Test your skill at catching a variety of fish at one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most unusual fishing tournaments—the third annual Maryland Rod & Reef Slam on the Eastern Shore.
The fishing tournament takes place Saturday, Sept. 21, on six oyster restoration sites near the mouth of the Choptank River and will highlight the diversity of fish that thrive near oyster reefs. Unlike typical tournaments where the winners are the anglers who catch the biggest fish, in this tournament the goal is to catch as many different species as possible.
Last year, anglers logged nearly 80 fish including rockfish, spot, white perch, croaker, oyster toadfish, and spotted sea trout. Anglers who catch the most different species will win prizes, with ties being decided by the size of fish. The event is family-friendly and an after party with kids’ games and fishing demos will cap off the day.
“Healthy oyster reefs improve water quality and serve as excellent fish habitat,” said Allison Colden, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Fisheries Scientist. “Not only do we hope anglers will have fun catching a diversity of fish, but we also plan to use the data collected at this event to highlight how restored oyster reefs can benefit recreational fishing.”
The tournament takes place from 6:30 a.m. until fishing lines will be required to be out of the water at 2:30 p.m. The after party and awards show will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Lowes Wharf Marina Inn in Sherwood. There are three divisions—powerboat, kayak, and youth. The entry fee is $40 for individuals or $120 for boats with up to six people. Youth can participate for free if they have a Coastal Conservation Association youth membership, which is $10 per year. The registration price covers the entry fee, after party food, giveaways, entertainment, and access to a cash bar. Tickets for just the afterparty are $10 and include food and entertainment.
The tournament is being co-sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
“As recreational anglers, CCA Maryland members know how important healthy habitat and water quality is to our success, and we’re proud to support reef building efforts as well as promote the wise management of our oyster resources,” said David Sikorski, executive director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland. “We’re excited to be a partner for the third annual Rod & Reef Slam to showcase how important oyster reefs are to an enjoyable day of fishing”
Like in previous years, participating anglers in this tournament can fish on their choice of six oyster restoration reef areas—Tilghman Island Reef just outside of Knapps Narrows, Clint Waters Reef at Cooks Point, reef balls at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier near Cambridge, and three different oyster sanctuaries in Harris Creek, the Tred Avon River and the Little Choptank River. Before releasing the fish they catch, anglers will use the iAngler app to record the size and location of their catch.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in partnership with groups such as CCA Maryland and NOAA, have worked to preserve and grow oyster reefs in the Bay to improve water quality. Oysters are a keystone species in the Chesapeake. They filter water and the crevices between the groupings of bivalves provide habitat for other critters such as small fish, crabs, and grass shrimp. These smaller species help attract larger fish such as rockfish and perch, which feed on them.
The locations chosen for the fishing tournament are all places where conservation groups have planted millions of oysters over the past decade. The Harris Creek oyster sanctuary is a productive example of these ongoing efforts. Since 2011, 350 acres of water bottom have been planted with oysters and biannual monitoring has determined the oysters there are flourishing.
In 2019, the Maryland General Assembly permanently protected five large-scale oyster restoration sites in Maryland from harvest. The new law aims to allow the reefs in these areas to grow upwards—creating a three-dimensional structure to better protect oysters and provide additional habitat for fish and other marine life. Protecting oyster reefs is one step toward stemming the decline of Maryland’s oysters. From 1999 to 2018, the oyster population in the state declined by half, from about 600 million to 300 million oysters, according to the state’s recent stock assessment.
In concert with ongoing restoration efforts, the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance is working to expand oyster populations in the Chesapeake by adding 10 billion new oysters in Virginia and Maryland waters by 2025. The alliance is composed of more than 40 local and regional conservation groups, aquaculture businesses, and academic partners.
Consider supporting these efforts to help oysters in Maryland by participating in the Rod and Reef Slam this year. More information here or at 443-482-2097 or [email protected].
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