Black Crappie Distinguished by their broad, compressed body mottled with dark spots, black crappie also have large eyes, rounded back (dorsal) and belly (anal) fins. Many of Maryland’s tidal systems such as the Upper Choptank, Nanticoke, Marsheyhope Creek, Wicomico, Blackwater, and the Pocomoke have historically yielded both healthy size and numbers of black crappies on the Eastern Shore. White Crappie White crappies are marked by vertical bars, rather than the irregular spots of black crappie[...]

Summer Flounder This left-eyed flatfish has both eyes on the left side of its body. Its "eyed" side is scattered with 10 to 14 eye-like spots which blend in with the ocean floor and it has a white belly. Its belly or underside is white.​ Summer flounder average between 3-6 pounds and 15"-22" (40-56 cm.) long.​ They spend most of their lives on or close to the bottom, as other flatfishes do, and use their[...]

Red Drum Red drum are generally iridescent silvery-gray in overall color, with a coppery cast that is usually darker on the back and upper sides. They also have one (or more) black ocellar spots on the upper sides near the base of the tail and elongated and robust body. Their Maximum adult size is nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters) total length and the largest caught in Maryland in 1977 in the Tangier sound weighed just[...]

A Tradition Almost Four Hundred Years in the Making In 1666, an Englishman named George Alsop wrote about his experience in Maryland. The waterfowl were so abundant, he wrote, “there was such an incessant clattering made with their wings on the water where they rose, and such a noise of those flying higher up that it was as if we were all the time surrounded by a whirlwind.” Now, nearly four centuries later, sportsmen and[...]

Maryland's Fly Fishing Trail The first of its kind, this Trail is a great resource for experienced fly fishers as well as anyone learning to enjoy the sport. It includes 48 sites located across all of Maryland's counties and Baltimore City. Information for each site includes details on location, species, recommended equipment, local guides, shops and more. Check out the Fly Fishing Trail to get ready for your next fishing adventure LEARN MORE Maryland's Catfish[...]

From first timers to experienced outdoorsmen & women, Maryland’s Deer Hunting Trail makes it easy to learn why deer hunting in Maryland so special. Each trail site has been selected to showcase its unique hunting experience. You’ll find a diverse range of terrain and wildlife—from white-tailed deer in Western Maryland to sika deer on the Eastern Shore. Simply click on the region, then read about selected trail sites that include Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks[...]

Maryland's Capital Region offers a variety of deer hunting opportunities. With close proximity to Washington, DC and Baltimore, Montgomery County is s great place to plan a hunt. Learn more below and plan your trip to the Capital Region to hunt this season. Montgomery County Only a short drive from Washington D.C., Montgomery County offers easy convenience to city-dwellers looking to get out and find opportunities to harvest a Maryland deer. Here, you’ll find diverse[...]

Brook Trout Brook trout are native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, extending as far west as eastern Minnesota. Brook trout are the only trout native to Maryland waters. They are also the only trout species in Maryland with light spots on a dark background. Relatively small, rarely growing over 9 to 10 inches, a 12-inch is a considered a real trophy. Because of their small size, at best Maryland streams support relatively[...]

If there is one fish that has antifreeze for blood, it is the chain pickerel. I have caught them along ice edges using the ice as an ambush source. Cold weather in Maryland from late October to late May is pickerel time. The pickerel can be found in many brackish waters as well as ponds and lakes. The aggression of these fish is what most pickerel fishermen like about them. This is the perfect fish[...]