Fisheries Meetings Postponed due to Weather

Most Fisheries related meetings scheduled for this week have been postponed due to the weather, check out our calendar for specific meetings.

Rescheduling has yet to take place but check back periodically for updates.

Commercial Striped Bass Gill Net Season Modification

The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources pursuant to Code of Maryland Regulation 08.02.15.12(H) has announced the closure of the striped bass commercial gill net fishery, effective 6:00 pm Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The striped bass commercial gill net fishery will re-open on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 3:00 am and will close again on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 6:00 pm. The daily allocation will be 300 pounds per striped bass harvest permit with a daily vessel limit of 1200 pounds per vessel. The Secretary may, by public notice, amend season dates if the quota is projected to be caught.

View Public Notice

2009 Fisheries Year In Review

Once again your Fisheries Service biologists have taken the time to write up summaries of their activities for 2009; to help you understand their efforts to bring us greater fishing opportunities and restoring others. The reports are listed by programs under the Chesapeake, Freshwater and Ocean Reports. They are written in their own individual styles; so some will be more detailed than others and they all have different flavors of writing but they are all extremely interesting and contain a lot of information. It is our greatest hope that you can sit back and read them in warmth and comfort as the cold winter winds blow outside.

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Savage River Reservoir Draw Down Update - Feb 4

DNR Advises Anglers of Poor Savage River Conditions

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reported on January 31 the Savage River Reservoir was completely drained in order to allow contractors for the Upper Potomac River Commission (UPRC) access to the large outlet gates, which are urgently in need of repair. The removal of the old gates and installation of new ones will occur throughout February and early March. Refilling of the reservoir is expected to start by mid-March after repairs are inspected and approved.

As anticipated, the draining process has substantially impaired river conditions with the flow of accumulated sediment from the dam. During the drawdown process, DNR fisheries personnel observed accumulations of organic and inorganic materials downstream. DNR fish kill surveys in the Savage River Tailwater area have revealed a handful of dead shiners, sculpin, yellow perch, and blue gills from the reservoir. No dead trout have been observed at this time. However, DNR expects that the high turbidity conditions will impact the trout population and the aquatic insects that are the base of the trout food chain. DNR biologists will continue to assess these impacts as the weather and water conditions allow. Restoration plans will follow and will likely include the use of high flows from the reservoir to clear sediment from important gravel and cobble bottoms, where tout spawn and invertebrate food sources hide. DNR may also restock brook trout and invertebrates from un-impacted areas upstream. DNR also plans to restock the reservoir as the appropriate fish become available from the state hatcheries.

While the impacts to the fisheries are extremely unfortunate, the broken gates presented a serious public safety concern. The drawdown of the reservoir and disruptions to the system were unavoidable. The DNR Fisheries Service is committed to restoring over time the reservoir fishery and the excellent tailwater trout fishery that anglers have enjoyed in the Savage River system over the years.

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Yellow Perch Season Upon Us

Anglers, the annual yellow perch season is upon us, from Deep Creek Lake to the tidal tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Check out Maryland’s yellow perch management process along with commercial and recreational regulations and everything else yellow perch!

Learn More>>

Also, this is your chance to participate in fisheries management by submitting data from your fishing trips. Help Maryland DNR but participating in the Yellow Perch Volunteer Angler Survey – click here to find out how!

New Artificial Reef Web Page Launched

MARI includes over 60 private, state, and federal partners, and acts as a funding mechanism (using private and corporate donations) for reef development in Maryland. It is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and creating fish habitat in tidewater Maryland. Funding for MARI comes from the Coastal Conservation Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the coalition of donors and partners. View the new page here.

Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Hold Series of Open Houses

During the month of January Maryland DNR held a series of open houses in the Bay region to solicit comments regarding the proposed changes to the management of oysters in Maryland. Comments and suggestions were collected and are currently being reviewed, if you would like to leave additional comments you may do so by clicking here.

Click here to view the open house presentation.

Pre-Season Trout Stocking Has Begun

The pre-season trout stocking has begun. To view a complete table of recently stocked locations please visit the Trout Fishing page here.

Tri-Annual Fisheries Service Regulatory Scoping Public Meeting

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service will hold a Regulatory Scoping Public Meeting on February 10, 2009 at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401. All interested parties are invited to attend and give their views. Sign language interpreters and other appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request. Click here for more information.

Parking: There are several activities at the church that evening so it may be necessary to park in the Department of Natural Resources parking lot located on Herbert M. Sachs Drive. It is a short walking distance to the church.

Pre-Season Striped Bass Regulatory Proposal Now Online

The proposed action places restrictions in all open catch and release areas during the pre-spawn time period of March 1 through the third Friday in April. Specifically, the action prohibits the use of stinger hooks, requires barbless hooks to be used when trolling, requires the use of circle hooks or J hooks with a gap of less than ½” when using bait, and restricts boats to the use of no more than six lines when trolling, regardless of the number of individuals on board the vessel.

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Beginning 2010 recreational fishermen will need to sign up with the new National Saltwater Angler Registry

If you have questions on the National Saltwater Angler Registry, please contact Martin Gary via e mail mlgary@dnr.state.md.us or by phone 410-260-8289. Click Here For More Information.

Now Available - Text Message Reminders Regarding Commercial Blue Crab Regulation Changes

Because there are so many changes in regulations for the commercial harvest of blue crabs throughout the season, Maryland Fisheries Service has set up a program that will send text message reminders to your cell phone. A day or two before a regulation change goes into effect you will receive a reminder about things like changes in the female bushel limits and closure periods as well as changes in male and peeler minimum sizes. There is no charge for this program from the Fisheries Service, but there may be charges from your cell phone service provider so check with them for details. To sign up, click the link below and enter your name, cell phone number (numbers only, example 4431234567), select your service provider and then click the subscribe button - it's that easy and you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you have questions you can e-mail them to us here at the Fisheries Service

To sign up for the commercial crabbing regulation text message reminder, click here!