Overview Catfishing on Maryland's Eastern Shore presents anglers with a network of brackish waterways, each teeming with opportunities to reel in impressive catches. The Chesapeake Bay, along with its tributaries such as the Choptank and Nanticoke Rivers, provides fertile grounds for Blue and Flathead Catfish. These estuarine environments offer a unique mix of freshwater and saltwater, creating diverse habitats where catfish thrive. With abundant forage and ample cover provided by marshes, oyster reefs, and submerged[...]

Overview From the sprawling Chesapeake Bay tributaries like the Patapsco River to the quiet waters of Loch Raven Reservoir, Central Maryland provides anglers with plenty of target opportunities for Blue and Flathead Catfish in various habitats. These waterways boast abundant food sources and ample cover, including submerged structures and rocky outcrops, creating ideal conditions for catfish to thrive. With their accessibility and plentiful populations, the bodies of water in Central Maryland provide an excellent setting[...]

Going back nearly 50 years I can always remember the anticipation of several “early season” trips to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to fish the many and varied mill ponds that dot the flat landscape of the Delmarva. Small, tannin-stained and often overlooked, these small bodies of water yielded an abundance of bass, crappies, bluegills, pickerel and more. In the streams below the mill dams there were often, if you timed it right, migrating runs of blueback[...]

If you’ve been waiting to enjoy more of Maryland’s outdoors, the hunting season is a perfect time. Bring the family on a hunt and hike road trip to explore one of the most varied landscapes in the country. Each major region of the state offers plenty of opportunities for a complete outdoors adventure for hunters and out-of-state visitors alike. Accessible history, beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife can make for an easy and memorable day or[...]

They say that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. So far this month March has been all “winter,” with below average temperatures and howling winds. But despite less than favorable conditions, there has been a slow but steady migration of one of the tastiest fish that swims in our Chesapeake Bay tributaries…that being the ever-popular crappie. Yes, Maryland has been blessed with tidal river systems on both the Western and[...]

Battie Mixon The Battie Mixon Fishing Pond is a mile-long stretch of fishing inside the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Located at Canal Mile 168, the pond was constructed in 1945 by a volunteer group of Western Maryland sportsmen and was named after the Allegany County game warden that conceived the idea. The fishing hole is stocked annually by the Maryland DNR and is a great place to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sunfish, and[...]

Overview With its network of rivers, creeks and tidal marshes, Southern Maryland is like a playground for catfish anglers. The Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, among others, provide fertile grounds for blue and flathead catfish, enticing anglers with the promise of thrilling catches. Southern Maryland's picturesque landscapes and tranquil waters offer a serene and immersive catfishing experience. Whether casting from the shoreline or navigating the waterways by boat, anglers can enjoy the peacefulness of nature while[...]

History In the early 1900’s Clement Henry released 5 or 6 deer on James Island. Maryland biologists and deer managers first worried that the “miniature elk” would expand into the upland territory of native white-tailed deer. This resulted in higher bag limits being set so that hunters would be encouraged to harvest and control the sika deer population. However, over the years, managers have learned that the sika predominantly lives most of its life in[...]