Maryland Crabs Adult blue crabs can grow up to nine inches. The blue crab is one of the most important species harvested in the Bay, has the highest value of any commercial fishery, and supports a recreational fishery of significant, but undetermined, value. Blue crabs are harvested as hard shell crabs, peeler crabs just prior to molting, and softshell crabs immediately after the molt. Recreational gear includes baited hand lines, mesh rings, collapsible traps, trotlines[...]

One true harbinger of spring is the traditional Opening Day of trout fishing in waters throughout Maryland. This is especially true of the myriad of streams and small lakes that lie within the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick and Washington Counties. Trout fans have the option of wading small, cascading creeks, kayaking medium-sized lakes, or hoofing it at any number of smaller ponds that all get a more than ample stocking of rainbow, brown, and golden[...]

Three years ago, I decided to make the transition from hunting casually for a week a year for elk or mule deer to someone who does not stop hunting. That journey started with a sika deer hunt with Muddy Marsh Outfitters through the Sisterhood of the Outdoors. I started hunting 13 years ago after moving to Colorado from Maryland. Now as an avid hunter, I often kick myself for not enjoying the bounties of hunting[...]

The website for the Chesapeake Conservancy and the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay office, www.FindYourChesapeake.com, includes a section devoted to virtual trips, tours, and other online experiences for those who are self-isolating in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource is amazing for those who are looking to explore new water and fishing opportunities. Fish & Hunt Maryland picked five river tours from their offerings that are great summer fishing destinations: The Patuxent River[...]

Bring your own kayak and push out into the bay reeling in bass, or hook up with a guide like Don Goff, kayak fishing guide (featured in this video) or Working Class Outdoorsmen (also featured) to bowfish for the invasive snakehead. You can even find local spots like MacGregor’s Restaurant & Tavern (also featured above) These guides will help you plan the trip and answer any questions you might have. Also, we suggest visiting Maryland[...]

There are few things that bring me as much joy as a squealing child as he or she hoists a gyrating sunfish up on the bank. The fish is flopping, and the child is giggling as they try to immediately pounce on this incredibly interesting form of life we know as a “fish.” By my own claim, I caught my first fish, a humble bluegill, at the age of five…and I haven’t been the same[...]

As the water begins to cool, northern snakehead start to move from the shallow waters to find deeper holes for the winter. You’ll need to switch up your baits to catch them. The baits I lean on heavily in the winter are simple but effective. They include chatterbaits and in-line spinners, as well as spinner baits and live bait. Always be sure to use the right baits for your location and purpose. I use the[...]

If you tell someone you are headed to a muskrat-centric weekend, they might look at you a little funny. That is, unless they are from the Eastern Shore. In that case, they’ll tell you that you are in for a treat. First things first—what’s the deal with these muskrats, sometimes marketed in the restaurants of yesteryear as “marsh rabbits?” Most folks get them a bit mixed up with beaver, otter, and the like. They are[...]

If you tell someone you are headed to a muskrat-centric weekend, they might look at you a little funny. That is unless they are from the Eastern Shore. In that case, they’ll tell you that you are in for a treat. First things first—what’s the deal with these muskrats, sometimes marketed in the restaurants of yesteryear as “marsh rabbits?” Most folks get them a bit mixed up with beaver, otter, and the like. They are[...]