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The Maryland Fishing Challenge – Enter Your Catch to Win!
Some of the best fishing to be found in the State of Maryland, and the Mid- Atlantic region, is right here in Ocean City, Maryland. Nowhere else will you find so many species to catch. From bluefish, striped bass, summer flounder, croaker and sea trout inshore, to black sea bass, tautog, tuna, dolphin, wahoo and marlin offshore, there is something for everyone. And all sport anglers can participate. Great fishing awaits you regardless of whether you are fishing from shore at one of the many publically accessible piers, bridges, bulkheads and beachfront areas, or if you are fishing from a boat in the back bays, inlet or offshore.
With great fishing comes the opportunity to be recognized for your catches, and a chance to win great prizes. Nearly forty years ago, the State of Maryland created a citation award recognition program. The program recognized notable catches of popular sportfish by recreational anglers, along with awarding State record certification for those catches that qualified. Today, the award recognition program continues as part of a more comprehensive annual contest, which provides greater opportunities for individual anglers, families and children to participate.
This contest is known as the Maryland Fishing Challenge. Started in 2005, the Maryland Fishing Challenge runs year round, and is free of charge for anyone fishing in the State of Maryland. The contest consists of three components:
1. A Citation Award recognition program for a variety of species categories based upon the length of the fish.
2. A special award recognition category for youth participants.
3. A special component featuring Maryland’s state fish, the striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay.
For Ocean City anglers, the first two categories are tailor-made to compliment the great fishing we have in the resort town.
Citation Program
If you catch an eligible species of qualifying size while fishing in Ocean City simply take your catch to any one of the 13 official award centers for certification. An award center representative will measure the qualifying fish and you will be issued a ticket for entry into the Maryland Fishing Challenge. It’s that simple. Once qualified, you will receive an award citation suitable for framing, and admission to the Maryland Fishing Challenge final awards ceremony where you will be eligible to win a variety of prizes. Prizes include merchandise from Under Armour, Bass Pro Shops, in Hanover, MD, Tracker Boats, The World Fishing Network and Bill’s Outdoor Center on Deep Creek Lake. The contest runs through Labor Day (September 3rd), and the final awards ceremony will take place at Sandy Point State Park on September 8th in conjunction with the Maryland Seafood Festival. Join in the Fun! Remember to take your qualifying catch to any of the award centers mentioned above, and we’ll see you at Sandy Point State Park on September 8th!
Species Eligible for Citation Awards
Amberjack 45”
Atlantic Spadefish 24”
Bigeye Tuna 60”
Black Drum 48”
Blackfin Tuna 30”
Blue Marlin (released)
Blue Shark (released)
Bluefin Tuna 55”
Bluefish 34”
Blueline Tilefish 25”
Cobia Atlantic 44”
Croaker 18”
Dolphin 45”
False Albacore 24”
Flounder 24”
Golden Tilefish 35”
Hammerhead Shark (released)
King Mackerel 40”
Longfin Albacore 36”
Mako Shark (released)
Northern Whiting 14”
Red Drum (released)
Sailfish (released)
Sand Tiger Shark (released)
Sea bass 20”
Sheepshead 20”
Spanish Mackerel 22”
Spot Atlantic 12”
Spotted Sea trout 24”
Striped Bass 40”
Swordfish (released)
Tautog 24”
Thresher Shark (released)
Tiger Shark (released)
Wahoo 60”
Weakfish 24”
White Marlin (released)
Yellowfin Tuna 50”
Award Center Locations
Take your qualifying fish to any of the following award centers for you ticket to the final award ceremony on September 8th:
•Alltackle - 410-213-2840 12826 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, Md 21842
•Bahia Marina - 410-289-7438 2107 Herring W., Ocean City, Md 21842
•Ocean City Fishing Center - 410-213-1121 1290 Inlet Isle Lane
•Oyster Bay Tackle - 410-524-3433 11615 Coastal Hwy.
•Sea Hawk Sport Center - 410-957-0198 643 Ocean Hwy., Pocomoke City
•Sunset Marina - 410-213-9600 12911 Sunset Ave.
•Ocean City Fishing Pier - 410-656-2047 401 South Atlantic Ave.
•Oceanic Pier - 410-289-2602 710 South Philadelphia Ave.
•Assateague Mobile Sportfisherman's Association - 410-957-4516 3216 Johnson Road, Pocomoke, Md
•Talbot Street Bait & Tackle - 410-289-FISH 210 Talbot St.
•Ocean Pines Provisions - 410-641-2248 869 Yacht Club Drive, Ocean Pines, Md
•Ake Marine - 410-213-0421 12930 Sunset Ave.
Special Youth Fishing Events
In addition to the citation award program, Maryland DNR has partnered with over 20 sport fishing organizations across the state to celebrate youth fishing. From each of our partnered fishing events, one lucky youth angler will be selected to attend the final awards ceremony at Sandy Point State Park where she/he will win a guided “dream fishing trip” for themselves and the mentor of their choice. In Ocean City, MD, DNR partnered with the Ocean Pines Angler’s Club Annual Youth Fishing Derby at the Ocean Pines South Pond on July 21st (contact Budd Heim at 410-726-1968 for additional information); and the Ocean City Marlin Club and their Annual “Kid’s Classic” to be held on July 20-22 (contact the Marlin Club at 410-213-1613 for more information).
Diamond Jim
A special component known as “Diamond Jim” honors Maryland’s state fish, the striped bass, also known as rockfish. If an angler recreationally catches a striped bass before midnight on September 3rd in Maryland waters bearing a bright green streamer tag with the inscription DIAMOND JIM 2012, they may be eligible for cash prizes up to $25,000. Over 100 striped bass have been tagged in waters of the Chesapeake Bay thus far this year. One of the bright green tags is worth up to $25,000, and the others are known as “imposters” and are worth a minimum of $500. If Diamond Jim is not caught, the anglers who catch imposter striped bass will split the $25,000. In 2011, eleven lucky anglers caught imposter Diamond Jim tagged fish and each received checks for $2,273. If you are lucky enough to catch a tagged striped bass, DO NOT REMOVE THE TAG FROM THE FISH. It will be ineligible for prizes if the tag is removed.
If you have any questions on the Maryland Fishing Challenge, please contact Martin Gary at [email protected].
