When it comes to planting make-believe trees, Marylanders are among the best in the nation.

Well-known juice and energy bar maker Odwalla has pledged to give the Maryland Park Service $1 every time computer-savvy residents get on its website http://www.odwalla.com/plantatree and "plant" virtual trees. Since late May, Johnny and Janey Appleseeds have responded by clicking enough times to virtually plant 7,477 make believe trees, good for fourth place.

Not resting on its, ahem, laurel, Maryland is looking for more green thumbs before the contest ends on Sept. 1.

Contest rules allow residents to plant up to five free virtual trees. Odwalla's Facebook fans also can create their own virtual micro-forest by encouraging others to donate trees via the Plant A Tree program.

"Trees provide cool shade, create wildlife habitat, clean the air and improve the water quality of streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Park Service Superintendent Nita Settina (that's her in the tree-planting promotional video, hanging from a zip line at Tuckahoe State Park with an Odwalla energy bar--flavor unknown--in her mouth).

Back in the real world, residents can plant real trees in a two-year-old effort titled, appropriately enough, Marylanders Plant Trees Program. The state, in cooperation with about 70 nurseries, offers $25 coupons toward the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more. Coupons can be found at www.trees.maryland.gov.

For the record, Pennsylvania (15,086 trees), Michigan (13,825) and Texas (8,749)--all states with much larger populations--stand between Maryland and the top of the heap.

With just 5.7 million people, Maryland may not be able to catch Pennsylvania, but we sure as heck can mess with Texas.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink
        

The final tagged rockfish have been released for the Maryland Fishing Challenge featuring Diamond Jim.

A dozen charter boats loaded with young anglers left from piers from Baltimore to Solomons early this morning to help Department of Natural Resources biologists catch nearly 250 fish that were marked with neon-green plastic tags.

One fish, designated Diamond Jim, could be worth $25,000 if caught in August. The impostors are each worth $500.

The July tagged fish — still at large — is worth $20,000 if it is caught before midnight Saturday.

More than 1,600 anglers have registered for the Maryland Fishing Challenge by catching a citation-sized fish from more than 60 freshwater, saltwater and tidal water species. Those anglers are registered for the random grand prize drawing on Sept. 11 at Sandy Point State Park. Top prizes include a boat and trailer, fishing gear and guided trips.

State Sen. John Astle helps members of the Annapolis Boys and Girls Club fish for striped bass that will be tagged and released as part of the Maryland Fishing Challenge featuring Diamond Jim. One striped bass could be worth $25,000 if caught during August.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:06 PM | Permalink
        

Far be it from me to write the review before I see the movie. Yet I can't help but think that the Wildlife Advisory Commission, which counsels both the Department of Natural Resources and the governor, has taken a turn for the better.

Three new commissioners joined the group Wednesday morning in Annapolis, providing a boost to the guys who have kept the thing upright for a decade. New blood, fresh perspective and some diversity have been added to the cast.

For starters, there's a woman at the table, a city dweller at that. Jacquelyn Bonomo of Baltimore is executive director of Audubon Maryland/DC. She's been involved in conservation issues for 25 years in 15 states and has worked for the National Wildlife Federation and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Next is Charles Rodney, a Louisiana native who "grew up a country boy," and moved to Maryland in 1972 to marry a local woman. A Prince George's County resident and part-time auctioneer, Rodney is retired from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Rodney hunts rabbits with his five pure-bred beagles. He tried other kinds of hunting "but they involve sitting and I don't like to sit."

He once wondered, "how do I get over here," pointing to the page in the state's annual hunting guide that lists state officials. He doesn't have to wonder any longer. He'll be in next year's guide.

Finally, there's Lou Compton of Crisfield, a mover and shaker with the Maryland Bowhunter's Society. A Baltimore native who spent 34 years in law enforcement and corrections and who volunteers as a certified hunter safety instructor, Compton also has taken the lead in the Archery in Schools program.

"I have deep respect for the resources and the land," he said.

For the first time in a decade, the nine-member commission has a full slate. And it looks a little more like Maryland, with a woman, an African American, a few farmers, a college professor, a government worker and a businessman or two on board.

"It's a unique and diverse group that should make for some interesting dialog," said Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink
        

The ninth buoy in a chain of markers around the Chesapeake Bay has been deployed to give anglers, boaters and history buffs a window on what's beneath and around them.

The so-called smart buoy is stationed near the mouth of the Little Choptank River on an 80-acre site made popular by anglers and nicknamed The Gooses. It provides real-time information about water quality and weather conditions and plays a recorded message about historical and cultural high points.

The information can be accessed for free at www.buoybay.org and by phone at 877-BUOY-BAY (877-286-9229). Data from this buoy will also be available at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website www.eyesonthebay.net.

The buoy was made possible by a $200,000 grant from the Dominion Foundation to the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, a nonprofit group that has been responsible for creating new habitat at numerous locations around the bay.

Dominion's money also paid to haul concrete slabs from the site of the old Wooddrow Wilson Bridge across the Potomac River to the Gooses to create an 80-acre reef. The Dominion Reef at the Gooses, as the formation is called, has already attracted marine life and is a popular fishing destination.

The buoy is part of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Other bright yellow markers in Maryland waters are at the mouths of the Patapsco, Potomac, Severn, and Susquehanna Rivers and in the Potomac River just south of Washington.

Buoys in Virginia waters are at the mouths of the Rappahannock, James and Elizabeth rivers.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:23 AM | Permalink
        

Fifty-eight disabled veterans ignored a brutally hot conditions to take part in the Paralyzed Veterans of America "Capital Clash" Bass Tournament on the Potomac River last weekend.

Members of the Maryland Bass Federation Nation volunteered their time and boats to drive the veterans around to different fishing spots. On Sunday, the boaters and the disabled veterans fished together on a boat. Shoreline anglers also took part in the two-day competition.

With concern for angler and fish safety as high as the thermometer, the Department of Natural Resources Inland Fisheries staff worked with the volunteers and organizers to minimize time in the heat and humidity.

Volunteers handed out bottled water and wet towels as each veteran and boater returned to the dock at Smallwood State Park in Charles County. Only six boats were allowed out of the water at a time for the weigh-in to reduce the amount of time that fish sat in rapidly heating live wells on pavement.

DNR equipped live wells with aerators to raise oxygen levels. After fish were weighed, they were transferred to a DNR hatchery truck for release.

"Only 10 fish died throughout the tournament. We saw 96.4 percent survivorship, which is about 5 percent better than last year," said state biologist Joe Love, the tidal bass manager. "This is truly exceptional because the heat index on Saturday alone was 115 degrees. With high water temperatures, I was expecting much lower survivorship, probably around 91 percent."

Anglers were allowed to weigh in both black bass and northern snakeheads, the voracious invasive predator from Asia. Competitors caught 275 black bass; the largest fish was 5 pounds caught on the second day by Glenn Mayes of Shenandoah, Va.

The PVA offered a prize of $100 for the largest snakehead and $5 for each snakehead brought in. Only three snakeheads were caught, but it is one of the few times that a tournament has offered prizes for the fish that made headlines in 2001, when thousands of them were discovered in a pond in Crofton. Despite a federal ban on the importation of snakeheads, they have been caught in Potomac River tributaries and other East Coast waters.

In the Open competition, PVA angler Paul Julian of New Castle, Pa., and boat partner Michael O'Haver of Crofton teamed up to catch five fish weighing 13.65 pounds to win. PVA's Dave Williams of Washington and Bill Sanders of Waldorf were runners up with a five-fish creel weighing 12.95 pounds. PVA's Kurt Glass of Grovetown, Ga., and Dave Smith of Fredericksburg, Va., took third, with five fish weighing 12.24 pounds.

In the Team standings, PVA angler Robert Satterwhite of Stem, N.C. and boat partner Dave Hanson of Waldorf took the top spot with a five-fish creel weighing 15.39 pounds. Jeremy Stengel of Washington and Dick Brown of Frederick finished second with five fish weighing 13.16 pounds. Glenn Mayes of Shenandoah, Va., and Lloyd Long of Waldorf took third with five fish weighing 13.05 pounds.

On shore, Donna Hendrickson of Garland, Texas, and Thomas Grant of Blairsville, Ga., weighed in 9.75 pounds, good for first place in the team standings. Larry Dodson of North Augusta, S.C., won individual honors, with a total weight of 15.41 pounds.

The PVA tournament trail moves on in late September to Wagoner, Okla., for the Mid-America Okie Open.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:23 AM | Permalink
        

Fishing guide Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited files his weekly bass fishing report:

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: two stars; 80 degrees; clear with algae; 1 foot at Point of Rocks.
Fishing has been rather tough lately due to low water and massed grasses, but find the holes and you'll find the bass. Plan for the very early hours of the day—or the last few. If you sleep-in, stay home. Change to 6-pound test line and stay seated in the boat. Long casts are a must. Conditions are great for wading anglers.

At Lander, there's good fishing up and down from the launch if you can navigate the grass beds. Fish the edge of the grass beds. Reliable lures are Mizmo tubes, Campground Special tubes and Case Magic Stiks. There is a good trico hatch in the morning so you may find that topwater lures will work.

At Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry, bass fishing has been a mixed bag. Best hours are 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. From Whites Ferry, I favor the upriver area where I’ll keep my boat in the middle of the river and slowly float downstream. Most bass are small but there is an occasional 18-incher most days.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, Pa.: two stars; near 80 degrees; clear; algae; 3.2 feet at Harrisburg; 3.7 feet at Newport on the Juniata; 2.5 feet on the Sinnamahoning Branch. The low, hot water has discouraged most from boating, but wading anglers or those on float trips are having success.

On the Juniata River, anglers wading the upper reaches are catching 30-100 small bass a day. Good results above Newport are coming with Rattlin’ Rapalas; the majority of the bass are 16-inches long or better.

On the main stem near Duncannon, Riverfront Campground and Rent-A-Boat owner Johnny Cunningham (717-877-2704) will rent you a boat and shuttle you upriver for productive float trips for smallmouth bass, musky and walleye.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: three stars; 88-92 degrees; algae; stained in areas.
Those clear-sky, high-barometer days are tough, but on cloudy days, a falling barometer and most early hours of the day have been very good in many areas. Recent heavy storms have affected some of the tributaries, but there is no muddy water coming from the upper Potomac.

In Washington, grass is scarce but fishing has been fair. Above Key Bridge you can expect to catch smallmouth and largemouth bass on Mizmo tubes and Rapala crankbaits. In the Washington Channel you can catch stripers and largemouth bass from the dropoff along Fort McNair. On the main stem, fish the Long Bridge foundations, Gravely Point cove, deep water along Reagan airport and Blue Plains.

Other areas to consider are around the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Fox Ferry Point, Penrod Cove, Points in Smoot Bay and grass beds in Belle Haven Cove, shoreline above Broad Creek, shoreline below Hog Island, grass beds in Swann Creek and Fort Washington Lighthouse. The best grass lures continue to be topwater frogs and buzzbaits, Case Magic Stiks and spinnerbaits. For the deeper water, Mizmo tubes and Rapala DT06 crankbaits do the job.

Dough Creek, Pomonkey Creek, Gunston Cove and the Marshall Hall area offers very good grass bass fishing.

In Mattawoman Creek, the 6 m.p.h. zone is still productive, as are the grass beds between Marsh Island and the main stem. Frogs and Stiks have been very productive but you may want to spend some time punching plastics through thick grass.

Chickamuxen, Tug Boat Cove, main stem grass near Chopawamsic Creek and Mallow Bay are worth visiting.

KERR RESERVOIR, Va.: two stars; clear main lake; 299 feet; 85-90 degrees.
Guide Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com) says that early morning topwater action remains consistent for a narrow window in the morning. Deeper water, the typical summer pattern, is the game for the rest of the day. Carolina-rigged plastics, jigging spoons and Rapala DT14 crankbaits on points or channel drops is recommended.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: two stars; below normal pool; clear; 80 degrees.
LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner report that fishing has been “typical summer results,” meaning that the low-light hours should be your focus for more reasons than one. Boat traffic is horrific during the day. The guides are helping their clients catch bass from grass beds and boat docks, and when they take youngsters, they take minnows. See www.fishdeepcreeklake.com for more information.

POCOMOKE RIVER: three stars; tannic; 75-80 degrees.
Bass fishing has been pretty decent in this wonderful tidal river although a falling tide is 3 times as productive as is high water. Fish the spatterdock and cypress knees from Shad Landing to the Pocomoke City Bridge. Use the same pattern toward Snow Hill. Nasawango Creek may be the best bet of all. We like Penrod Special spinnerbaits; buzzbaits, Case Stiks, Mizmo tubes and always, always cast Rapala DT-06 crankbaits to the dropoff in front of the spatterdock. Bass have been small to mid-size but the numbers have been acceptable.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:00 PM | Permalink
        

The story of Warren Magruder's outstanding catch last Tuesday of the massive black drum on Belvidere Shoal has prompted several of you to share your own black drum stories and photos.

While Magruder's catch was unusual given its location--pretty far up the Chesapeake Bay--and the retired major general's age--82--other tales are out there. Join the party and add your stories.

John Schlaffer was kind enough to share his story and photo:

As mentioned in your article, the drum occasionally are found in Eastern Bay. Three years ago mid way back into Eastern Bay, my friend and I were drifting for croaker and flounder. I had a "cocktail bait" of squid and shrimp hooked onto a flounder rig--pink skirt.

I hooked into a nice fish and first thought it was a ray, but it did not run like one. I ended up a nice drum--42 inches. We photographed it and then I released it back into the bay. It took approximately 20 minutes to nurse it in.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

If the Chesapeake Bay doesn't reaching the boiling point by Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will deploy its ninth "smart buoy," and this one should be a terrific asset to anglers.

A work boat will lower the bright yellow marker over the Dominion Reef at The Gooses, a popular fishing spot at the mouth of the Little Choptank River made even more so by the addition two years ago of an artificial reef consisting of huge slabs of concrete from the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

The instant the buoy's sensors touch the surface, the marker will begin transmitting water and weather conditions that can be accessed by a toll-free number (1-877-Buoy-Bay ) or computer http://www.buoybay.org. In addition, the buoy employs a recording to tell boaters or paddlers--or youngsters in a classroom--about the area's history and culture.

But wait, there's more.

If you go to the website tab labeled "Explore Buoy Data," you can build charts to compare water and weather conditions at each of the buoys, six of which are in Maryland waters. Want to know how much higher salinity is at the Bay Bridge this year than last? Or trying to remember conditions at the mouth of the Susquehanna River on a day last spring? It's easy.

The buoy network is part of the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the nation's first all-water national park that highlights Smith's bay explorations 400 years ago.

The 320-acre artificial reef site at the Gooses contains about 80 acres of concrete, providing essential habitat for mussels, crabs, oysters and striped bass. Divers have documented a lively aquatic community that has taken up residence in the nooks and crannies of the recycled material.

The Dominion Foundation donated $275,000 to the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative for the project. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, which owns and operates the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility on the western shore of the bay in southern Maryland.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink
        

It's been hit-or-miss so far this summer when it comes to rockfish on the Chesapeake Bay.

They ain't in the usual places and when they do surface, thet don't stay long.

Experts say the combination of higher-than-normal salinity, sky-high temperatures and shifting dead zones may be the culprits.

But...

Poplar Island has seen some good fishing in the evenings.

Anglers fishing at about 6:30 say the rockfish appear on the western shoreline, against the rocks and move north, wrapping around the island before heading out in the narrows.

Chug bugs, Lefty's Deceivers, crippled herrings and surface plugs all attracted fish up to 25 inches, with no bluefish mixed in.

"Even the gulls were worn out," says one fishing pal.

Keep in mind that a lot of the tagged "Diamond Jim" rockfish in the Maryland Fishing Challenge were released near Poplar. There's still time this month to catch the fish worth $20,000 or one of the $500 impostor fish.

If no one reels in the money fish, the August Diamond Jim will be worth $25,000.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:10 AM | Permalink
        

Every so often, I forget to charge the gizmo that does most of my work--the Blackberry--and provides entertainment--the iPod or Kindle.

It's not so bad when the destination is a motel room. But when it's a tent and the site doesn't have a plug-in, I'm powerless.

The Solarpod charger by Highgear is a palm-sized device that stores sunlight, room light or a charge from a laptop USB port and allows you to keep the gizmos going.

The price is reasonable: $50. The charger comes with a variety of power tips to adapt to a bunch of electronic devices. It held up to being crushed in my pack for a week and has a built-in carabiner to hold it in place (if you remember to use it). The unit charges quickly and has an indicator on the back that tells you how much power remains stored.

But...

It seems to quickly lose its stored charge if it sits around for a couple of days in the dark. And it doles out less than an hour of juice after an eight-hour charge in the sun.

That said, there are times when you'd do anything to be able to make a couple of calls or listen to some tunes before zipping up the sleeping bag. For those times, Solarpod is a nice companion to have.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:17 PM | Permalink
        

One year after Bill Burton went on the last fishing trip of his 82 years, the state formally dedicated the two fishing piers over the Choptank River near Cambridge in his memory.

About two dozen friends, family members and state officials gathered under a blazing hot sun to remember Burton, who wrote about Maryland's outdoors for more than a half century, 37 of those years as a columnist for the Evening Sun.

"Bill's words were clean and crisp and the people he met on the bay were like they were right out of a novel," said Joe Gill, deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and an avid reader. "This is an appropriate place to honor Bill Burton. ... It's a place where people come, where people are alive."

Burton's daughter, Heather Boughey, recalled how her father mounted a campaign in his column in 1985 to save the old U.S. 50 bridge from demolition after a new bridge was built.

Last July, days before the state Board of Public Works voted to rename the 20-acre site the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park, friends arranged a fishing trip to the Talbot County side of the pier so the writer could enjoy an outing with a group of kids -- his favorite constituency.

Burton signed certificates for each young angler and posed for pictures.

"It was my last fishing trip with my dad," Boughey said. "This is a perfect way to honor my dad's memory."

Weakened by cancer, Burton was unable to attend the Board of Public Works. He died in early August.

State Fisheries Service biologist Marty Gary said local fishing groups had agreed to join forces to sponsor a fall fishing tournament in Burton's honor.

"I hope you can come back and join us," Gary said. "It's up to us to carry it forward."

Photo: Lois Burton, wife of the late outdoors writer Bill Burton, and the couple's granddaughter, Mackenzie Boughey.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Because Warren Magruder wasn't willing to part with a perfectly good bucktail lure Tuesday morning, he has a fish tale that might be told for years.

