JSummertime is well underway across the Chesapeake Bay region and the fishing action is right along with it. Bluefish have proven to be the dominating species to the delight of trollers, chummers and casters alike, from south of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the mouth of the bay. Large schools of snapper blues in the 1 to 2 pound range have been complimented by some larger fish in 3 to 4 pounds. As bluefish can be found voraciously feeding on schools of shiner minnow or small alewives, finding the bait and bluefish becomes one in the same strategy this month. Once located, anglers can choose to troll around the edges of feeding schools with small bright colored spoons or cast into them with small diamond jigs or other lures that will withstand the blues sharp teeth.

     Another fun tactic is to shut the boat motors off and drift amongst the feeding schools while jigging lures beneath the feeding fish. This option might include your catching Seatrout that is feeding below the blues as they tear through baitfish schools. Spanish mackerel will make their mark on Chesapeake Bay and its lower tributary waters this month and will provide some fast paced trolling action. Planers in sizes #1 and #2 coupled with 25 foot of 30 pound leader and small drone or Clark spoons are our favorites for mackerel fishing. You may also catch blues and striped bass (rockfish) with these same rigs. Spot have made a great comeback this summer season throughout much of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are delighting bottom fishing anglers of all ages. We have tried the "Fishbite" imitation bloodworm baits this season and have been pleased at the results. The big hit among many fishing the Lower Chesapeake remains another good year for flounder. Drift fishing minnows, squid strips and cut strips of spot remain among the best tactics for these tasty fish. Our best bait choices remain cut strips of spot on beaded spinner hooks fished right on the bottom.

     Anglers fishing Southern Maryland waters this month and into the fall have a new tournament they can consider participating in. "THE ROCKIN' AND REEL-IN FISHING CONTEST" runs from August 1 through October 31, 2006 and includes the following prize categories: longest rockfish caught during the tournament wins $2,000, the longest bluefish nets $1,500 and the longest croaker wins $500. Anglers 18 years of age or older must be fishing aboard a charterboat participating in the tournament between the dates set to be eligible. Some of the rules include; qualifying fish must be caught aboard a registered, participating St. Mary's County Charter boat. The fish must be caught in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay and/or its tributaries. Anyone 18 years of age or over may enter who books a trip with one of the participating captains. Direct relatives of participating charter captains or of sponsors Tackle Box and Guy Distributing are not eligible to enter contest. All rules & regulations under which charter captains & boats operate remain in effect during contest. All fish must be caught by hook and line only. The fish registered must be verified by two (2) participating captains. Fish must be checked in at one of these designated Check-In Stations and official check-in form completed: Drury's Marina, Captain Bowe's Departure Dock or Smith Creek Marina. Each Check-In Station will have a calibrated measuring stick of equal size. Check-In Stations will provide a digital photo of each registered fish to St. Mary's County Tourism Office. Rockfish (striped bass) and Blue fish will be measured to the fork of the tail with the natural lay of the fish. Croaker will be measured to the longest tip of the tail. Tie-breaker will revert back to the first fish registered. The winning fish will be verified by a designated representative of the Maryland Charter Boat Association not residing in St. Mary's County. Winners will be announced on or before Tuesday, November 7, 2006 with an announcement posted on www.stmarysmd.com/tourism. Winners will be notified by certified mail sent to the individual at the address provided on the official check-in form. For information on how to register and find out which charterboats are fishing the tournament, visit www.stmarysmd.com/fishing or call (301) 475-4200, extension 1404.

     Another fishing tournament underway is the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge, which continues through Monday, September 4. This competition includes Maryland's non-tidal lakes and streams along with the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Five grand prizes include a chance at $1 million in cash, a 20' center console Sailfish 206CC motorboat and trailer, a 18' 7" Tracker Nitro 591 motorboat and trailer, and two 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pick-up trucks. As in last year's event, there will be also be tagged fish which when caught will reward anglers as instant winners of prize packages. During each of the 13 weeks of the tournament, striped bass marked with a special yellow tag are released. The lucky angler who catches that week's tagged fish will win $25,000. During the 2005 Maryland Fishing Challenge, 103 fish were caught provided prizes for102 anglers during the six-week challenge. Four of these were selected to compete for the $1 million grand prize. The 2006 Maryland Fishing Challenge is open to everyone legally licensed to fish in Maryland, and also to anyone fishing in one of the Maryland License Free Fishing Areas., No registration is required and there are no fees to participate and no age restrictions apply. Adult anglers should take opportunity and the excitement of maybe catching a tagged fish worth a prize to teach younger anglers the joys of recreational fishing. For additional information on the species of fish that are being tagged and how to contact Maryland officials if you catch one, visit their website at; www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/. 

© 2006 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved