Local Notice to Mariners -- Fireworks Along the Bohemia June 4

     Earleville, MD -- Mariners are advised that a short-duration fireworks display is scheduled to occur along the Bohemia River on Saturday, June 4, at 9:30 p.m. The fireworks will be discharged from the end of a private pier located near the mouth of Morgan Creek at Earleville in approximate position latitude 39°28'15” N, longitude 075°53’33” W. Mariners are urged to use caution when transiting the area, and absent specific guidance, should remain 100 yards from the fireworks discharge site. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12274.

     Click here for the complete up-to-date Local Notice to Mariners.

Community Work Days Offer Opportunity to Work on Restoring Rosie

     St. Michaels, MD -- The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum along the Miles River in St. Michaels is offering the public a rare opportunity to be a part of the Rosie Parks skipjack restoration project with its recently launched Community Work Days program.

     As part of the program, the museum will be opening its campus every Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. to community members wanting to volunteer while learning the art of boatbuilding from CBMM’s Master Shipwright, Marc Barto.

     Volunteers will assist in activities like tearing out the keel, stem and centerboard while learning how to build and install new ones. Volunteers must be 16 or older and have an interest in carpentry. All skillsets are welcome and women are encouraged to participate. Pre-registration is accepted, but not required.

     The museum is open daily, and celebrates the way people live, work, and play on the Bay. To learn more, visit www.cbmm.org/rosieparks.htm, call 410-745-2916 or email havefun@cbmm.org.

Authorities, Rescue Personnel Searching for Pasadena Man

     Annapolis, MD -- The Maryland Nataural Resources Police (NRP) are searching for a missing boater, Mark Allen Harvison, 40, of Pasadena.

     This morning at 4:00 a.m., NRP was notified by a boat operator, Charles Martin Carlson III, 41 of Riva, that his passenger had fallen overboard. Carlson stated that he last observed Harvison walking toward the stern of the vessel.

     NRP, MSP aviation, U.S. Coast Guard and an Annapolis City Fire Boat began searching for the man the area of the Chesapeake Bay between Thomas Point Light and the Severn River.

     Harvison is described as a white, male, 6 feet tall, 200 pounds last seen wearing a white t-shirt, tan pants, and fluorescent green shoes.

     Currently, NRP has three patrol boats, and the U.S. Coast Guard has one vessel and a helicopter engaged in the search for the victim.

     NRP’s Special Operations Division is investigating the incident.

Maryland NRP Remind Boaters to be Safe this Holiday Weekend

     Annapolis, MD -- As Marylanders prepare to enjoy the state’s waterways and parks this Memorial Day weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) advises boaters, park patrons and those who enjoy the outdoors to exercise caution this summer and throughout the year. NRP will be conducting an extensive statewide enforcement effort to promote safety this weekend.
     “Memorial Day is generally considered to be the official beginning of the boating and camping season in Maryland,” said NRP Superintendent Colonel George F. Johnson IV. “During the busy holiday weekend, we urge citizens to make safety a number one priority while enjoying Maryland waterways and parks.”
     NRP will aggressively target boaters driving in a reckless or negligent manner and/or under the influence of alcohol. Officers will also make sure boaters have the required safety equipment onboard and are maintaining a proper lookout.
     Last year, NRP responded to over 323 boating accidents, of which 219 accidents involved injuries beyond first aid and/or damages in excess of $2,000. There were13 boating fatalities in 2010 as compared to 17 in 2009. The five-year average is 13 deaths per calendar year.
     NRP is advising recreational users of the Upper Potomac River to enjoy their holiday weekend and keep cautious eye on the weather and river levels. Although the current advisory expires today, any additional significant rainfall and the resulting runoff will cause water levels to rise and hazardous conditions may resume.
     Generally boating safety relies on good judgment and safety precautions before departing from the dock. Boaters can help ensure their safety and the safety of others by remembering the acronym “SAFE”:
S – Survey or examine your boat’s hull, engine and navigational equipment for serviceability. Ensure the hull is sound and free of cracks, holes and defects. Inspect the vessel’s engine performance. Take it to a certified mechanic to ensure the engine is operating properly. Survey and examine all navigational lights, communication, radar, GPS and other electronic equipment to ensure that they are functioning properly.
A – Anticipate the needs of the trip prior to leaving the dock. Ensure fuel, clothing, and medical needs are met during the trip. Plan for unexpected events like severe weather or sudden storms.
F – File a float plan with a friend or relative. Tell someone where you are going, how long you plan to stay, and when you expect to return. This is vital information for rescuers searching for lost or overdue boaters.
E – Equipment. Ensure that all safety equipment is in good condition and sufficient quantity for the people on board the vessel. Basic equipment includes correct size and quantity of life jackets, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals (flares etc), and sound producing devices such as a whistle or horn.
     NRP will also be patrolling in the parks and forests focusing on alcohol consumption in picnic areas, pavilions, campgrounds and waterfront areas. Officers will educate the public about where these beverages are permitted. Patrols will also focus on underage alcohol possession and drunk driving.
     Additional emphasis will also be placed on conserving Maryland’s natural resources. Officers will concentrate on possession and size limits of all Maryland fisheries.