While trolling off Gibson Island at Belvidere Shoal, he latched onto a black drum, 50-inches long, 36-inches around and weighing about 70 pounds.

At first, he though he had hooked a ray. The common response by most fishermen is to cut the line.

"But I didn't want to lose that bucktail," said Magruder, who was fishing alone. So he fought on, a natural inclination for a retired Army major general.

Several times during the 20-minute struggle, the 82-year-old Pasadena resident thought he'd have to cut and run. "I have a 23-foot, center-console boat. He pulled my boat around and around," Magruder said.

He doubled down on his new Avet two-speed reel to make cranking easier. Then the fish's head broke the surface of the water.

"Oh my," Magruder recalled thinking.

Once he got the fish to the side of the boat, the general faced a logistical nightmare: getting the fish in the boat.

"I dipped my net down under him and got on my knees and finally rolled him in," he said.

Back on shore at his Bodkin Creek home, the retired general retired for the day. "I'm exhausted," he told me on the phone.

Neighbor Jack Streb spread the word, neighbors took photos and helped clean the fish--a garden hoe was enlisted to help with the scaling operation.

For Magruder, a fisherman since the 1930s, this was the first black drum he'd caught above the Bay Bridge.

The state record for black drum in the Chesapeake Bay is 103 pounds, 8 ounces, set in 1973. It was caught at Buoy 16 in the Choptank River.

Marty Gary, a state fisheries biologist, says black drum can be found in Eastern Bay at the southern end of Kent Island.

"I'd say that fish was pretty much at the northern edge of its range," Gary said. "It's kind of a drought year and salinity may be up. If you were going to catch one far north, this would be the year.

"It's an awesome story, an old man and the sea tale," said Gary. "It's really impressive."

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

When the thermometer seems stuck in a permanent red zone, sometimes the better part of valor is to shift your activities to later in the day. Like when it's dark.

The Department of Natural Resources is offering several events Saturday that take advantage of the cooler (??) evening hours:

Star Light, Star Bright
From 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free.
Susquehanna State Park, 4122 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace
Join Mark Kregel of the Harford County Astronomical Society to search the night sky. There will be stargazing with telescopes and an explanation of the stars visible above the park.

Owl Prowl
From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.; $5 per person
Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area, 5100 Deer Park Road, Owings Mills
Take a one-mile hike to listen for owls, followed by a program with owls from "Scales and Tales." Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. This is a great family program for the ages of 6 and up. Meet at the visitors center. Please call 410-461-5005 in advance to sign up.

Night Hike
From 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; free
Elk Neck State Park, 4395 Turkey Point Road, North East
Find out how nocturnal you are on this lights-off night hike! For ages 10 and up. Only quiet children and quiet adults please. Meet at the park headquarters.

Sssnakes and Salamanders
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; free
Cedarville State Forest, 10201 Bee Oak Road, Brandywine
Join a naturalist at the amphitheater behind the family campground and learn about the reptiles and amphibians of Maryland. Discover what sets them apart from all the other animals. Find out why they're a very important part of the forest and the world.

Evening Paddle
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $20 per canoe or tandem kayak, $15 per single kayak, $5 per person with own canoe
Pocomoke River State Park, 3461 Worcester Highway, Snow Hill
Enjoy an evening paddle down the serene waters of the Pocomoke. Discover the wonders that abound on the river as the sun sets. Meet at the boat rental area by the riverfront.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

Call them what you will--sea nettles, jellyfish, @$%*%!--but they can really ruin a day at the beach like ants can wreck a family picnic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a cool new map in the experimental stage that is is sharing with the public. It predicts where the jellies will be in the Chesapeake Bay today and three days from now.

Right now, it isn't looking too good for you, Choptank River, Point Lookout and Eastern Bay. The Western Shore, on the other hand, isn't looking too bad.

Give it a whirl http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/forecasting-sea-nettles/.

NOAA says it compiled the near-real time map by combining information about the temperature and salinity jellies prefer along with field observations from scientists and volunteers with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

The mapping was a collaborative effort of NOAA, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Yale University and Shannon Point Marine Center.

NOAA and and Maryland Sea Grant paid for the project.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

OK, so there's a move afoot to increase the commercial striped bass catch in coastal waters.

And Monday night, Maryland anglers let a representative of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission know just what they thought of it. To paraphrase Republican lawmakers who didn't pay for spending programs they authorized in the Bush years and oil companies trying to weasel out of taxes, "it's a bad time to be (fill in the blank)."

It's never a good time, is it?

That said, anglers made some good points, but they also made one stinker. More about that in a moment. First, a little background.

At its May meeting, ASMFC voted to get public comment on a plan to increase the commercial catch by an unspecified amount.

Supporting the motion by the New York representative were Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Opposing the idea were Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the National Marine Fisheries Service, the NOAA outfit headed by former Maryland DNR Deputy Secretary Eric Schwaab.

Everyone in favor says increasing the commercial catch is only fair since the recreational catch has increased nearly 14 percent in the last six years while the commercial total hasn't budged.

All well and good.

But when you ask those who favor the increase about some of the unknowns--the decreasing number of juvenile striped bass, the projections that show a decline in the number of fish age eight and older, the disturbing reports that two-thirds of the stripers in the Chesapeake Bay are infected with a wasting bacteria--the conversation drifts or you get a shrugging of the shoulders.

There's no comfort in that.

And that's when recreational anglers were on their game Monday night, arguing that it's bad business to push the acclerator to the floor when you don't know how full the gas tank is.

Where they lost me was arguing that they should have greater access because recreational fishing is more valuble to government coffers than commercial interests.

I'm not sure I can support the concept that someone's hobby is more important than someone else's livelihood. And I don't know that it's always a good idea to link monetary benefits to societal importance.

If we go down that path in this economy, it won't be long until we're making the same arguments when it comes to programs for special needs children vs. the larger school population. Or building access ramps at parks vs. new trails. Or paying for senior citizen programs vs. youth services.

The resource, in this case striped bass, belongs to everyone, whether that person is driving a Grady White or a trawler.

If and when the stock is healthy--and scientists can prove it--I don't see why commercial fishermen shouldn't get a bigger slice of the pie so consumers can enjoy fresh striped bass fillets at a restaurant or at local market.

But if the stock isn't healthy, we should be talking about adjusting recreational activity, starting with protecting the big, female fish and shutting down the senseless winter slaughter of 200,000 to 800,000 striped bass off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

After nine years of selling bait and tackle, dispensing advice and issuing citations to anglers for trophy-sized fish, JJ's Tackle Shop in Solomons has closed its doors.

The shop, which filled a space at Bunky's Charter Boats, could no longer stay ahead of the poor economy.

"The overhead demand was overwhelming and the profit flow was in a deep
negative factor," said owner Jeanette Huckleby in a parting note.

The news only made the heat wave feel more oppressive.

Big-box stores fill a need--you'll find me in them grabbing last-minute stuff--but the dwindling number of mom-and-pop tackle shops fill one, too.

JJ's would order anything for you and promised to have it in your hands within five days. The folks there built custom lures or would build them to your specifications. Jeanette and the staff took pictures of youngsters with their catch and made a big fuss over them.

The shop filled out "a lot" of citations for the state, said state fisheries biologist Marty Gary, and the closing will create a void that will be tough to fill.

My car would automatically make the right turn onto Route 2 just before the bridge and find a spot across the street from JJ's.

It won't be the same.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:43 AM | Permalink
        

It's been some time since recreational anglers and commercial interests had an OK Corral-style dust up.

That changes tonight, when the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission takes testimony on a plan to increase the striped bass commercial catch on the Eastern Seaboard.

The get-together is scheduled to start at 5:30, not exactly convenient for the commuting public, but when has that ever been a concern? It will be held in the first-floor conference room at Department of Natural Resources headquarters at 580 Taylor Ave.

I think they'll need a bigger room.

The official name for this proposal is Addendum II to Amendment 6 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.

(But everyone knew her as Nancy.)

The state's two biggest recreational groups--Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association and Coastal Conservation Association Maryland--hate the plan, which was proposed in May by New York's representative to ASMFC.

Maryland's representatives on the commission voted in favor of putting the proposal before the public, which irks the fishing groups. They worry that diseases are silently killing striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, the spawning ground and nursery for three-quarters of the East Coast's population.

“If this proposal is enacted, we may raise the mortality rate to a level the population can’t sustain,” said CCA's Scott McGuire. “This short-term gain will threaten everyone’s future and could force dramatic steps to protect the fishery."

Dave Smith of MSSA notes that the economic benefit of recreational fishing--put at $1.3 billion in some studies--outweighs other considerations.

"Considering the economic value and social benefits of striped bass to our state as a game fish, I cannot see where an increased commercial coastal quota can benefit our state," he said.

Maryland fisheries managers say "the fairness issue" is the reason they backed the plan. The recreational allocation has risen by nearly 14 percent since 2004 while the commercial quota has remained stagnant.

Further, they contend, the spawning stock biomass is 83 percent over what ASMFC scientists consider a safe target.

I don't favor giving recreational anglers exclusive rights to striped bass, as others do. I want my 83-year-old, Baltimore-raised mom to be able to go to the store and buy a wild rockfish fillet, not some farm-raised critter.

