, and the blue cats rapidly expanding numbers show no signs of slowing down,” said Rick Elyar, Central Region Chapter president. “Although trophy sized blue catfish are a valued recreational fishery, they’re now negatively affecting commercially and recreationally important bay species that migrate through on spawning runs or use the watershed areas to release eggs each spring.  All of this is creating an overall imbalance of our Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.”

The tournament will include three categories— shore, boat and youth fishing— with single person kayaks qualifying for the shore division. Maryland, Virginia or District of Columbia tidal Potomac waters are open for tourney fishing.

Anglers must pre-register at http://www.ccamd.org/?ai1ec_event=central-chapter-blue-cat-tournament&instance_id=2356 where they can find complete rules.

Starting at 1 p.m. there will be presentations by NOAA and DNR along with music and a blue catfish taco buffet, prepared by Baltimore's Alewife Restaurant head Chef Chad Wells.

 The Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) is one of 17 state chapters of the Coastal Conservation Association, which has 100,000 members nationally. CCA MD is an organization of recreational anglers fighting for Maryland’s marine resources and believing the sustainability of the resource must be the priority in any fishery management decision.

Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Sassafras River Jam

     Georgetown, Md. -- The Sassafras River Association's 3rd annual Sassafest River Jam is being held on Sunday, July 8 12pm- 5pm at Georgetown Yacht Basin. This year's event is shaping up to be full of entertainment with performances by Driven Women, The Blueskeepers, and Chester River Runoff! The day will begin with the annual Wade-In, and there'll be more chances to have fun in the water with the dingy poker run and kayak race. A raffle is planned for a Paddleboard.

     Local food and drink will be sold by Kitty Knight House. A variety of exhibitors -- Mt. Harmon Plantation, ELF, Betterton Fishing Ark, and more -- ill have booths full of fun activities and information. Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Scales and Tales exhibit featuring live animals is also back again this year.

     More details about sign ups for the dingy poker run and kayak race will be coming soon on SRA's website. Check www.sassafrasriver.org for more details.

     Volunteers are needed throughout the day for setup, take down, and everything in between. Contact Susan Warriner at 609-731-3733 or sr91@hotmail.com to sign up.

Orr Wins Championship on the Chesapeake

     Annapolis, Md. -- Titled The Championship on the Chesapeake, the world’s largest rockfish tournament concluded on Sunday, May 6 as nearly 500 boats and 3,000 anglers competed for bragging rights and a big cash payout.

     For the past 29 years the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA) has hosted this event in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. MSSA is the largest sportfishing association in the region with over 6,000 members and 14 chapters.

     With 11 weigh stations scattered throughout the Bay, both Eastern and Western shores, the tournament is convenient and enjoyable for almost everyone in the state.

     Glenn Orr of Severna Park found this year’s tournament particularly enjoyable as he caught a 42.1 pound rockfish on Sunday, the last day of the tournament. Orr has been fishing this tournament for over a decade and his catch on Sunday finally paid off. Winning the main tournament, a guaranteed $15,000 cash prize, and all but one of the skill levels (11 total) brought his total earnings to $69,476. Orr’s payout marks the second largest payout in MSSA spring tournament history behind Lee Slagle in 2008 who won over $70,000. 

     Holding on for two and a half days at first place, ultimately finding himself taking second, Joe Klug of Glen Burnie weighed in a magnificent rockfish coming in at 36.65 pounds. Klug took second in the main tournament and placing in multiple skill levels bringing his total earnings to $13,100.

     Third place went to Karl Foster of Chesapeake Beach who nudged out the fourth place winner by one hundredth of a pound. Foster weighed his 33.15 pound rockfish at Rod N Reel on Sunday. His efforts and fish will bring him $7,429. Charles Wilson, also of Chesapeake Beach, came in fourth place with his 33 pound rockfish. Wilson also weighed in his fish at Rod N Reel on the first day not long after the scales opened. Wilson will be taking home $17,617 for his three days of fishing.

     In addition, Steve Smith of Hanover, PA took home $16,763 for his 5th and 8th place fish, along with 1st place in the four fish skill level. Smith won over $65,000 two years ago in the spring tournament.

     Among the numerous skill levels and main tournament prizes are the Ladies, Youth, and Pro divisions. New this year is the Ladies Division. This division awarded the top ten lady anglers who weighed in the heaviest fish all three days of the tournament. The winner of the first ever Ladies Division was Victoria Beard of Owings, Maryland. Victoria received $500 cash and merchandise from Reel Sassy fishing apparel. 

      The Professional Division was dominated this year by a few captains, proving that when they find the fish, they will catch the fish. William Goodermuth of Felton, PA took first place this year as he brought in a 35.05 pound rockfish. Goodermuth weighed in at the Rod N Reel docks in Chesapeake Beach on the second day of the tournament. He will take home $3,000 for his efforts. Second place went to Thomas Mills of North Beach. Mills was one of the big money winners in the pro division as he weighed in a 32.8 pound rockfish taking home $6,620. Donnie Scrivener of Huntingtown, Maryland took third overall with a 30.15 pound rockfish. Scrivener also placed in several skill levels bringing his total earnings to $5,371. 

     The Youth Division, which has become more popular over the past few years, awarded the top ten youth anglers ages 16 years and under. This year’s winner is Cory Lee Freeman as he weighed in a 20.5 pound rockfish. Cory was fishing on Captain James Watkinson’s boat of Chesapeake Beach. Second place went to Austin Garrison of California, Maryland. Austin caught a beautiful rockfish weighing in at 20.35 pounds. Austin and his father weighed this fish in at Point Lookout, both are longtime participants in the MSSA spring tournament. Third place went to Michael Linetty of Smithsburg, Maryland. Michael weighed in a 20.3 pound rockfish on the first day of the tournament. The top ten winners received a trophy, merchandise, and gift cards from Alltackle. Alltackle is a major sponsor of the MSSA and its tournament series as well as numerous other youth events.

     The tournament, always held the weekend before Mother’s Day, was particularly challenging this year. Captains were marking plenty of bait and big fish, but they were having trouble getting them to take their baits. There was a lot of talk going on about the moon, the weather, the tides, the wind, you name it. But at the end of the day that is fishing.

     For more information on the tournament or a full listing of results - Click Here