LAST UPDATED December 15, 2004
NEXT SCHEDULED UPDATE... No Report Scheduled Until '05 Season!
OVERVIEW
As the end of the 2004-fishing season approaches, either by regulation closure or simply that it's getting cold out there, the fishing experience enters a new chapter. Winter is a very important time for fishermen. It is a little too early for that period of time where preparation and anticipation for the upcoming season takes hold of a fishermen and one feels excited inside like a little kid again, waiting for Christmas. No, many fishermen, especially older ones see it as a time of remembering. A time to savor and reflect on those cherished memories of days spent on the water by oneself or with family and friends. Remembering the first color of a big fish coming up from the depths of the ocean. It could be the rise of a fish; or the first tug of a truly memorable fish on your line. Maybe it's the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, that somehow often escapes us in our day to day lives, but seems to be there just for us when were on the water fishing. It could be something said by a child or loved one; the best of things come out when we're fishing with family.
It is safe to say no one has ever regretted spending time with family and friends under the excuse of fishing. These are precious moments to hold dear and most importantly remember as the cold winds blow through our lives. Fishermen love to share stories with each other and we get stories and pictures of proud catches every week. A fishing story that arrived this week tells a very poignant story of a lasting memory of a fishing family. This is a fishing story of a father, three sons a grandson and a family friend taking time for an annual fishing trip. Kevin Weaver shares this story about his father's last fishing trip.
This was the last trip for my Dad, Quintin,
he passed away 3 day's later. His fish below was his biggest rockfish ever, 39" and 23 pounds. We had our limit of large fish and were back at the dock by noon. This was the third year in a row we had done this exact trip, same boat and on the day after Thanksgiving each time. He was with 3 of his sons, one grandson and a close family friend.
What a fantastic day on the water, from the crisp cold air at 6 am, the simultaneous moonset and sunrise on the boat ride to the fishing grounds, and the great fishing that day. A 39", 38" and (4) 36" fish were caught, all in the company and camaraderie of family and friends. Memories of my Dad's last fishing trip, could they be any better?
There's a lot of talk now a day's of taking a child fishing - do that and more - take an octogenarian fishing as well. Remember the 3 F's - Family, Friends and Fishing all the memories you'll ever need.
Fishermen in the upper bay are reporting that they've had good fishing for striped bass in the Susquehanna River and the Patapsco River right up to the close of the 2004 Maryland Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Season. Jigging and casting swimming shad type lures have continued to be the preferred method of catching striped bass in these rivers. Anglers in the upper bay found striped bass here and there along channel edges, trolling umbrella rigs and bottom bouncing with small to medium bucktails.
Anglers in the middle bay region seemed to concentrate on trolling the deeper waters of the shipping channel, mostly in the southern limits of the region. A few big fish continued to be pulled from the depths, but fishermen who trolled with smaller offerings did much better in the numbers department.
The lower bay region continued to offer what many have said to be the best striped bass fishing in Maryland waters in the last week of the season. Santa even managed to take a little time before the Christmas rush to fish with a few of the "Boys". The boats that were dragging the big stuff down deep along the shipping channel edges continued to pick away at the larger fish. Umbrella rigs and a lot of weight were the tools of the trade, rigged with parachutes and bucktails dressed with sassy shads or rigged with spoons. Smaller striped bass could be found also along the channel edges and a few boats were still successfully chumming. Mark Hoekzema shows us a beautiful 42" striped bass from Tangier Sound against a sunset that seems to set on the 2004 Season.
Freshwater fishing prospects continue to be good for trout for those who have mastered the cold- water techniques of enticing trout to pick up a nymph. The water flows continue to be good in the western and central Maryland streams and holding quite a number of trout. Deep Creek Lake is in a transition as fishermen wait for the lake to freeze over with ice thick enough for ice fishing.
The upper Potomac walleye and smallmouth bass fishery continues to be in full swing. Fishing tubes and jigs in eddies and calm areas down deep have been working well for anglers. Pickerel are entertaining fishermen in many of the upper reaches of the tidal rivers along Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties. Largemouth bass can still be found in the deeper waters of the tidal Potomac and many of the Maryland Eastern Shore Rivers.
Fishing is beginning to quiet down on the Oceanside scene as colder water temperatures begin to shut things down. The sea bass and Tautog fisheries remained closed. Surf fishermen are still catching large bluefish now and then along with a few large striped bass. Boat anglers are also catching a few striped bass in the Ocean City Inlet while drifting live eels.
It truly has been quite a year for fishing in Maryland, from the western most streams and rivers of Garrett County to the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. We certainly seem to have it all here in Maryland, whether it's a short local fishing trip or traveling to a distant location and new fishing adventure. Enjoy your quiet times this winter remembering the good times of the past season. The Fishing Show season starts soon and we hope to see you there. The Fisheries Service will have a booth at the Timonium Show in January, Pasadena and Solomon's in February.
Be sure to click to the Chesapeake Bay, Freshwater and Oceanside Reports for a look at the 2004 fishing season in review.
Quote of the Week:
"Charlie Brown tells us that happiness is a warm puppy. To this reporter, happiness is a cold trout. "
Eric Sevareid 1980
A COUPLE OF CLOSING NOTES...
Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 320 pixels. Please keep the file size small. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/catchrelease.html
Include the following information:
Date
Angler(s)
Hometown(s)
Photo credit
Location
Weight/length of catch
Bait/lure
Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture.
Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood
Until next week,
Tight Lines,
Keith Lockwood
MD DNR Fisheries Service
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