Free Fishing Days June 4 and June 11 in Maryland

     Annapolis, MD -- Normally a license is required to fish in Maryland, but there are a few exceptions to this requirement. The first is there are specific areas that are designated License Free Fishing Areas throughout the tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay. You are required to observe all other fishing laws and regulations. A free MD/PRFC angler registration is also required for anglers fishing without a license in designated license free fishing areas, you may register online through dnr.maryland.gov/service/fishing_license.asp. You can see a list of license free locations on the following page: License Free Fishing Areas.

     The second option is that Maryland hosts Free Fishing Days. During a free fishing day, a person may catch and possess finfish in the tidal and nontidal waters of the state for recreational purposes without an angler's license, Chesapeake Bay sportfishing license, or any fishing stamp normally required by the state, but shall otherwise observe all fishing laws and regulations. Maryland's free fishing days are the first two Saturdays in June and July 4.

     Lastly, youth under 16 years of age are allowed to fish without a license all year round.

Maryland DNR fishing report by Keith Lockwood

     Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, MD -- There is a lot going on in the Maryland fishing world this week as freshwater, bay and ocean fisheries begin to transition to a summer pattern. Trout fishing is becoming more of a fly fishermen’s game now as all types of aquatic insect hatches are occurring in trout streams and rivers in the western and central regions. Freshwater species such as largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are either finished spawning or nearly so. Freshwater fish in general are holding in shallower areas and offering some wonderful fishing opportunities. Bay fishermen are focusing now on school-sized striped bass and new summer migrants. Coastal fishermen are experiencing the height of the annual northward migration of large striped bass along the beaches and an infusion of summer species. All in all there is a lot going on whether it is in a local pond down the street or offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.

     Anyone who has been near any of the tidal rivers that flow into the Chesapeake can’t help but notice the heavy flows of runoff that have been occurring this spring. Salinities in the bay are at record lows and the turbid water conditions and floating debris all make for an interesting situation. The salinity at locations such as the middle of the bay has been holding below 4 p.p.t. and below 7 p.p.t. at Point Lookout. These values are well below what would be normal this time of the year. Species such as bluefish, flounder and croakers usually prefer higher salinities than these. Blue crabs will also move out of the tidal creeks and rivers where salinities are low. Low salinities will depress oyster disease but spat set could be affected negatively. Blue catfish and snakeheads may go for a foray out of the Potomac and up the bay. One shinning hope is that all of this spring runoff may create plenty of food for this years striped bass larvae; we can all keep our fingers crossed and hope for a good 2011 year class.

     Fishermen have begun to put away the planer boards, large parachutes and bucktails for medium sized lures and deeper depths. Storms lures trailed behind umbrella rigs or rigged in tandem have been working well for fishermen this week. Medium sized spoons, Tomic plugs and diving Rapalas in red and white can also be good choices. The striped bass tend to hold to structure as most everyone knows so steep edges where the current rips by, ballast stone piles and of course the Bay Bridge piers are go to places to troll this time of the year. These locations are also great places to jig with soft plastics such as BKD’s and there have even been reports of breaking fish. Chumming is another option that fishermen are using right now and some have been lucky enough to catch some small spot to use for live lining.
     The May worms have begun their annual metamorphosis spawning event and can now be seen swarming near dock lights at night. This annual “all you can eat banquet” can make it tough for fishermen when striped bass are so stuffed they feel that can’t eat just one more morsel and pass up fishermen’s offerings. Cow-nosed rays are moving into our portion of the bay and can cause some consternation among fishermen who may think they have just tied into a huge striped bass.

     Perhaps no harder than getting front row tickets to your favorite rock stars concert is coordinating the arrival of the annual black drum run at Stone Rock and a soft crab bait on the end of your fishing line. This annual event is always kept hush hush in the fishing community because it entails following a school of fish on a depth finder and literally dropping a soft crab bait in front of their nose. Jockeying for position in a maneuvering fleet can try any captain’s nerves and it should start sometime this week if it hasn’t already. Soft crab baits can be bound to a circle hook with a couple of rubber bands and stout tackle is a must; this is a knock down brute force battle. 

