|
|
|
Crayfish Ban In Effect For Middle Potomac and Susquehanna River Basins |
New temporary emergency regulations pertaining to the catch, possession and use as bait of crayfish became effective on July 17, 2008. These new regulations will become permanent on October 6, 2008. The regulations prohibit a person from catching any species of crayfish, using any live crayfish as bait or possessing any live crayfish while fishing in the Middle Potomac River and Susquehanna River Basins.
These changes were presented to the public at five Inland Fisheries public meetings in April 2008.
Rusty crayfish is native to portions of the Ohio River in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. As popular bait for game fishes, this species has been widely introduced outside of its native range. Bait bucket introductions of rusty crayfish have been documented in at least 14 other states and portions of Canada. All of these introductions have had devastating effects on the invaded ecosystems. Rusty crayfish can eliminate native crayfishes and can reduce the quality and quantity of habitat available to other stream species. Rusty crayfish feed heavily on mayflies, stoneflies, and other invertebrates that are important food sources to stream fishes. This species also consumes fish eggs and can destroy aquatic vegetation beds. These habits can impact game fish populations.
In 2006, MDNR in anticipation of future invasive species issues, banned the rusty crayfish, among other invasives, from the state of Maryland. In 2007, the rusty crayfish was discovered in the upper Monocacy River and in the Susquehanna River above Conowingo Dam. Further surveys of these areas determined that the outbreak is contained in these two areas. It is believed to have been unintentionally introduced by anglers as discarded bait dumped into Pennsylvania tributaries to these rivers, and has since spread south across the state line. This invasive species has the potential to cause profound changes to Maryland’s streams and rivers. MDNR biologists are concerned that the spread of this species may be hastened by additional bait bucket introductions in Maryland. The new regulation aims to prevent the inadvertent or intentional movement of this species into other Maryland watersheds.
|
|
Trout Stocking Underway for Fall Fishing Season |
 The Fisheries Services' fall trout stocking is underway, the table below list areas stocked to date.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will stock approximately 19,000 trout into freshwaters across the state during October 2008. A small number of these will be brown trout averaging 3 to 5 pounds each.
Although stocking dates and locations are dependent on water flow and temperature, crews generally find conditions are right in many areas beginning the second week of October and stocking is usually complete by the end of the month. In most years, cool water allowed trout stocking in Delayed Harvest Trout Fishing Areas and locations such as the North Branch Potomac, Bear Creek, Town Creek, Blairs Valley Lake, Antietam Creek, Beaver Creek, Cunningham Falls, Rainbow Lake, Greenbrier Lake, Morgan Run, Patapsco River, Gunpowder Falls, Great Seneca, Wheatley Lake, Lake Artemesia, Greenbelt Lake, Big Elk, Deer Creek and Tuckahoe. We expect to stock these areas and numerous others as conditions allow.
DNR’s trout stocking information telephone line, 1-800-688-3467, will be updated weekly beginning Oct. 1 so that anglers may find out if their favorite area has been stocked. After daily stocking is completed, a list of stocked areas will be posted here online.
|
|
Tests Show No Evidence That Whirling Disease Is Spreading In Maryland |
|
Department of Natural Resources officials are continuing to monitor sites throughout the state for evidence of whirling disease, a parasitic infection that attacks trout. Results from recent tests found no evidence the disease is spreading.
Anglers are urged to continue the successful precautions to prevent spread of the disease such as cleaning boats and equipment thoroughly after fishing and not transporting live fish, insects, bait, or plant from one body of water to another.
To read the entire press release regarding the recent tests concerning whirling disease, click here.
Check out the Fisheries Services' whirling disease web page for additional information regarding the disease and Maryland's effort to contain the parasite.
|
|
An invasive algae known as Didymo has been identified in the Gunpowder River |
|
 An invasive and potentially detrimental algae known as Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) has been identified in the Gunpowder River below Prettyboy Dam. This algae, also known as ‘rock snot’, can have negative impacts on stream biota such as aquatic insects. It can also hinder reproduction of trout and other fish species.
Anglers and boaters are asked to take the same precautions that were suggested for containing whirling disease and other invasive species.
- Scrub all gear to remove mud and plants
- Drain all water from bilges and livewells, don’t move water from one area to another
- We recommend the use of new ‘sticky rubber’ wading boots to facilitate cleaning, if you must use felts allow them to dry completely before moving to another waterbody
Other useful web pages with information pertaining to didymo include:
www.dnr.state.md.us/invasives/Didymo_Flyfisher_Article.pdf
www.dnr.state.md.us/invasives/Didymo_EPA_Fact_Sheet.pdf
www.epa.gov/region8/water/didymosphenia/
|
|
Proposed Regulations Being Considered for Inland Fisheries for 2009 |
|
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John R. Griffin today announced a series of public meetings to discuss and hear comments on proposed regulations being considered for Inland Fisheries for 2009. In addition, the Inland Fisheries Division offers these meetings as an opportunity to discuss fisheries management with staff in an information exchange and learning experience.
Inland Fisheries is accepting comments on the proposed regulations until May 30, 2008. To submit comments go to www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.html.
To read more about the proposed 2009 Inland Fisheries regulations and see dates for the public meetings go to www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/regs/DNRPubMtgInlandRegChangesFor2009.pdf.
|
|
The Maryland 2008 Fishing Guide Available Online |
|
 Now available online, the 2008 Fishing Guide. The guide traditionally accompanies the purchase of your fishing license and covers Freshwater, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal and Atlantic Ocean recreational fishing regulations for the State of Maryland. If your internet speed is a concern please note the file size of the 2008 guide, it is 8 megabytes, if you would rather not download the file please visit your nearest license retailer for a hard copy.
To view and download the entire fishing guide book click this link.
|
|
Fishing Line Recycling Article and Program |
|
The Bay Weekly publication recently ran an article concerning the recycling of fishing line, many of Maryland's State Parks now participate in this recycling effort.
"...Discarded fishing line is nasty. Like other plastics that endure in the Bay and the ocean, plastic monofilament doesn’t biodegrade. Once line falls into the water or tangles along the shoreline, it stays there. Worse still, rogue monofilament can kill. The strong line ensnares seabirds like gulls and osprey as well as fish and other wildlife..." To read the entire article go to www.bayweekly.com/year07/issuexv38/leadxv38_3.html.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has an informative web site at www.myfwc.com/mrrp/implementing.htm to help get you started towards creating your own monofilament recycling program. Maryland's Fisheries Service strongly advocates the recycling of discarded fishing line.
|
|
What Can I Stock or Release Into Maryland Waters? |
|
Fisheries Service has created a "Fact Sheet" concerning stocking/releasing fish in Maryland waters. It is based on current law and regulation and is written so that the public can understand what we mean. We are currently working on nuisance species regulations and will update this information when those (and others) become effective.
If you have any questions, please contact Tammy O'Connell at 410-260-8271 or tloconnell@dnr.state.md.us
|
|
Get Your License Online or Call 1-800-918-2870 |
|
In our continuing efforts to improve customer service and comply with Maryland’s eGovernment service goals, DNR is expanding opportunities for citizens and visitors to purchase hunting and fishing licenses. Beginning immediately, hunting and fishing licenses are available for purchase via a toll-free telephone call at 1-800-918-2870. Also, we are now selling fishing and hunting licenses online at www.wildlifelicense.com/md/. Although customers have been asking us to offer these additional purchase methods as an added convenience for several years our network of license agents remains our primary distribution channel. You can find one in your area by visiting our online service center. |
|
|
