In our state of Maryland, September and October sees a pleasant shift in trout fishing opportunities for both fly and spin fishermen as fall stockings pick up and anglers concentrate on other species. Throw in the fact that many Free State outdoorsmen and women are taking to the woods for the annual deer, waterfowl and small game seasons and one can imagine that many of our better trout waters can get pretty lonely, and downright[...]

Cobia Cobia have a long body that is blackish on the back and brown on the sides, two silvery bands run along its sides from the head to the tail and it has a yellowish or grayish-white belly. They usually grow 3 to 4 feet in length and weigh more than 50 pounds. Known to be strong and stubborn, Cobia will try to make a run for it once they are hooked making for a[...]

Included in this wide span of surf is Assateague State Park, located on Assateague Island. This is the only oceanfront park in Maryland and is a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Sinepuxent Bay on the west. This park is a great spot for weekend camping. Its 300 pet-friendly sites fill up fast so be sure to book early. Assateague’s two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing[...]

Surrounded by a vast forested watershed and protected within the Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area, Morgan Run is a trout stream located within an hour’s drive of many Marylanders. Regularly stocked with brown and rainbow trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this section of the stream is a Catch & Return Trout Fishing Area - limited to artificial lure fishing. This means there are more opportunities to catch good-sized trout. The miles of[...]

Sometime in mid-March my pulse quickens. Subtle signs, imperceptible at first, announce the arrival of spring. Daffodils and crocus appear. Even our dormant lawn starts to show signs of life. No longer do I need to pass the time watching countless fishing videos on YouTube or scrolling through tackle websites announcing the latest fly rod built with space age technology. It is time to dust off my fishing tackle and make plans to fish the[...]

In the Upper Bay area of the Susquehanna Flats and surrounding tidal rivers, largemouth bass begin to stir in March. Yellow perch spawn in early March depending on the weather. The hungry bass eat yellow perch fry since the colorful perch are the first species to hatch in the upper reaches of the bay’s tidal tributaries. White perch hatch in April, then herring, followed by largemouth and striped bass in May. Largemouth bass eat some[...]

It is during this time that the staging and spawning of Maryland’s Yellow and White Perch is in full effect. It is a great activity for all ages and is a great way for anglers with or without a vessel to get in on the action. It is an inexpensive activity that I have enjoyed since childhood and now serves as a break from regular annual maintenance and upgrades to my charter boat The Marylander[...]

Results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2017 young-of-year striped bass survey in the Chesapeake Bay shows the fish is reproducing in strong numbers. The annual survey’s index is 13.2, above the 64-year average of 11.7. Striped bass, popularly known as rockfish, is Maryland’s state fish. The fish spawns in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries each spring. The survey is conducted annually to track the reproductive success of this important species and help[...]