Proposed 2009 Blue Crab and Striped Bass Regulations to be Addressed at
December 4th Scoping Meeting |
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A joint Tidal Fisheries/Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission and scoping meeting will be held December 4, 2008 at 6:00 pm in the Tawes State Office Building Cafeteria, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401. All interested parties are invited to attend and give their views. Principal agenda items will be blue crab and striped bass management. Below are the two draft 2009 proposed regulations to be addressed at the meeting:
Scoping Document for Blue Crab Management Regulation Development
Scoping Document for Striped Bass Management Regulation Development
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ASMFC Approves Maryland’s Request to Extend the 2008 and 2009
Recreational Striped Bass Seasons |
 The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Striped Bass Management Board (ASMFC) has approved Maryland’s request to extend the 2008 and 2009 recreational striped bass seasons. The decision also approved an alternative non-quota based management strategy for the fishery’s spring season. The ASMFC approved this strategy for the first time in 2008, but limited this only to the 2008 fishing season.
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of anglers take to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in pursuit of Maryland’s favorite catch, striped bass,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John R. Griffin. “Extending the striped bass fishing seasons increases the opportunity for visiting and resident anglers to catch the big one and support local charter boat captains, fishing guides, tackle shops and other sportfishing related businesses.”
Click here to view the public notice announcement.
To read entire press release please go to www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2008/102008a.html.
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Get Involved With Striped Bass Management! |
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The Cooperative Angler Striped Bass Survey is designed to obtain striped bass harvest data that is not otherwise available to MD DNR. The focus of the survey is to gather size data on harvested and released striped bass. These data are used by managers to  determine the size structure of the recreational catch and to estimate the harvest in the spring striped bass season. This information is used to establish future creel and harvest limits that allow for optimum harvests while still protecting the resource.
Anglers are encouraged to participate year-round, on-line or by mail. Follow this link for more information on this important survey.
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Inland Fisheries Trout Stocking Now Complete for Fall Fishing Season |
The Fisheries Services' fall trout stocking is complete, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has stocked approximately 21,000 trout, totaling over 14,500 pounds, into freshwaters across the state during October. A small number of these are brown trout averaging 3 to 5 pounds each.
On November 10, Maryland DNR was given extra rainbow trout from the Federal Fish Hatchery in Sheperdstown, WV. The trout have already been stocked! Check out the following locations!
DNR’s trout stocking information telephone line is 1-800-688-3467. In addition, a list of stocked areas are posted here online.
Check out stocked locations on our Inland Fisheries page at www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/indexinland.html.
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Marylander's Grow Oysters - Govenor's Pilot Program Kicks Off on the
Tred Avon River |
If you live along the Tred Avon River, you can be part of an exciting pilot project to grow oysters at your pier and to help create a living, diverse, oyster reef community. Not only will more oysters be placed in the Chesapeake Bay as a result of your efforts, but the rejunentated oyster reef will become a natural underwater ecosystem for all sorts of aquatic life.
The goal is to place 1,000 oyster cages at piers by the end of October, with four cages per pier. There is no charge for those who participate in this 2008 pilot project, but there are rewards both personal and ecological.
The Marylanders Grow Oysters Project was established by Governor Martin O’Malley, and is being managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with Talbot County, the Oyster Recovery Partnership, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Corrections.
To read more about the Marylanders Grow Oysters Project or to sign up for some oysters, go to www.dnr.maryland.gov/oysterproject/.
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Don’t Play Johnny Appleseed with Fish! |
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You may think stocking your favorite fish in a local stream or pond is a great idea, but think twice! Moving fish to waters where they were not historically found may disrupt the ecosystem and damage existing fish populations in that area. Like snakeheads, non-native fish can be very damaging. Maryland Fisheries Service is concerned about the potential impacts of two non-native catfish – the blue catfish and the flathead catfish. Both have been found in some Maryland waters.
Click here to view an advisory on these species and learn about the impacts of introducing these species. To learn more about the laws and regulations governing fish movements in Maryland, view our fact sheet “What Can I Stock or Release into Maryland Waters?”
To learn more about invasive species or what steps Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has taken to help prevent invasive species from being introduced go to www.dnr.state.md.us/invasives/index.asp.
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Attnention Anglers - Tidal Largemouth Bass Fall Electrofishing Surveys in Progress |
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Inland fisheries biologists are conducting annual tidal largemouth bass fall electrofishing surveys in selected tributaries to the Cheasapeake Bay. Surveys in both the tidal Potomac and Choptank Rivers for largemouth bass have been completed but several more days of sampling on the Potomac River will take place for northern snakeheads and blue catfish. The Upper Bay (Swan Creek to Northeast River), Marshyhope, Wicomico, Middle and Patuxent Rivers have yet to be done. Sites are randomly selected in advance and consist of 250 meter stretches parallel to the shoreline or along the edge of submerged aquatic vegetation beds. All largemouth bass within these sites are collected and held in an aerated live-well. Upon completion of the sample, fish are weighed, measured, examined for injuries or other anomalies, and then released back into the water. Largemouth bass collected in this manner have been known to feed within hours of release.
For more information contact Mary Groves at 301-888-2423 or mgroves@dnr.state.md.us.
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Maryland Fisheries Service Launches New Yellow Perch Management Web
Page |
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Be sure to check out our new Yellow Perch Management web site - it will contain everything 'Yellow Perch'!
The new web page can be view by clicking here.
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National Saltwater Angler Registry |
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On June 11, 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries released a proposed rule on the National Saltwater Angler Registry. The proposed rule outlines the process NOAA Fisheries will use for registering saltwater recreational anglers. It also addresses the qualifications and procedures for exempting states and their anglers from the federal registration requirement. Click here to see what this means for Maryland anglers.
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Licensing & Registration Service Announces the Move of their Annapolis
Service Center
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Effective Monday, December 10, 2007, customers can visit or call the new location to obtain vessel registrations and titles, commercial fishing licenses, recreational fishing and hunting licenses, etc. The service center is moving to 1804 West Street, Suite 300, Annapolis, MD. (Click on address for directions) The public phone number, (410) 260-3220, and hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, will remain the same. We look forward to serving you.
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The Maryland 2008 Fishing Guide Available Online |
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 Now available online, the 2008 Fishing Guide. The guide traditionally accompanies the purchase of your fishing license and covers Freshwater, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal and Atlantic Ocean recreational fishing regulations for the State of Maryland. If your internet speed is a concern please note the file size of the 2008 guide, it is 8 megabytes, if you would rather not download the file please visit your nearest license retailer for a hard copy.
To view and download the entire fishing guide book click this link.
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