In the spring, Maryland’s Chesapeake swells with silver: shad and river herring. Like salmon, these fish are anadromous: the adults run upstream into fresh water to spawn, then return to the Atlantic Ocean to live for the rest of the year. The new generations develop from fertilized eggs suspended in stream currents to swimming fry and then juveniles, feeding and growing over the summer before migrating to the ocean, where they somehow meet the adult[...]

Duck Hunting in Maryland No article on the early days of waterfowling is complete without mention of the Chesapeake Bay and places such as the Susquehanna Flats, where the Decoy Capital of the World calls Havre de Grace home in Harford County. Maryland has some of the best duck hunting opportunities on the East Coast: From body booting on the Susquehanna Flats; hunting canvasbacks off shore on the Potomac River and wood ducks in flooded[...]

Fishing for Tuna The Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, is one of the most valuable animals in the world. Its commercial value in the Asian sushi and sashimi markets can be as high as $60,000 each for giant tuna. Recreational fishermen on the Atlantic coast pay top dollar for offshore charter boats seeking bluefins. Frequenting the offshore sand ridges and canyons of the continental shelf and slope, these fish are often found wherever there is[...]

Everyone wants to be an outfitter on the Eastern Shore, or at least that’s what it seems. People see dollar signs! Really, outfitting is so much more than making a dollar. If you love the outdoors like I do, then you understand. Seeing hunters come to our camp, experiencing the atmosphere, and the camaraderie is something everyone should get a chance to be a part of, at least once in my opinion. If our camp[...]

Because of its relatively remote location in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County, Town Creek receives little fishing pressure from other anglers. This stream has great structure provided by tree root balls and small stream falls, all resulting in an ideal habitat for trout and other species. The creek’s flows and temperatures are usually good enough to support the stocked rainbow and brown trout until mid-summer. Smallmouth bass and sunfish provide other target species[...]

Gather round, we’re whipping up a fresh batch of Perch Chowder. While this recipe features white perch, fear not if they aren’t available in your area – any white-fleshed, mild fish will do. I’ve experimented with various panfish species and yellow perch in the past, all yielding fantastic results. One of my fishing buddies recently tried this recipe with blue catfish and raved about the outcome as well. Widely distributed, great eating, and often game[...]

Tips for Taking Newbies Fishing Eliminate the Pressure – Prioritize the experience, rather than how many fish the beginner angler actually catches. Going out on a boat on the Chesapeake Bay, sitting on a riverbank, or paddling around on a pond are enjoyable experiences in and of themselves. Take advantage of this fact and make sure that having fun is “job number-one.” Use KISS Fishing Methods – Trying to explain the fine nuances of pin-point[...]

In today’s society, the number of young hunters is declining. I find it a shame that the youth, under the age of 20, will not learn all the invaluable life lessons that can come from hunting that I’ve had the pleasure of learning. Hunting creates bonding time, helps to create memories and new friends, and creates relationships that last a life time. I have great memories and have had bonding time with my grandfather, dad[...]

Growing up in a family full of avid hunters, being in the outdoors was just a normal everyday thing to me. I can remember like it was yesterday, going with my father on my first-ever out of state hunt as a child in Alabama at a place called Bush Creek Plantation. That hunting trip is just one of the many reasons I picked my career path as a hunting outfitter. Everyone wants to be an[...]