October 4 is the day for striped bass anglers in Virginia. That’s when the 2003 fall recreational striped bass season opens and continues through December 31. The fall “rockfish” season in Virginia’s tidal waters has become one of the most poplar regional events in decades. Beginning with a healthy run of younger class stripers in the 18 to 22 inch range, as the month moves on and water temperatures cool, larger fish begin to move into Chesapeake Bay and the lower reaches of tributary waters. Trolling and casting into feeding schools of rock are among favorite early fall techniques, but there is plenty of chumming action in Virginia waters to be had as well. Bucktails and flashy spoons in chrome or gold colored finishes are favored lures and can be trolled with in-line, drop-sinker rigs or planners. Chumming with ground menhaden and drifting small chunks of bait into the slicks will be favored tactics at such locations as Virginia’s artificial fish reefs and the Buoy 62 area.
Maryland’s current recreational striped bass season continues through December 15. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) striped bass season continues through December 31. For fishing information in Maryland call their “Rockfish Hotline” at 800-762-5347. Maryland’s other information number is 800-688-3467. 

     The Maryland DNR website is at; http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ Information on Virginia’s striper seasons is available by calling the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) at (757) 247-2200 or visiting their website at; http://www.mrc.state.va.us/ The (PRFC) striped bass season information is available by calling 800-266-3904 or (804) 224-7148. The PRFC also have a website at; http://www.prfc.state.va.us/
Friday, October 24, 2003, is the date the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Southern Maryland Chapter is holding a fund raiser in support of wild turkeys and their habitat. The event takes place at Middleton Hall, just a short distance from Route 5 in Waldorf. The Chapter’s “First Super Gun Blast Banquet and Art Auction” provides live and silent auction periods. Raffles will also take place at the October 24 event, with prizes being firearms popular with hunters. Those who purchase tickets for the event will have the added chance of winning a gun as a door prize. “Door prize guns are to include a Beretta 686 Onyx, Browning Gold, Winchester Super X-2, Remington 11-87, T/C 50 caliber Encore, Knight Disc Extreme, Ithaca Deer Slayer and the Ruger 77. 

     Other guns are also to be included in the door prize category. Brochures distributed by the NWTF Southern Maryland Chapter cite the following; “For every 100 tickets sold, 10 guns will be given away as door prizes. If 150 tickets are sold, 15 guns will be given away as door prizes.” Ticket costs are $125 for one person (1 dinner and 1 door prize ticket) and $150 per couple (2 dinners and one door prize ticket) Mail your check with the name and address of each person attending to, Southern Maryland Chapter, NWTF c/o Bobby Boarman, 9400 Macon Place, Newburg, MD 20664. Pre-registration is required and there is a cutoff date of October 18, 2003. For additional information or to receive a registration brochure, call Bobby Boarman at (301) 259-2830 or Lynn Saunders at (301) 274-0004. The banquet takes place on Friday, October 24 at Middleton Hall which is located at 4045 Renner Road in Waldorf, Maryland. 

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