That said, here are my worries:

1) The census of juvenile fish in the Chesapeake Bay hasn't been robust over the last five years. Projections of the spawning stock biomass also are trending downward. Privately, some state scientists are concerned.

2) At countless ASMFC meetings, representatives of New England states complain that anglers aren't seeing the numbers of striped bass that they used to. That doesn't bode well for the migratory fish or the anglers who target them.

3) We really don't know how many stripers in the bay are dying. Some estimates indicate 60 to 80 percent of bay stripers are infected.

Fill in those blanks and then we're talking.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

Nearly a year to the day since state officials gave it a thumbs up, the Department of Natural Resources will dedicate the twin piers jutting into the Choptank River, "Bill Burton Fishing Piers State Park."

The ceremony is 10 a.m. Friday. Members of the Burton family will be on hand.

Will there be fishing involved? I hope so.

Burton, who wrote about Maryland's outdoors for more than a half-century, 37 of those years at the Evening Sun, used his column to save the bridge for recreational anglers after the new U.S. 50 bridge was completed.

The middle section of the old bridge outside Cambridge was removed, creating two piers.

Last year, DNR proposed naming the piers for Burton, and the Board of Public Works approved the plan just weeks before he died of cancer.

While he didn't live long enough to see the vote, Burton was able to sneak onto the pier with some friends and family in a kind of pre-dedication dedication.

If you're on your way to Ocean City Friday morning or have the day off and want to make a run down to Cambridge to pay your respects, I'm sure you'll be welcomed as a member of Bill Burton's extended family.

Photo of Bill Burton courtesy of the DNR's John Cornell

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Kain O’Neil Crockett showed up at the Sandy Point State Park marina Saturday morning with a hand counter and a goal: to be the most feared fisherman on the Chesapeake Bay.

By noon, the 11-year-old boy from Sparrows Point had the fish quaking. With veteran angler Mark Lagana guiding him, Kain reeled in 40 bay residents—white perch, spot and even striped bass.

He yelled and clapped his hands with each fish. His grin stretched from Annapolis to Kent Island. If not for the burgers and hot dogs waiting back at the marina, he would probably still be fishing.

Kain and his mom, Amy O’Neil, were one of the 36 families taking part in the annual Wish-A-Fish event, which began in 2000 with just a handful of recreational anglers who wanted to do something for handicapped and seriously ill children and the mothers, fathers and siblings who care for them.

The rules, then and now, are simple. Families show up, get fitted for life jackets, hats and T-shirts and are introduced to the captain and mate of their boat. Tackle, bait and cold drinks are supplied. A catered cookout awaits them on their return. Each child gets a photo, a prize bag and a trophy with a leaping fish on top.

The cost to the families: Nothing. The payoff for the volunteers? Well, let Phil Krausz of Essex sum it up.

“I spent a lot of time in the hospital myself once--five months and three days,” said Krausz, a five-year WAF volunteer. “I understand what those families are feeling. This gives them a break from the day to day stuff they have to endure."

This year, the flotilla of pleasure boats attacked Hacketts Bar, a popular fishing spot just south of the Bay Bridge and within sight of Annapolis. An early-morning scouting mission had confirmed a fish population ready to hold up its end of the bargain. Within minutes, rods began bouncing and bending toward the water.

Rod Rice, who founded the non-profit WAF Foundation but relinquished the leadership role several years ago, said he’s been overwhelmed by the staying power of the event and its volunteers.

“To be honest, I never thought it would get this big. At the beginning it was just, ‘Let’s just get through this year.’ It just ballooned. People are always willing to do the right thing but they don’t always know what it is,” he said, standing at the dock. “You just point them in the right direction and let their good hearts take over.”

The WAF Foundation goes hat in hand to outdoors shops and corporate sponsors for prizes and gear. It holds a fund-raising banquet every year and relies on boat owners to pay for gas and supply bait and tackle. All of the money it collects goes back into the program.

“We do it because we love it. It works because of all these people,” said organizer Skip Zinck, waving his arm in the direction of scurrying volunteers.

Carter Richardson and best buddy Gregory Yancey, both 5 and from Annapolis, could barely stand still as they waited to board a boat. Their moms, who learned of the fishing trip through the Anne Arundel County special education program, wrestled with all the free stuff volunteers handed out.

“They’ve been fishing, but not, like, FISHING,” said a smiling Yolanda Yancey. “They woke up this morning on time. That just doesn’t happen.”

“This is like an expedition,” added Lauren Richardson. “They provided everything.”

For more on the Wish-A-Fish Foundation, go to: wish-a-fish.org

Photo No. 2: Carter Richardson and fishing buddy Gregory Yancey, both 5 and from Annapolis, get ready for a trip on the Chesapeake Bay, courtesy of the Wish-A-Fish Foundation.

Photo No. 3: Each young angler at the Wish-A-Fish Foundation event received a prize bag, fishing gear and a trophy.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 3:30 PM | Permalink
        

Looking for a cool spot to take the kids Saturday?

Gunpowder Falls State Park is having a catch-and-release fishing derby.

Registration begins at 7:45 a.m., with lines in the water at 8:30 a.m.

A casting contest is set for 11:30 p.m. Prizes, trophies and certificates will be presented after the casting contest.

The cost is $2 per angler. Call 410-592-2897 for details.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:00 AM | Permalink
        

Guide Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited sent in this report:

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: Two and a half stars; water, 77 degrees; clear/algae; 1.1 feet at Point of Rocks. The river is very low but the bass are biting well. It’s important to fish early in the morning or the last few hours of daylight because on those sunny days the fish just don’t cooperate. It’s also a good time to use six-pound test, green monofilament and keep a low profile.

At Lander, either direction from the launch is good although mass grass may hamper boating activity. Cast KP Series teaser tubes and Case Magic Stiks to submersed ledges and chunk rocks in four feet of water. The best tube colors have been Penrod Purple; KP Rose; KP Peanut Butter and KP Candy.

At Whites Ferry, be careful of the ferry operation before running upriver to the first riffle. Stay in the middle and slowly float downriver. Tubes and Stiks are the deal here, too. Do not neglect the edges of those grass beds.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: three stars; 80 degrees; algae color and blooms in progress.
Largemouth bass fishing has been pretty good in many areas of the river despite massive grass growth. The major heat wave is affecting anglers more than the fish.

The ares around Washington is a good place to fish during the heat of the summer because of the abundance of deep water. Above Key Bridge, you can connect with smallmouth bass by casting Rapala DT04 crankbaits and Mizmo tubes to dropoffs and ledges. The many bridge foundations--especially Long Bridge and Key Bridge--will hold all three bass species. The Washington Channel dropoff along Fort McNair has been better than average lately and we use Rapala DT06 crankbaits here.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge and vicinity can be stingy and delightful from one day to the next. Probe the dropoffs in Penrod Cove; Fox Ferry Point; WW Barges and the old foundations of the bridge. There are fish in Smoot Bay, especially on North and South Points. Coves near Belle Haven Marina hold some bass as will main river grass above and below Broad Creek—and directly across the river where the long boat docks compliment the SAV. Target bass in deeper water with Rapala crankbaits, Mizmo tubes, Case Magic Stiks and jigs. For the grass beds, a frog, buzzbait, Big Mouth spinnerbaits or weightless Magic Stiks do best.

Mattawoman Creek and vicinity still remains the top choice and there are many options. Within the "6 mph" speed zone, cast spinnerbaits and Case Magic Stiks to grass beds in front of spatterdock. There are plenty of bass in the grass mats between Marsh Island and the main stem where frogs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and Magic Stiks do the job. Nearby Chickamuxen Creek and grass on the main stem, in either direction, are worth the time and grass beds between Quantico Creek and Aquia Creek may be even better.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, Pa.: Two and a half stars; 77 degrees; clear/algae; 3.2 feet at Harrisburg and 3.5 feet at Newport on the Juniata.

The smallmouth bass didn’t take a bus out of town, although many think so. The river is low and getting lower—and bass fishing is tough and getting tougher. Remember, I’m speaking of the free flowing water, particularly between Montgomery Ferry and Harrisburg. This is a good time for topwater lures but never hesitate to cast Rattlin’ Rapala lipless crankbaits over chunk rock in water of three to four feet deep. Campground Special tubes and Case Salty Shads will catch bass also. Float trips are productive but even that’s a bear during the middle of the day. Contact Johnny Cunningham at Riverfront Campground (717-877-2704) for shuttle service. LOU guide Chris Sanno (717-576-6849) is fishing the Danville sector where he reports good results with Rapala XR-8 in Glass Ghost color. “I had about 20 bass in the two-pound class and they all came on that lure,” he says.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: Two and a half stars; clear; 70 degrees; a little low.
Guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner can always get fish, even if it takes a bucket of minnows for the kids and novice anglers. Grass beds and boat docks--that’s the deal! See www.fishdeepcreek.com for more information.

CHOPTANK RIVER: One and a half stars; 77 degrees.
LOU guide, Capt. Brian Barnes, reports “tough” fishing on this tidal river. He has better luck on the Nanticoke and Pocomoke rivers, which he gives two and a half stars.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:03 AM | Permalink
        

I started at sun up at water's edge one week ago in Garrett County and ended minutes ago at the Atlantic Ocean.

In between, I visited some of Maryland's prettiest public lands — 24 parks, all different, all worth seeing — in seven consecutive days.

During Park Quest 24/7, I met some tremendous public servants and volunteers.

