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. 

2013 Lefty Kreh TieFest

Lefty Kreh's TieFest
Saturday, March 9th
Prospect Bay Country Club
Grasonville, Maryland

CCA's Kent Narrows Chapter will host Lefty Kreh's TieFest at the Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville.

For more information, visit: www.ccamd.org

Maryland 2012-13 Deer Season

During Maryland's bow, muzzleloader and firearm seasons combined (September 7, 2012 through January 31, 2013), hunters harvested 87,541 deer.

According to MD DNR, biologists attribute the 11 percent decline compared to last year’s total to multiple factors, including reduced hunter participation, an abundant acorn crop, and a lower deer population in some areas.

Maryland's 2012-2013 deer harvest includes:

29,366 antlered white-tailed deer

55,763 antlerless white-tailed deer

1,127 antlered  sika deer

1,285 antlerless sika deer

Frederick County led the harvest totals this year with 7,634 deer, followed by Baltimore County with 5,991 and Washington County at 5,762. Montgomery County and Carroll County completed the top five counties with 5,598 and 5,579 deer, respectively.

source: MD DNR

2013 Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey

During the 2013 Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey, researchers saw an overall increase in the total number of waterfowl compared to last year. Canada geese and snow geese numbers were up but crews observed fewer ducks, compared to 2012.

The total number of ducks observed during the survey was 175,500, lower than the 230,600 counted in 2012. The dabbling duck count of 72,800 was below the 96,600 counted in 2012.  Most of the decline in dabbling ducks can be attributed to fewer mallards being observed.

The total number of diving ducks observed was 98,100, also lower than the 125,300 counted last winter. The scaup count was one of the lowest in recent history. Unseasonably mild winter weather during the weeks leading up to the survey resulted in a delay in the arrival of most diving ducks in the Bay, especially scaup.

Canada geese (462,000) and snow geese (83,300) were noticeably more abundant during this year’s survey compared to 2012.  Improved gosling production in 2012 contributed to higher goose numbers, combined with snow cover in New York and southern Canada that encouraged geese to migrate further south into the Bay region in late December.

The survey was conducted the week of January 6, 2013 throughout the Atlantic Flyway and is used as an index of long-term wintering waterfowl trends, especially for brant and tundra swans.

Each winter, during the first weeks of January, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast.

In Maryland, the survey is conducted by four aerial survey teams that make visual estimates of wintering waterfowl that are observed in coastal and tidewater habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

source: MD DNR