Popes Creek Coastal Wetlands Acquisition

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) was recently awarded a $1 million National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant to acquire land in Charles County, Maryland.

The property along Popes Creek includes 92 acres of upland forest, 128 acres of wetlands, open water, and beach front.

Popes Creek is a conservation focus area, having been identified by MD DNR as both a Targeted Ecological Area and a Natural Heritage Area. It lies within the Zekiah Swamp area, which is a protection priority for the USFWS Chesapeake Bay Program, MD DNR, and Charles County.

The property will be held and managed by Charles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Plans for the site include the creation of a biking/walking trail along an abandoned railway bed.

Funding for the project was included in $16.5 million in grants which will go to support 21 critical coastal wetland projects in 12 states and Puerto Rico under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants Program.

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act.

Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program funds originate from the Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue which is generated via an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Maryland Shad Fishing

Hickory Shad

In Maryland, fishing for shad is a springtime tradition. In most locations, shad fishing usually begins in March and continues into early May. Maryland anglers catch hickory shad or American shad during spring spawning runs. In some watersheds, fishermen also catch river herring together with shad.

Popular shad fishing rivers in Maryland include the Susquehanna, Gunpowder, Patapsco, Patuxent, Choptank, Nanticoke, Pocomoke, and others. In addition to mainstem river systems, a number of tributary streams and creeks are known for their shad runs, including Marshyhope and Tuckahoe Creeks on the Eastern Shore.

Productive shad fishing spots often occur along narrow, fast moving stretches of rivers and creeks. In some areas, fishing access is available within national, state, or county parks. In other locations, shad are caught from fishing piers, bridges, dams, dykes, or other man-made structures. Anglers also wade to catch shad or traverse rivers and creeks by small boat.

No bait is required in order to catch shad and river herring. Instead, anglers use small, flashy jigs, spoons, or flies. Depending on the location and other factors, anglers may choose to cast extensively or simply lower their lure into the water and work lures with jigging motion. Bridge and pier anglers often employ specials rigs which feature multiple lures.

In 2012, Maryland, along with most Atlantic states, enacted a moratorium on the harvest of all shad and river herring. Although keeping fish for the table or bait is no longer an option, many anglers still enjoy catch and release fishing for these exciting fish.