I can't say I ate well, because with the exception of one meal, that would be a big, fat fib.

When I reached Assateague and waited to have my Park Quest passport stamped a final time, the Maryland Park Service brass surprised me with flowers and sparkling grape juice.

"I didn't think you could do it," said Parks Superintendent Nita Settina. "But I'm glad you did."

Despite bites and bumps and bruises--which now feel like merit badges--I'm glad I did, too.

Now, what's my next Quest?

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

The future of the outdoors, if you're a state like Maryland with a gigantic bay, the Atlantic Ocean and countless rivers and man-made lakes, is water quality.

It also hinges on a passionate next generation that loves and guards all the outdoors have to offer.

At Pocomoke River State Park, I encounter both in my 23rd Quest.

The challenge is conducting a series of water quality tests at several sites in the park.

Questers are asked to sample water for turbidity, oxygen level, Ph, and temperature and report their findings back to the park staff. There's also a puzzle to solve.

Joining me on my Quest are Ben Sheppard of Baltimore, a recent graduate of Towson University, and Erica McGrath of Pittsburgh, who graduated from California University of Pennsylvania. Both are members of the Maryland Conservation Corps. They help run nature programs, assist park staff and guide Park Quest families.

Sheppard and McGrath

They both love their jobs. McGrath has signed up for a second tour of duty. Sheppard says he would if he could, but he'll be too old to meet the MCC cutoff.

Our readings show the waters around Pocomoke to be in pretty good shape, considering the hot, dry weather that has hammered the state.

My work done, I get my passport stamped and head off to Assateague State Park and the finish line for Park Quest 24/7.

The waters around Pocomoke are tea-colored, not because they're dirty, but because they're stained by cypress trees found in the surrounding swamps.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 2:39 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

After a series of thunderstorms blew through the area, delaying my departure on Quest 22, I finally got started.

It was a beautiful paddle through the channel across from the dock at Janes Island State Park and out around the point.

As I swung to my right, I picked up the docks dead ahead — the beaching spot for a short hike to the dune line, a beautiful view of Tangier Sound and the answer to the Quest puzzle.

Some bozo stole the medallion placed on the signpost, so Questers won't be doing a rubbing.

Nice going, pinhead.

As I slide my kayak toward the dock, I encounter a scene much like Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn acted out in "The African Queen."

Hundreds of deer flies come out to greet me. DEET does not deter them.

I scramble from the kayak, dash up the boardwalk to the signpost--arms flailing wildly to ward off attackers, secure the correct answer and race back to my kayak and the safety of a bite-free zone 50 yards off shore.

The paddle back is silent and uneventful.

And I am a successful participant in the Janes Island Paddle and Dash Biathalon.

Off to Pocomoke River State Park and the penultimate Quest.

Park Quest 24/7

Tangier Sound from the dunes on Janes Island

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:56 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

This morning I pulled the last T-shirt from my duffel bag. It's red, for stop.

I'm in my final day of Park Quest 24/7, a personal challenge: visit all 24 state parks across the state participating in the state's annual Park Quest contest in seven consecutive days.

I've been wearing a different color shirt each day, partially to remind me that I've turned a page and partially to ensure that, well, I remain nominally presentable.

On Day One in Garrett County last Wednesday, the shirt was green for go. Then it was cream, purple, light blue, pink and yellow.

And now red.

If I make it today and finish at Assateague, I'm not sure what I'll do. There were a few moments when I thought the Quest was over. But something always worked out after I took a deep breath or 10 and remembered that my itinerary wasn't cast in stone.

Every day, I got to plug into a fresh brain--a ranger, a naturalist, a volunteer or interpreter--who gave me energy and topped off my cup-half-full disposition.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do this and grateful for your company.

So off I go into the rain, to Janes Island, to Pocomoke River and to Assateague, and to the end of Park Quest 24/7.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Meet Buster.

Buster runs the Wye Grist Mill with a little help from Rhonda Corder, who feeds him and keeps him in ice cubes when the dog days of summer come early.

Buster is 8.

He loves to explain how the mill was built in the 1600s. He'll go on and on about how the mill is powered by water from Wye Pond across the road.

And he may mention that flour from the Eastern Shore helped feed Gen. George Washington and his troops, earning the region the nickname, "Breadbasket of the American Revolution."
But mostly Buster wants to show you how he can field a thrown tennis ball in mid-air better than any Oriole outfielder.

Say hi to Buster and Rhonda on your Park Quest to Wye Oak State Park.

The oak is long gone — the victim of a 2002 storm.

But the dog and his miller are still standing.

Twenty-one Quests down and three to go tomorrow.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Buster and Rhonda Corder

Buster

Wye Grist Mill

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:44 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

The quest at Tuckahoe State Park is a paddle along a creek that shares its name with the park.

By canoe, you can sneak up on painted turtles ranging in size from a dinner plate to a saucer for an espresso cup.

My paddling partner, Dave Davis, who retired once from the Maryland Park Service after 30 years only to return, steers a smooth course.

We meet up with the Morton family of Columbia — Questers on their sixth park. In a tiny flotilla of canoes and kayaks, they are exploring the tiny coves and looking for answers to the worksheet questions.

The only thing to disrupt the scene are voracious deer flies that are meaner than a junkyard dog.

I kill at least a dozen of them, some before and some, sadly, after they've chewed my flesh.

"Take as many as you like," says Davis, ever the genial host.

Apparently, there's no bag limit.

Bring bug spray and use it, fellow Questers.

Tuckahoe gives me 20 parks toward my goal of visiting all 24 parks on the Maryland Park Quest in seven days. One more stop today and it's just down the road a piece.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Kendall Morton and two of his children, Luke, 5, and Lydia, 7.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Before noon today at Sandy Point State Park, I bagged No. 19 in my goal to visit all 24 parks in seven days as part of the state's Park Quest adventure.

The Cizek family of Marriottsville — mom Karen and sons Ben, 5, and Jake, 7— are doing their first.

We all move at different speeds.

"Our goal is a Quest every other day," says Karen. "It's something fun to do with the kids and it's free."

The Sandy Point Quest, I might add, is breezy, short and easy. And with Department of Natural Resources summer intern Christine Runion as my human GPS unit ("recalculating"), I can't miss.

Thanks to Ranger Dorna Cooper for the company and Ranger Rob Jones for the precise directions.

Off to Tuckahoe and a paddling Quest before the thunderstorms move in.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Karen Cizek and sons Ben (left) and Jake.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:13 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

I am waiting at Sandy Point State Park to be joined by Sun photographer Amy Davis and Department of Natural Resources spokesman Josh Davidsburg.

Nice breeze and shade near the nature center is welcomed.

Now on Day 6 of my personal Park Quest 24/7: 24 state parks across the state in seven days.
That can only mean one thing; I have to shave my legs every day.

I can only imagine what people would be thinking; "I met Outdoor Girl. What hairy legs."

So shave, we must.

Amy's here. Gotta run.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Christopher Brooks found Patapsco Valley State Park about 20 years ago by following a tiny creek from his Elkridge neighborhood to the river four miles away.

"The park was an oasis for me," he says.

Today, he is the park ranger and the creator of this segment of the Maryland Park Service's Park Quest challenge.

The father of a 4-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, Brooks was sensitive to the criticism that his Quest was a little too long for smaller youngsters. So, he quickly devised an alternative hike that hits the park's highlights and seven Quest clues while giving tiny feet a break.

The Patapsco River creates a soothing sound as it passes under Swinging Bridge. Brooks and I use the bridge as a high-level platform to look for fish. I see one dark form along the bank near a downed tree.

Brooks waves to early-morning joggers and bike riders. Most days, he'll stop to chat with anglers and hikers.

"That's how you break bread with people," he says. "You talk to them for a few minutes and they come back."

He stamps my Park Quest passport — No. 18 — and sends me on my way.

"I'll be back," I tell him.

"I know you will," he says, smiling.

Christopher Brooks

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:26 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

"What is your quest?"

"I seek the grail."

It's a famous bit of dialog from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

This will be the next-to-last day of my own quest, the one I've been calling Park Quest 24/7. At this point, I seek to finish. Alive.

Today, I'll have to complete four parks to stay on pace, starting with Patapsco Valley State Park.

That I've managed to visit 17 of the 24 sites on the Maryland Park Service's annual Park Quest challenge amazes me. That I have done it in five consecutive days during the worst heat wave in years is beyond my comprehension.

My Park Quest passport is limp and dog eared. My brain is welded to the brain pan. My body is tired of sleeping on terra firma, emphasis on firma.

I am, after all, 56 years old.

"We're about the same age and I can't imagine doing it in this heat," said Steve Lopez, interpreter at South Mountain Battlefield on Day Two. "Good for you."

Time to pack up, have coffee and hope for my second, or third wind.

Talk to you soon.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:38 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

How, after all these years of living in Maryland and covering the outdoors, did I manage to miss the little gem that is St. Clement's Island State Park?

Dangling like a pendant in the Potomac River, the park is a short water taxi ride ($7) from the St. Mary's County shoreline.

The 40-acre island is where English settlers aboard the Ark and Dove first set foot in Maryland on March 25, 1634.

The lovely St. Clement's Island Museum outlines that story and lots of other aspects of Maryland's beginnings.

