Outdoors: Fishing challenge loses luster

What Chesapeake Bay Country needs more than a good five-cent cigar is something to jazz up interest in the annual Maryland Fishing Challenge/Diamond Jim affair now underway. Interest has flagged since DNR and its major sponsors dropped the chance to win a $1 million a few years ago and switched the format to a payout of considerably less. Officials also prevented smaller businesses of the state's fishing industry from participation - other than weighing in the catches of those who could be eligible for a new pickup truck, bassboat motor and trailer rig, a $5,000 diamond, $5,000 in tackle, up to $25,000 for the legitimate Diamond Jim and many other prizes of lesser value.

Here it is with mid-August fast approaching, no legitimate or phony Diamond Jims caught yet and only about three weeks remaining in the competition. Take the possibility of a potential million-dollar payoff off the docket, and we have seen what was once an exciting and buzz-worthy event become not much more than a big raffle with a net full of door prizes. That's not what fishing and its competitive aspects should be all about.

Of course there will 1.200 or more lucky anglers who might disagree with me - those who have caught a citation fish in one of more than 60 categories in DNR's annual statewide tournament and thus have become eligible for the big September drawing. With that many qualifying and a 4x4 pickup truck and bassboat rig up for grabs, there surely will be a big crowd at the finale; one can't win unless he/she is there. The odds are akin to a plow horse winning the Kentucky Derby, but within Izaak Waltons there is always hope. So they will come by the hundreds.

It's not easy to knock the Maryland Challenge/Diamond Jim promotion. Toyota is donating a pickup truck, Bass Pro Shops provided the bassboat ready-to-go fishing trailer and all, Bill's Outdoor Center at Deep Creek Lake offered the $5,000 in tackle, Symth Jewelers donated the $5,000 diamond and Boaters World pickd up the tab for the Diamond Jim promotion and (potentially) many $500 gift certificates. They all volunteered their participation and deserve recognition, as do those in DNR who have done all the grunt work.

But the original concept of this promotion was to promote fishing in Maryland and it was on track. Anyone could sponsor fish for prizes. Many mom-and-pop tackle shops and other associated businesses joined in the parade. Everyone was involved - and there was that chance - long as the odds were - of pocketing a million bucks. Needless to say, that kind of promotion drew fishermen from afar. Now, it's possible to win more in some big money weekend tournaments.

Those who handle the nuts and bolts of the promotion should start working now on next year's edition; bring back more sponsors and other participants, a potential jackpot that makes news everywhere and a legitimate chance to make that news via a catch. In Chesapeake Bay Country, Ocean City and freshwaters in the remainder of the state statistics show we have a multi-million dollar industry and we're promoting it on a threadbare budget and payoff. Our fisheries and tournament sponsors deserve more if we're to attract the angling potential out there - to put us at the top in all promotions to attract anglers.

You know, a million-dollar payoff in such affairs doesn't cost sponsors that sum; it's usually covered by insurance at a reasonable fee. And the chances of making yourself of a millionaire overnight can mean the difference between just another promotion and the state tournament of all state tournaments. Unless we get on track and quickly, the resulting backlash will probably doom what was originally a great idea. In Yankee Land from which I hail they say do it right - or forget it. Enough said.

FISHING: I've said it before and will again: Despite the disappointing number of fishermen out on the water due to fuel costs, the catching isn't as bad as one would think. Be positive; look at it this way - less competition for the available fish. No crowds at the honey holes. Let's take a look.

Upper Bay: The Susquehanna is hardly worth the effort, insufficient and undependable water flow, though Ernie Gibson of Dundalk took a 33-inch striper on a popping plug off Port Deposit. It was his only striper of the day (he caught a 22-inch smallmouth and a catfish of 21 inches on the popper). But who wouldn't settle for that?

From Pooles Island southward, fish continue on the move as is usual in hot weather. At times there is breaking fish action. Have a jigging rig ready. It's primarily chumming and live-lining, though trollers catch less but land a better quality of fish. Small blues pretty much rule out soft plastic baits. If trolling, switch to No. 14 silver Tony spoons or small surgical hoses).

You should have no problem caching spot for live-lining; perch are everywhere. You might well find breaking fish at Hart and Miller Island and Man 'O War Shoals. Don't overlook Podickory, Mud Dumps, the mouth of the Chester, Love Point, Bay Bridge, Swan Point, Sandy Point, Triple Buoys, sometimes Belvedere Shoals. An ace in the hole could be live-lining at the Bay Bridge, not too far from the Eastern Stone Pile. The hardhead bite isn't bad on hard bottom areas. Try Podickory, Seven Foot Knoll and Snake Reef.

Mid Bay: The False Channel isn't living up to its reputation for live-liners, try the waters off the LNG plant. Live-lining activity isn't bad at the Hill, also Gum Thickets, mouth of Eastern Bay, Thomas Point and such. Trollers take small bluefish, a few Spanish mackerel and rockfish along channel edges on spoons. Many rockfish are throwbacks. Hardheads are around though feed mostly at night. Try Sharps Island Flats.

Live-lining can be well worth the effort at Calvert Cliffs and Point-No-Point, sometimes at the mouth of the Patuxent, also Calvert Cliffs. No boat? Give the Choptank fishing pier a shot for hardheads, catfish, perch and spot - and an occasional striper.

Lower Bay: The Middlegrounds has stripers, bigger blues and some Spanish mackerel. Some small sea trout are showing up in Tangier Sound along with hardheads and spot in Tangier Sound. Try Point Lookout and Cornfield Harbor for flounder, though most are throwbacks.

OCEANSIDE: The flounder bite isn't bad, but length is the problem. Many have to go back. More hardheads are showing up inside the inlet, headboaters take more sea bass, but catches are undependable. The White Marlin Open is winding down and some blue marlin are mixed in with tuna and a few blue marlin.

CALENDAR

Wednesday: First session of Maryland Boating course hosted by Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park. Call 410-544-6244.

Wednesday-Saturday: Poor Girls Open Billfish Tournament out of Bahia Marine, Ocean City. Go to bahiamarina.com

Aug. 20-23: Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. Go to vbbt .com

Aug. 22-24: MSSA Offshore Tournament hosted by AKE Marina, West Ocean City. Go to mssa.net

Aug. 23: Coast Guard GPS Course, 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call 410-798-5952.

Aug.30: Boat auction, 1 to 3 p.m., Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels. Go to cbmm.org/boats-for-sale.html

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Send outdoors news to Bill Burton, PO Box 430,Pasadena, MD 21123-0430; fax to410-360-2427, or e-mail burtonoutdoors@yahoo.com Please include...