Autumn affords Marylanders the opportunity to appreciate the ever-changing weather and approaching harvest throughout the state. While farmers are harvesting crops in the fields, sportsmen and sportswomen on the Chesapeake Bay are capitalizing on one of Maryland’s most bountiful seasons. Fall fishing on the Chesapeake Bay provides great opportunity for anglers before the winter months. With warm and favorable conditions, early to mid-September will yield a wide variety of species in the mid-Chesapeake Bay Region[...]

Now I could use this article to cite numerous data on how being in the woods lowers your blood pressure, reduces stress, triggers endorphins, improves sleep, and boosts your immune system. But you don’t need data. You need to head out, set up a tent, grab your fishing gear, head out to the closest body of water, and see what’s biting. After the third breath, you’ll feel like a kid again making your first cast[...]

Twenty-two years ago, Chesapeake Channa (aka northern snakehead) were introduced to a small pond in Crofton, Maryland. Since then, their population has exploded—channa inhabit the murky shallows of just about every tributary of the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. While these fish taste great and are exciting to catch, doing your part to help remove these invasive critters from our local waterways is trickier than it may seem. Let’s dive into exactly[...]

These sleek, torpedo-shaped fish are known for their distinctive, sharp teeth and vibrant, spotted coloration. Found in the Atlantic Ocean, Spanish mackerel migrate seasonally, providing excellent fishing opportunities along the Maryland coastline, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters. Best Time to Fish The prime season for Spanish mackerel in Maryland typically spans from late spring to early fall, with peak activity occurring from July to September. During these months, the water temperatures are[...]

He wrote: “They fasten red wool...round a hook, and fit on to the wool two feathers which grow under a cock's wattles, and which in color are like wax. Their rod is six feet long, and their line is the same length. Then they throw their snare, and the fish, attracted and maddened by the color, comes straight at it, thinking from the pretty sight to gain a dainty mouthful; when, however, it opens its[...]

Blue Catfish Blue catfish are the largest of the North American catfish and can easily exceed 100 pounds. They are generally slate blue on the back to silvery/white on the underside and have a deeply forked tail. The native range of blue catfish extends from Minnesota and Ohio southward into Mexico. They prefer the large river basins of the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri River drainages. However, due to extensive introductions, their current range incorporates several[...]

The sights and sounds of fall are in the air and painting the landscape. As hunters scramble for vacation days and scouting trips, Free State anglers can expand their fishing season by concentrating on the many small, yet diverse, meadow streams and free-flowing creeks that snake through Central and Western regions of the state. A variety of species can be caught during the fall months and even into early winter as long as mild conditions[...]

With less than a month to spare, what are you doing to prepare for the up and coming archery season? Fish & Hunt Maryland knows that every hunter is counting down to getting back in the woods and chasing after the buck that slipped out of bow range last season. Below are a some tips to help you get ready for those moments that count—including a few ranges across Maryland where you can get in[...]

However, he still has at least one picture from that day. It’s a picture of him, his son, and others holding up the giant blue catfish he caught. That fish, at 84.0 pounds, still holds the Maryland blue catfish state record to this day. “I’ve had the picture posted on the wall in my garage forever,” said Jones. He added that the plaque given to him by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for breaking[...]