     Fishing for croakers continues to improve as more fish move into our portion of the bay. Good croaker fishing can be found as far north as the mouth of Eastern Bay. Some of the regions tidal rivers are running stained and carrying a lot of freshwater; some traditional tidal rivers locations have not shown the degree of good croaker fishing fishermen are used to. Channel edges in the bay have been hard to beat lately; especially in the evening hours when the croakers move from the deeper channels to shallower areas to feed at night. White perch fishing in the bay is steadily picking up also as perch set up residence on oyster bars, humps and shoals. 

     Recreational crabbers are reporting sparse catches in the upper bay tidal rivers and creeks and better catches in the southeastern portion of the bay; low salinities may be part of the problem. There are a lot of small crabs chewing up baits and most catches that make it to the basket are 5” to 51/2” crabs and many of those are crabs that spent the winter in the mud so they are sweet and heavy. 

     Freshwater fishermen are enjoying some good fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass and a mix of other species such as crappie, bluegill and chain pickerel at Deep Creek Lake. The largemouth bass there are spawning in the shallower coves this week. Trout fishing has been great for fly fishermen due to the numerous aquatic insect hatches occurring. The upper Potomac River is still running high and cloudy but should improve if large scale rain events hold off. Fisheries biologist John Mullican reports the many of the boat ramps are or can be covered with a film of mud from previous flood waters; so fishermen should be very careful when using any boat ramp. He mentioned the two ramps located between Sharpsburg and Williamsport; Snyder’s Landing and Taylor’s Landing are actually closed and barricaded due to unsafe mudding conditions. 

     Fishing in the reservoirs, lakes, ponds and tidal waters of the state continues to be very good this week where good water clarity conditions prevail. Tidal rivers on the western shore have been running high and can make fishing difficult at times but largemouth bass fishermen on the tidal Potomac report that the high water actually gives them better access to grassy shallows where they can cast buzzbaits over the grass. In lakes and ponds usually water clarity is not too much of an issue and fishing for a variety of species such as crappie, bluegills and largemouth bass has been good to excellent. The largemouth bass are in a post-spawn mode now in all but the coldest lakes in the western region so they are aggressively feeding.

     Water temperatures in the surf along Ocean City are running about 64-degrees this week and fishermen are experiencing the height of the spring striped bass run. Some impressive catches are being reported in the surf and at the inlet. Fresh menhaden baits are the ticket to this show in the surf and make sure you have plenty of it since there are a lot of pesky skates, rays and dogfish. There are also small bluefish and an occasional black drum being caught in the surf.

     At the inlet there has been some excellent fishing for striped bass at night. Swim shads have been the favorite lure for casting; although the bluefish have been chewing them up. The best lure for getting your licks in on the bluefish has been Got-Cha lures. Tautog are being caught along the rocks and bulkheads and the South Jetty if the place to be for big tog if you can get there.

     Flounder and small bluefish are in the back bay areas and although there are a lot of undersized flounder some big ones are being caught. Using larger baits can be a pathway to catching the larger flounder. 

     Sea bass season is now open and fishermen have been lifting some nice sized sea bass over the rails. Double digit catches are fairly common and some fishermen have been catching limits. Tautog are also still being caught at the wreck sites along with cod fish. Farther offshore a few mako sharks and bluefin tuna are being found in the canyon areas.

Maryland DNR Public Hearing Tonight on Upper Bay Noise Levels

     Elkton, MD -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing to discuss proposed new sound level limits for vessels using the Elk and Northeast Rivers and all tributaries including the Bohemia River and the C&D Canal. The hearing will be held at the Elkton High School (Room F-107), 110 James Street, Elkton, MD 21921 on Tuesday, May 24. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m.

     The noise limit would be reduced from the existing statewide standard of 90 decibels to 88 decibels for engines made after January 1993. The 90-decibel rule would still apply to older boats. Another proposed regulation would make cut-off switches that bypass or reduce the effectiveness of exhaust-pipe mufflers illegal.

      Interested parties who have questions or wish to submit comments via e-mail may do so by contacting Mike Grant, Regulations Coordinator for Boating Services at mgrant@dnr.state.md.usor by U.S. mail to Mike Grant, Regulations Coordinator, DNR-Boating Services Unit, 580 Taylor Avenue, E-4, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 or by telephone at 410-260-8013.