On the island, a massive, 40-foot white cross explodes above the landscape, erected to commemorate the religious freedom sought by settlers. A stone's throw away, a replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse anchors the far end of the island. Together, they create a postcard scene.

The Blackistone Lighthouse at St. Clement's Island
Baltimore Sun photo by Candus Thomson

Other Questers -- B Squad and Team Furlows -- also are at St. Clement's with the Bay Bougheys and yours truly.

It's a beautiful day for a boat ride and a wonderful way to end Day Five of my weeklong adventure to visit all 24 state parks taking part in Park Quest. And at the end of the island Quest, an ice cream truck rolls by. Icy-cold treats for a buck? Such a deal.

It's time to hit the road and get ready for Monday's four Quests -- Patapsco Valley, Sandy Point, Wye Oak and Tuckahoe.

As I left St. Clement's and my companions for the day, the Bay Bougheys, Mackenzie Boughey, 8, gave me her outdoors blessing: "May the forest be with you."

Posted by Candus Thomson at 4:44 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

The challenge at St. Mary's River State Park is to find the signpost with letters on them and unscramble them to create a phrase.

Early on, Team Bay Bougheys spy a sign in the woods with two blaze-orange letters: S H.

"Oh oh," says Mackenzie Boughey, 8. "This Quest is a naughty word."

Not even close.

It's nice to be Questing with the Boughey family of Anne Arundel County.

Heather Boughey is the daughter of the late Bill Burton, for more than 50 years Maryland's senior outdoors writer. Mackenzie is Bill's granddaughter.

With husband/father Jon, the family was there when I hatched the concept of Park Quest 24/7 while camping at Cunningham Falls State Park on Memorial Day weekend.

Mackenzie is wearing a T-shirt with homemade lettering to cheer me on and proclaim herself the successor to this Outdoors Girl.

Mackenzie Boughey, 8

Solving the puzzle, I bag park No. 16. The Bay Bougheys knock off No. 3.

Off to St. Clement's Island via water taxi.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:47 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Call me crazy -- lots of folks do -- but my favorite part of Calvert Cliffs State Park isn't the much-photographed cliffs that loom over the Chesapeake Bay. Or the fossilized sharks teeth found on the beach.

My favorite part is the Cliff Trail that winds through the trees and passes a swamp on the way to the beach.

Ranger Steve Youngkin, who greets me at the trailhead, agrees.

"The main thing I like about the park is that it changes every month. It even looks different at different times of the day," he says as we stand beside the swamp and watch the sunlight bounce off the water and dance through the tree canopy.

This is day five of Park Quest 24/7, my attempt to visit all 24 state parks participating in the annual Park Quest in one week. The 750 families registered for the challenge have all summer to visit 10 of the parks and qualify for the Finale on Sept. 11.

Calvert Cliffs makes 15 for me.

Oh, and I have some shark teeth in my pocket.

Now it's off to St. Mary's State Park to meet up with a Questing family from Anne Arundel County -- Team Bay Bougheys.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

In the lead up to this week-long challenge, I joked that when it came to Park Quest 24/7, there was only "I" in this team.

Really, I reasoned, who else could I convince to come along? Visiting 24 state parks across Maryland in seven days, completing the puzzle or word scramble or geocache at each site, getting a Park Quest passport stamped and dashing off to the next site hardly seems like fun to most folks.

So, unlike other Questers — 750 teams of families and friends — I figured I would be flying solo.

Only I haven't been.

Riding shotgun the whole way has been Sacagawea.

The stuffed black bear was given to me for good luck last Tuesday night by park staffers in Western Maryland the night before my Quest began.

I named it Sacagawea after the Indian interpreter and guide who helped explorers Lewis and Clark become Lewis and Clark. And for her trouble, she had a crummy-looking $1 coin minted in her honor.

Like Tom Hanks' beloved soccer ball, Wilson, in the movie "Cast Away," Sacagawea has been everywhere I've been, listening to my complaints and anxieties without judgment. And you should hear us sing old Tom Petty tunes: Take it Saca!

I've also been carrying a ceramic Buddha to remind me to be patient, a St. Jude medal because, let's face it, this started out as a lost cause, and a medal of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.

And then there are the people along the way who have become members of Team Sacagawea:

Park rangers, naturalists and interpreters, who promised to wait as long as it took for me to get to their park and complete the Quest;

Readers who emailed me suggestions for places to eat and stay along the way (and speed traps to watch for);

Fellow Questers, who also urged me on with notes of encouragement;

The guys at Base Camp Baltimore, who kept me on their radar screens, edited my blog and did that electronic wizardry that attaches the photos to the posts;

My friends who fed me and cheered me up when I thought this project was unraveling;

Dr. Gridlock, the Washington Post's transportation columnist, who tried his best to get me out of traffic jams that threatened to run out the 24/7 clock. Yes, we're married. But the Sun and Post share content, and his advice counted.

Will I finish this Quest? For the first time, I'm starting to think about standing on the beach at Assateague on Tuesday, happy for it to be over but a little bit empty, too.

Saca and I appreciate our extended team. Really, we do.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

I didn't have the time to catch a fish at Elk Neck State Park's Wapiti Pond.

But a bald eagle flew overhead and circled once, right next to the trail sign showing a picture of one.

"Pretty cool," naturalist Crystal Hudson says.

The park has at least five pairs of eagles and several Great Blue Herons that feast on the fish in Wapiti and the nearby Northeast River.

I'll be back to fish here myself.

Hudson swears "you're almost guaranteed to catch" a largemouth bass or sunfish.

Seeing an eagle was a great way to end the fourth day of Park Quest 24/7.

My Park Quest passport is filling with stamps signifying hikes taken, quizzes answered and new facts learned.

Now it's off to Southern Maryland to hook up with some friends for three Quests.

Elk Neck Naturalist Crystal Hudson

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 4:40 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Cornmeal.

That's what they make here at Susquehanna State Park at a beautiful four-story mill along the river.

This is park 13 of the Park Quest 24/7, a personal challenge to visit 24 state parks selected by the state for highlighting this summer, in seven days.

I am one park behind schedule, but making up some time.

Despite the rain, two families of anglers are trying their luck at the Lapidum boat ramp. They look wetter than the fish.

I get a bag of cornmeal from the park staff for completing the Quest.

"Pancakes," I say.

"Try making corn muffins," suggests a staffer.

I will. On Wednesday. For my first post-Quest breakfast.

Speaking of fishing, Elk Neck State Park and its fishing challenge is next.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 2:49 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

I should have stolen a bicycle.

Just joking, kids.

You can do the Gunpowder State Park Quest by bike or on foot.

Bike is faster, but you'd miss a lot of the scenery and sounds.

Naturalist Brenda Yarrison sends me on my way.

The rain makes my worksheet soggy, but not illegible, and the ink stamps at each stop along the trail don't run.

Neither do I.

Luckily, on my way back to Monkton Station, there's a white truck waiting at the final road crossing.

It's Ranger Paul Roberts, who offers me a lift back.

Park Quest tradition dictates that those who complete the challenge get to ring the big, brass train bell in the station.

Brenda rings it in celebration.

I ring it with a feeling of accomplishment.

Sweet sound, indeed.

Slap the beaver is the Monkton Station mascot.






Brenda rings the bell.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

True friends take in a dirty, stinky, sticky Quester for the night without bringing up the obvious.

And put on a pasta feast, with a glass or three of red wine.

And turn the air conditioning on full blast in the spare room with a nice, soft bed.

True friends are Debbie Funk and Jack Hughes.

Less than 24 hours after falling behind schedule and being befuddled by the clues at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary -- and having to remind myself that there's no crying in Park Quest -- I am recharged.

The soft rain is a nice change of pace.

Bring it on, Gunpowder Falls State Park.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

A friend e-mailed Friday morning to say I was making this week-long adventure look too easy, knocking off state parks like ducks in a carnival shooting gallery.

He wrote too soon.

The first day ended with me one park ahead. I held par on Thursday. Unfortunately, just like the country, I’m now running a deficit, a very depressing situation.

The plan is to stay the course this weekend and get back on track Monday by adding Patapsco Valley State Park to the itinerary. That’s risky because if something happens, I’ll have to change the name to Park Quest 23/7. Doesn’t have the same ring.

Friday’s wrap-up took place at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, a 1,900-acre park in Baltimore County that is home to 39 rare and endangered plants and an old mining operation.

The kids might be bored with the plant thing, but parents should keep the Visitor Center and Aviary complex tucked in their back pocket for a day when it’s too hot to be outside (I’m sure we’ll see those conditions before the summer is out).

Ranger Joe Vogelpohl has gathered lots of critters that make Maryland home — owls, turtles, vultures — and tons of fun displays and activities.

Did I say it’s free?

Saturday, I’ll tackle Gunpowder Falls, Susquehanna and Elk Neck state parks before we make the big swing south on Sunday to bag Calvert Cliffs, St. Mary’s River and St. Clement’s Island state parks. That will give me 17 of 24 parks, with two days to go.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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This will have to be quick.

Lost more than an hour because of Beltway traffic and two construction zones.

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary is pretty, but when it comes to Park Quest 24/7, it's no walk in the park.

The folks at Soldiers Delight say they'll wait for me, bless their hearts.

And I'll have to get Patapsco either first thing tomorrow or Monday. Stay tuned.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 1:37 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

What's this?

The sound of a crystal-clear tenor voice glides over the surface of Clopper Lake at Seneca Creek State Park.

It's Greg Marzullo performing, "To the Black Madonna," native to southern Italy.

Not your typical Park Quest experience, but definitely worth slowing down the 24/7 clock to take in the beautiful sound.

"Come back in the fall," he suggested. "The tulip poplars turn yellow. It's a beautiful park."

The quest involves a GPS, but you really don't need one if you can follow written directions.

"My mom took a dry run with me and she didn't have a problem," said Ranger Josette Wiggins, who's from Baltimore and has been on the job for four months.

Very reassuring. Thanks to mom Leslie Wiggins for that confidence booster .

I solved the puzzle of the nasty, voracious 20-foot invader. The answer is ... Arrghhhh.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:02 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

The whole Park Quest 24/7 hinges on today.

With four state parks spread out in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Day Three becomes a time challenge because of the potential for traffic snarls.

In order to succeed, nearly everything else has to work flawlessly. I have to find my way to each park--Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary in Prince George's County and Soldiers Delight and Patapsco Valley in Baltimore County--and then complete each puzzle quickly.

After two long days in the heat, I'm not sure my brain is up to the task.

The first Quest, solving "The Case of the 20-foot Invader," looks as ominous as it sounds. Maybe I should have done the TV game show thing and set up a bunch of lifelines to call.

Too late. I'm loading up the car and heading out soon. It won't take me long to figure out if I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Think good thoughts for me, Questers.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:42 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

After completing the Park Quest at South Mountain State Park, I have a new respect for the Civil War soldiers who marched up and down these hills in wool uniforms and without bug spray.

This challenge included a 2-mile, round-trip hike along the Appalachian Trail to Fox Gap, where a general from each side died in the fighting on Sept. 14, 1862.

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here."

It was said about the bloody battle for a small piece of turf on South Mountain, according to the historic marker at the battlefield's edge.

The devils would feel right at home on a day like today.

Heading for home now. Friday is another day and four more Quests.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

The monument to Union General Jesse Reno, who died in the battle for South Mountain in 1862.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

All good Questers go to Catoctin Furnace.

Seriously, in the middle of a heat wave Park Quest 24/7 has me looking for the remains of a pig iron furnace in Cunningham Falls State Park.

The musical rushing of Little Hunting Creek is my soundtrack as I hike toward the furnace nicknamed, "Isabella," gathering answers to the Park Quest challenge and filling in my worksheet.

Park staffers Tom Harbold and George Oed are my hosts and my quizmasters ...my cheering section, too. Thanks, guys.

The Manor Area of the park has some cool owls and hawks at the aviary.

But now, it's time to answer the puzzle based on the clues.

The answer is...Nope, I'm not telling. Come figure it out for yourself!

Now it's off to South Mountain State Park and the final Quest of the day.

Park Quest 24/7 Tracker.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

With apologies to the Maryland Park Service no-alcohol policy, I completed the first six-pack at 9 a.m. at Fort Frederick State Park.

The first clue is the toughest, Questers.

Ranger Brett Hendershot unlocked things a little early so I could get started.

Fort Frederick is just one mile from I-70, a real easy-off, easy-on stop. Think Sandy Point without the Chesapeake Bay.

A film crew working on a movie about African-American soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge will be here this weekend. Seems the stands of old pine trees look a lot like the ones in Belgium.

Who knew?

On to Cunningham Falls State Park, the site where Park Quest 24/7 was hatched on Memorial Day weekend.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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What did we learn from the first day of Park Quest 24/7?

1) That people are incredibly kind, even though they think what you're doing is nuts. Thanks to everyone who let me cut in line, who asked to take my picture (good for morale), who offered me a bottle of water. I hope I don't let you down.

2) That Maryland parks have a lot to offer. True, I didn't have the time to stop and smell the roses. But I did see stuff I want to return to. I'll give you my list when the Quest is over.

3) That park rangers, naturalists and the rest of the crew don't want to be running museum pieces. They want folks to get out and use the parks, to hike, splash, paddle and fish. If you're not that ambitious--especially in this weather--take a book and a cool drink to a vista and enjoy the view.

4) If you complete the Quest at Rocky Gap State Park and go to get your passport stamped, ask for the eagle. In my opinion, it's the coolest of the three.

5) That, believe it or not, I'm looking forward to continuing. For the reasons above, and lots of others, I can't wait to see what Park Quest has to offer. I'll check in soon.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:46 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Five up, five down on Day One of Park Quest 24/7.

Completing Rocky Gap State Park puts me one ahead of schedule and a fifth of the way to the finish line.

Although tantalizingly close to the shoreline, the water did nothing to take the edge off the heat.

Wish conditions had been more conducive to lingering.

The question is whether to spend the night in my tent — a nylon tandoori oven — or run up the white flag and opt for a motel with air conditioning.

Tomorrow will feature three parks, two of which have military history as part of their backgrounds.

Stay tuned.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Number 4 is in the can, although it was touch and go for a moment.

The clues to complete the puzzle at New Germany State Park come in the form of shapes found on the trail — easy for a second-grader, not so much for a geezer who flunked the "Draw this president and win an art scholarship" matchbook come on.

But I recovered with the help of a Sesame Street flashback.

The park worker in the snack shop took a break from scooping big globs of moosetracks ice cream to stamp my Park Quest passport.

Onto Rocky Gap State Park for number five — last stop of the day.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 3:24 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Third Quest in the can and it's not even noon yet.

Can I do five parks in one day?

Ranger Dave Best and I walked along the water's edge at Deep Creek Lake State Park and through the woods looking for the five metal medallions that tell the story of the park and its resources.

Made a rubbing of each to complete the Quest.

Temperature is near 90 now. Still, making my first three stops near the water has made a big difference.

Off to New Germany State Park now.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

First two quests done -- Swallow Falls and Herrington Manor. On my way to No. 3, Deep Creek.

Temperature rising fast from an overnight low of 51.

It's a race to see how far I can get before it hits 90.

The first quest was a beautiful hike along a series of falls. A refreshing start to the day.

Quest 2 was an orienteering exercise that I accomplished with the help of park naturalist Jeremy Sidebottom, who pointed out some interesting plant life. We scared three young deer grazing at the edge of a meadow.

The Quest continues.

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:04 AM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

Swallow Falls in Swallow Falls State Park. Lots of folks cooling off.
Baltimore Sun photo by Candus Thomson

My home away from home. What, no room service?
Baltimore Sun photo by Candus Thomson

Muddy Creek Falls at Swallow Falls State Park.
Baltimore Sun photo by Candus Thomson

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:16 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

I am on my way out I-70 to I-68 to Swallow Falls State Park and the beginning of my week-long challenge: 24 state parks in seven days.

With the temperature already above 90 and heading for 100, I'm reminded of Lloyd Bridges as airport manager Steve McCroskey in "Airplane": Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

Did I pick the wrong week--the middle of a heat wave--to start Park Quest 24/7? We'll find out. Luckily, I'm heading to what's likely to be the coolest part of Maryland

Working for me, I have Base Camp Baltimore, the Sun guys at the computers, watching over my shoulder. Thanks Ron, Pete, Mike, Matt, Dean and Jerry. I'll try to find a suitable souvenir to bring back.

The Maryland Park Service has an evacuation team ready (just kidding).

I also have gotten words of encouragement and promises to join me from Park Quest graduates and the curious to Department of Natural Resources staff and friends.

The car is filled with camping gear, a small fan and tons of ice and Gatorade.

And each day, I'll wear a different color T-shirt to mark the passage of time. Tomorrow, it will be green--Go. On July 13, it will be red--Stop.

Follow along from your air-conditioned enclosures.

Tomorrow at sunrise, we Quest!

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Anglers who expect to compete in next month's White Marlin Open in Ocean City, take note: Failing to sign up for the National Saltwater Anglers Registry could cost you big prize money.

The decision by the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service came after a North Carolina man forfeited $912,825 last month at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, N.C., because the charter boat mate did not have a $10 fishing license.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requires that anyone who fishes beyond three miles of the coast or who targets or catches saltwater fish that spawn in freshwater must register. The White Marlin Open is played out in the fish-rich underwater canyons more than 30 miles from shore.

Maryland does not require a charter boat license for captains who take private parties into the Atlantic from coastal ports to fish. So in order for the White Marlin Open to meet NOAA's requirements, everyone on a boat--including the captain and mate--must be individually registered in the National Saltwater Registry.

A lot is at stake.

Entering its 37th year, the White Marlin Open attracts more than 300 entries and is considered the biggest billfish tournament in the world. In 2007, the winner took home $1.39 million, and last year the largest single check was $903442.

"When I heard what happened in North Carolina, it took me about two seconds to think, 'Oh my God, I don't want this to happen here," said Jim Motsko, founder of the Open. "I'm so leery about somebody not knowing and it becoming an issue."

Motsko called state Del. Jim Mathias, who turned to the Fisheries Service for a ruling.

"We're going to put the onus on the captain or owner of the boat to make sure every person who gets on board has a registry number," Motsko said.

Only a handful of people who are likely to fish in the Open do not have to register:

Anglers under 16 years old;

Anglers who only fish on a federally-licensed charter, party or guide boat;

Holders of a Highly Migratory Species Permit www.hmspermit.gov. Only the person whose name is on the permit may fish. All others onboard the boat must register unless they meet one of the exemptions.

Anglers from a NOAA-exempt state www.countmyfish.org. Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are not exempt states.

"If in doubt, register," said Russ Dunn, NOAA Fisheries' National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries.

Registration is free and can be done by phone (888-MRIP-411) or online www.countmyfish.noaa.gov..

Anglers can register and fish the same day by writing down the registration number as proof of compliance. A waterproof registration card will be mailed out.

NOAA will use the registry to create a national phone book of anglers so that biologists and technicians can get a more accurate reading on the number and species of fish caught. The present system uses a random calling system and dockside interviews that has been discredited by scientists.

Next year, the NOAA registry will be replaced in Maryland. Coastal anglers will need to buy the same fishing license that Chesapeake Bay anglers carry. Unlicensed guests onboard a boat with a Bay Sport License will need to register separately through the state license system at no charge so they may be included in the registry.

The price of a Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License will be the same for residents in 2011 as is was in 2010: $15; $5 for anglers 65 years old and older.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

The gauntlet has been thrown down, and the Outdoors Girl Park Quest challenge is about to begin. Just to whet the appetite for the upcoming extravaganza, here's the itinerary for Park Quest 24/7:

Day One (Wednesday): Start at 8 a.m. at Swallow Falls (after spending night at park), Herrington Manor, Deep Creek, New Germany (closes at 6)

Day Two (Thursday): Start at 7 a.m. at Rocky Gap, Fort Frederick, Cunningham Falls, South Mountain (closes at 5)

Day Three (Friday): Start at 8 a.m. at Seneca Creek, Merkle, Soldiers Delight (needs access), Patapsco Valley

Day Four (Saturday): Start at 9 a.m. at Gunpowder, Susquehanna (1 p.m.), Elk Neck (closes sunset)

Day Five (July 11): Start at sunrise at Calvert Cliffs, St. Mary's, St. Clement's

Day Six (July 12): Start at 7 a.m. at Sandy Point, Wye Oak, Tuckahoe

Day Seven (July 13): Start at 9 a.m. at Janes Island, Pocomoke (need access), Assateague

Park Quest 24/7 tracker

Posted by Candus Thomson at 5:12 PM | Permalink
Categories: Park Quest 2010
        

1) Do what presidents from Washington to Bush loved to do: go fishing. The final "Free Fishing Day" will take place July 4, when you may catch and keep freshwater and tidal water fish without buying a license. All state rules and regulations apply.

2) On Saturday, take the kids to see free animal exhibits at Gunpowder Falls (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or Susquehanna (7:30 p.m.) state parks. For Susquehanna, call 410-734-9035. For Gunpowder, call 410-592-2897.

3) The National Park Service is having a celebration on Sunday at Fort McHenry, the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key about the fort’s 15-star, 15-stripe flag. Fifty years ago, on July 4, 1960, Fort McHenry raised the first 50-star flag in the country. The fort staff will note that event with a "Hawaiian Fourth of July." At noon, a ceremony begins with the hoisting of a huge 20-by-38-foot, 50-star flag in a reenactment of the 1960 moment. The Aloha Boys will perform traditional Hawaiian music, while the flags of all 50 states line the fort’s ramparts. At 2 p.m., a music program entitled “From Patapsco to Pacific” will highlight both the fifes and drums of 1814 and traditional Hawaiian music. The Hawaiian Fourth of July ends at 4 p.m., when visitors will be encouraged to help rangers lower the giant flag.

4) Lend a hand and help the non-profit Annapolis Family BoatBuilding http://www.AnnapolisFamilyBoatBuilding.org finish its eighth annual project. Several local families and swarms of volunteers are building a half-dozen family sailboats, called Epoxy/Wooden Optimist Racing Dinghies. Crews will be working today, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; tomorrow, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The boat launchings take place at 4 p.m. on Monday. The work is happening at site of the former Trumpy Boatyard, 222 Severn Avenue in Eastport. Call 410-626-1413.

5) Don't want to build a boat? Ride in one on Saturday or Sunday at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. Guided Pontoon Boat Tours on Clopper Lake run at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A park naturalist will talk about the history and ecology of the stream valley. The cost is $2 per person. Details at 301-924-2127.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited, rates our local and regional waters:

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: Two stars.

77 degrees; clear with algae; 1.2 feet at Point of Rocks.
Bass fishing has been pretty tough lately and the submersed aquatic vegetation is making boating difficult. At both Landers and White's Ferry, we use Campground Special tubes and Case Magic Stiks for best results.

The river is very low and the water is extremely warm--conditions that are conducive to fish kills. It is common to see a few dead fish on the surface during summer months but if you see several dozen dead fish, call the Maryland Department of the Environment Hotline, 877-224-7229. Be very specific when you report: time of day; date; approximate number and species.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (Pa.): Two stars.

75 degrees; clear; 3.3 at Harrisburg. 3.6 at Newport on the Juniata River.
Low, warm water is making fishing difficult. LOU guide Chris Sanno is looking to other local waters during these conditions. Johnny at Riverfront Campground will provide shuttle service for anglers who wish to do a float trip, 717-877-2704.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: Three-and-a-half stars

88-92 degrees; algae in creeks and main stem.
Bass fishing has been very good. In many areas and for the most part—it’s about submersed grass beds. The top producing lures continue to be buzzbaits, Case Magic Stiks, frogs and Big Mouth spinnerbaits.

The best areas have been Mattawoman Creek; grass beds on the Potomac main stem north and south of Mattawoman; grass beds near Pomonkey Creek and submerged aquatic vegetation in Broad, Swan and Piscataway creeks.

DEEP CREEK LAKE: Two stars.

70 degrees; normal pool. LOU guides Brent Nelson and Bret Winegardner report “tough” fishing during the day but the low-light hours, especially in the morning, have been pretty good. The lake is extremely busy during high sun hours. Grass beds and boat docks are just about all you need to know. More at www.fishdeepcreek.com.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink
        

At their trials a year ago, Maryland and Virginia watermen accused of being part of the largest poaching case in the history of the Chesapeake Bay insisted that they were just small parts of a larger operation.

Yesterday, a federal jury in Greenbelt agreed, finding a Washington fish wholesaler and two Maryland employees guilty of purchasing illegally harvested striped bass from the Potomac River in Virginia and Maryland from 1995 through 2007.

Ocean Pro Ltd., one of Washington's largest seafood wholesalers that does business as Profish, company vice president Timothy Lydon of Bethesda, and fish buyer Benjamin Clough of Graysonville, were all found guilty of violating the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits individuals or corporations from transporting, selling or buying fish and wildlife that was harvested illegally.

In addition, Ocean Pro and Lydon were convicted of three felony Lacey Act violations, and Clough was convicted of three Lacey Act violations and a felony false statement charge.

Investigators estimate the defendants purchased more than 270,000 pounds of rockfish poached from Maryland and Virginia waters, with a fair market retail value of more than $1.6 million.

So far, the task force investigation has resulted in 22 felony convictions: 14 watermen from Maryland and Virginia, five seafood wholesalers, and three seafood wholesale companies in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington.

The conviction is a major triumph for federal prosecutors and a team of undercover investigators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Virginia Marine Police.

During a five-week trial, prosecutors told the jury that Lydon and Profish agreed to buy striped bass that they knew were illegally harvested by seven fishermen between 1995 and 2007. From 2001 and 2007, Clough continued the illegal practice.

Profish, Lydon, and Clough bought large rockfish from watermen during spawning season, when the fish are protected, and purchased illegally tagged fish, which resulted in overfishing.

Undercover officers bought fish, shadowed watermen and buyers and had fish samples analyzed to prove they were taken bu illegal means.

The defendants will be sentenced, as will others, before the end of the year.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Yeah, yeah, I know. The season is still two months away.

Why wait until the last moment? If you're like me, you'll remember you don't have a hunting license as you're loading the car or truck.

The fees for the 2010-11 season haven't changed. A resident license is $24.50, a junior license for hunters under the age of 16 is $10.50, and a senior license for those 65 or who will turn 65 this calendar year is $5.

Bow stamps and muzzleloader stamps are $6 each. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp is $10. A Migratory Game Bird Stamp is $9. A Federal Duck Stamp is $17.

The money goes to the Wildlife and Heritage Service, where it pays for biologists, technicians and habitat improvements.

The sooner you buy a license, the sooner the money goes to work.

You can download the forms from the Department of Natural Resources website www.dnr.state.md.us. Or you can call DNR, weekdays between 8:30 and 4:30 at 410-260-3220 or 866-344-8889 to have the forms mailed to you.

The mom-and-pop sporting goods stores have them.

Keep in mind that state law requires that applicants produce one of the following documents:

A Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunting Safety (required for junior licenses)

Provide proof that you held a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1977

Provide proof that you hunted on private property prior to July 1, 1977 and were legally exempt from purchasing a hunting license.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

Guide Theaux LeGardeur, owner of Backwater Angler in Monkton, reports:

The Gunpowder is flowing at 32 cubic feet per second. The temperature is 55 degrees and the water is gin clear.

We've been fishing tricos, cream midges and caddis emergers most mornings.

Sulphur fishing has slowed and we're now fishing ants, beetles and grasshoppers.

Lighter rods will also come into play as the fishing will require a good measure of stealth and touch--especially when fishing 7x.

This time of year, many of the guides are switching over from vests and chest waders to lightweight fanny packs and wading pants.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink