Chesapeake Bay News

The 2011 East Coast Commercial Fisherman’s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition is fast approaching, and this year’s show will once again be offering young chefs a chance to show off their skills.  This year’s expo will mark the 13th year of the East Coast Junior Watermen’s Show, and all chefs between the ages of 7 and 17 are encouraged to enter their best Rockfish recipes in the 4th Annual Junior Chefs Rockfish Cook-Off.  The top ten finalists will compete in the Cook-Off on Saturday, January 29 in Ocean City, Maryland.

The contest will consist of two age groups, 7 – 12 and 13 – 17.  Five finalists will be selected from each age group to compete for cash prizes and plaques.  First place will receive $200 and a plaque, second place will receive $100 and a plaque and third place will receive $50 and a plaque.  All finalists will receive Rockfish pins, aprons and certificates.

All entries are due by Monday, December 13, 2010.  Finalists will be notified by Thursday, January 7, 2011.  A daytime phone number is required on all entry forms in order for finalists to be notified.  The recipe should be an original entrée or main dish.  Each finalist will receive two pounds of rockfish fillets to use the day of the competition.  All other ingredients and cooking utensils are the contestants’ responsibility.  Judging will be based on taste, originality, appearance (or attractiveness), and predominance of rockfish.  Parental permission and supervision must be provided.

The Cook-Off is sponsored by University of Delaware Sea Grant Program, University of Maryland Sea Grant and the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Seafood Marketing Program.  For a list of all official rules and regulations, as well as an entry form, please email Doris Hicks at dhicks@udel.edu or visit www.marylandseafood.org.

source: Maryland Department of Agriculture

The Maryland Park Service, Kent County Parks and Recreation and the Kent Museum will hold a Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 to celebrate autumn along the Sassafras River. The event will take place at Turner’s Creek landing, the Kent Museum grounds and historic Knocks Folly, part of the Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area (NRMA) in Kent County.

A great way to enjoy the change of the seasons, the fall festival will feature traditional fall activities such as hayrides, pumpkin decorating, fishing competitions, games, food and more. Kent County Parks and Recreation staff will be on hand to help children design and create their own scarecrows to take home to decorate their homes and yards (families should bring old clothes and pantyhose for the scarecrows). Volunteers from the Kent Museum will also be on site making apple cider and displaying pieces from their extensive collection of antique farm equipment.

The Fall Festival will also be the first opportunity for the general public to access Knocks Folly. Commencing with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12 p.m., visitors will then be allowed to explore the Folly’s interior and enjoy displays and informational panels on the history of the area. The historic mid-eighteenth century log home with a three-story, Federal brick wing, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will serve as a visitors center for the Turner’s Creek county park and the 1,000-acre Sassafras NRMA, and will be open on weekends from May through mid-November. The Knocks Folly Visitors Center will feature displays and information on the area’s diverse natural history, as well as its important role in colonial history of the upper Eastern Shore.

The Maryland Park Service’s Scales and Tales program will entertain crowds near Knocks Folly with a variety of games and displays. Local clubs and non-profit groups will also be on hand with displays and activities. There is still space available for interested groups that would like to set up exhibits or sell food during the event.

For more information about the Fall Festival or directions to Sassafras NRMA, contact the local Maryland Park Service Park office at (410) 820-1668.

Over 45 schooners are expected to race in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay, starting just south of the Bay Bridge near Annapolis, Md., on Oct. 14, 2010, sailing through the night, and docking in Portsmouth, Va., on Oct. 15 for the 21st annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Depending on winds and conditions on the Bay, the race can take from 12 to 15 hours. The event’s mission, with the motto “Racing to Save the Bay,” is to promote public awareness of the Chesapeake Bay’s maritime heritage and to encourage the preservation and improvement of the Chesapeake’s natural resources.

The first Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race was founded in 1990 by the late Captain Lane Briggs, as a personal challenge between his Tugantine, Norfolk Rebel, and the Pride of Baltimore II. It was his contagious commitment to the maritime heritage of the Bay and his love of schooner-rigged sailboats that energized the growth and success of the event.  Since Briggs’ death in 2005, the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race has been held in his memory.

“This is a great adventurous event because it perpetuates Captain Lane’s dream of bringing attention to the Chesapeake Bay’s history, tradition, and the need for its preservation,” said Al Roper, president of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Roper said the event breeds better Bay stewards through its educational component. Hundreds of local school students at both the starting and ending points of the race have the opportunity to go on board some of the schooners while they’re docked to learn knot-tying, sail-hoisting, and the teamwork it takes to crew a boat. “You take a kid and put him on a boat and it changes his life” said Roper.

Through the years, the race has raised more than $140,000 for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) environmental educational programs.

Dubbed a world class racing event by sailing enthusiasts, the Race is organized by volunteers representing four boat clubs: Fells Point Yacht Club in Baltimore, Portsmouth Boat Club, Towne Point Yacht Club in Norfolk, and Broad Bay Sailing Association in Virginia Beach.  Each year, more than 100 committed volunteers donate their time, energy, and financial support.

Although the race begins October 14, the public can enjoy related festivities throughout the race week. For more information, contact Virginia@schoonerrace.org or Maryland@schoonerrace.org.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

BALTIMORE, MD

October 10, 1:00 p.m.:  Dinghy Race fundraiser in Fells Point to benefit the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

October 12, 6:30 p.m.:  Schooners & Crooners free concert on Broadway Pier

October 13, 9:00 a.m – noon: Education program at Broadway Pier; area students get hands-on experience aboard select schooners

October 13, noon:  All schooners docked in Fells Point, some open for tours

October 13, 5:00 p.m.:  Parade of Sail through Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Fells Point

NEAR CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE, ANNAPOLIS, MD

October 14, 1:30 p.m.: Photo opportunities abound as race begins with as schooner-rigged vessels in full sail, embarking on their fast-paced adventure down the Chesapeake.

October

FINISH LINE HAMPTON ROADS, VA

October 15:  East-West line at the Thimble Shoal light off Hampton’s coast for classes A and AA.  Others finish at Windmill Point.  All dock in downtown Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH, VA

October 16, 9:00 a.m.- ?noon: Bay related educational opportunities; open house tours of racing schooners; variety of related activities and exhibits during Schooner Days, Old Towne Portsmouth.

source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The  Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and former U.S. Congressman Wayne Gilchrest have created a new partnership to create an environmental education and agro-ecology program at Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area in Kent County.

The purpose of the program is to connect Maryland’s children with nature and to explore potential models for innovative agricultural activities supporting both local food supply and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.  The partnership is set to begin in October and will involve developing a range of outdoor experiential education activities for children.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a regional conservation organization dedicated to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore.  This new pilot program will further ESLC’s efforts to focus energy on access to land and engaging youth and their families in these activities. ESLC’s educational efforts, which will complement and collaborate with the planning for the Sassafras site, will work to ensure that children engage with the Eastern Shore and find ways to explore their rural heritage, via outings, essay/art contests, scholarship contests, youth volunteer opportunities, a soon to be developed ESLC Kids website and a youth newsletter.

“This opportunity could not have come at a better time as we are elevating our programs to connect kids— our future leaders— with our activities. Engaging them in this kind of hands-on educational opportunity will only help us continue to ensure the Eastern Shore’s rural legacy and tradition of thriving small towns is maintained for many generations to come.” said ESLC’s Executive Director Rob Etgen.  “We are so excited to open our activities up at such a broad level and are grateful to Congressman Gilchrest and the Department of Natural Resource for this amazing partnership opportunity.”

source: MD DNR

The North Face has announced the launch of the Explore Your Parks program, a partnership with the Maryland and Virginia State Parks, American Hiking Society and The National Park Trust, to encourage families to get outdoors and enjoy state parks in the Washington, DC, area this fall.

By providing families the tools they need to enjoy the open spaces near them, these groups are actively supporting Let’s Move Outside, the outdoor recreation component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to end childhood obesity. Since Let’s Move Outside kicked off in early June, thousands of American children and families have taken part in fitness-boosting activities such as hiking, biking and canoeing on public lands and waters across the country.

During the month of September, people living in the greater DC area can receive a free one-day pass (good until December 31, 2010) for use in any Maryland or Virginia State Park with a $50 purchase or more of any The North Face product. Additionally, people who retrieve a code at 10 featured trails in state parks can receive a free Explore Your Parks stainless steel water bottle from participating DC-area retail locations (found at www.exploreyourparks.com under “Retailers” section).

Special launch events for the Explore Your Parks program will be held Saturday, September 18, at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD, with Chris Bushman, deputy superintendent of the Maryland Park Service, attending, and on Sunday, September 19, at Mason Neck State Park, in Lorton, VA, with Virginia State Parks Director, Joe Elton, attending. For more information on the events and directions to these parks, please visit www.exploreyourparks.com

Maryland State Parks have been recognized as having one of the top 12 trails in the United States for viewing fall foliage, and in 2009 alone, they had more than 10.1 million visits. Similarly, Virginia State Parks had more than 7.5 million visits last year, and have received more than 100 awards for being recognized as having the best beaches, campgrounds trails, scenic views and programs. Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Throughout the month of September, The North Face will donate $1 to trail preservation in Maryland and Virginia State Parks for each new member to PlanetExplore.com, a resource for local outdoor events, or new download of the Trailhead App.

On September 19, 2009 approximately $70,000 in prizes and merchandise were presented to lucky anglers at the 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge closing ceremony. Approximately 2,000 people, including sponsors, anglers and their guests attended the sixth annual closing ceremony held at Sandy Point State Park.

More than 1,900 anglers from as far away as California qualified to participate in the grand prize drawing. As an added youth component, children participating in various fishing rodeos across the State qualified for a unique category for the chance to win guided fishing trips.

Walking away with the grand prize was 13 year-old Garret Boylan of Finksburg, Md. Boylan caught a white perch, nearly 15 inches long, in the Liberty reservoir in Baltimore County on June 10, which qualified him for the boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats.

“I’m speechless,” said Maurice Boylan, the winner’s father. “It was a shot in the dark. We drove an hour and a half (to attend the finale), and now my little boy won a boat!”

Additional winners included James Vogel III of Conowingo, Md., Howard James of Georgetown, Del. and Paul Gilbert of Unionville, Pa. who won thousands of dollars in prizes from Bill’s Outdoor Center. Kurt Hofschild of Pasadena, Md. won an all expenses paid fishing trip to the Island of Tobago provided by the World Fishing Network.

In addition, during this year’s contest, five lucky anglers also caught specially tagged rockfish.  Devin Singer, of Bethesda, Md.; Billy Beale of Jarrettsville, Md.; Leo James Jr. of Annapolis, Md.; and Tristen Blake of Federalsburg, Md received checks for $500 each for their catches, which were confirmed as Diamond Jim imposters. Bill Heisterhagan of Easton , Md. who caught the only possible Diamond Jim tagged striped bass in the challenge learned at the event that he too had caught a $500 Diamond Jim imposter.

Lucky young anglers from across the State were awarded guided fishing trips:

* Michale Nutter of LaPlata, Md. and Tyler Bishell of Earleville, Md. will receive a trip from the Mid-Atlantic Council of Trout Unlimited.

* Taylor Mae Edwards of Essex, Md. and Ben Shiner of Nittingham, Md. will receive a trip from the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association.

* Adam Szarko of Catonsville, Md. will receive a trip from the Maryland Charter Boat Association

* Austin Bible of Cumberland, Md.; Bradley McDowell of Rising Sun, Md.; Jacob Gambrill of Whitemarsh, Md.; and Cody Wheeler of Bel Air, Md. will receive trips from Bass Federation Nation.

* Cheyenne Sawyer of Greensboro, Md. and Bryan Brochu of Rising Sun, Md. will receive a trip from the Legislative Sportsman’s Foundation.

* John Duarte of Baltimore, Md. and Micaela Rogers of Elkton, Md. will receive a trip from the Coastal Conservation Association.

* Omar Peay of Silver Spring, Md. and Austin Shires of New Cumberland, Pa. will receive a trip from Bill’s Outdoor Center.

* Jason Mukendi of Landover Hills, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Richie Gaines

* Nadirah Offord of Baltimore, Md. will receive a trip from Skip Zinck.

* Eryk Vincent of Stevensville, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Tom Hughes.

* Timmy Patschorke of Ballwin, Mo. will receive a trip from Captain Mike Benjamin.

* Nayel Camper of Salisbury, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Monty Hawkins.

Created to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire natural resources stewardship, the 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge started June 1 and ran through Labor Day, September 6, 2010.

At the finale, The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation presented Natural Resources Police (NRP) with a $5,000 check, the proceeds from the sale of Maryland’s first lifetime hunting license.

Three batches of nearly 200 specially tagged striped bass (one genuine Diamond Jim and 199 imposters) were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries this summer. Diamond Jim’s value increased each month: $10,000 if caught in June, $20,000 if caught in July and $25,000 if caught in August, and nearly 599 Diamond Jim imposters are worth $500 each for the duration of the contest.

Through the citation component, more than 60 species of fish, including large and smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, musky and panfish in the freshwaters of Maryland; rockfish (striped bass), bluefish, drum, sea trout and perch in the Chesapeake Bay; and tuna, marlin, flounder, kingfish and sea bass caught in Maryland waters off the Atlantic Coast, were eligible for the grand prizes.

“Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley in April 2009. The Bill is part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

source: MD DNR

Delmarva Discovery Center in Pocomoke City, Maryland will host a Smith Island Fall Striped Bass Migration Seminar on Wednesday, September 22 at 7:00 pm.

Captain Walt will share tips and techniques for catching striped bass during the annual fall migration as they move south past Smith Island head toward their wintering grounds in the Ocean.

He’ll also talk about how they feed aggressively as they “fatten up” on their way to the Atlantic. Captain Walt will discuss rods, reels, line and lures that have proven successful over his years of fishing the area during the annual migration.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information see: www.delmarvadiscoverycenter.org

A new contest sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust will reward Marylanders for showing their love for the Chesapeake Bay.

The “Hooray for the Bay” contest kicked off on July 15, and is designed to engage and educate Marylanders about the impact buying Bay Plates has on the Chesapeake Bay. The contest features 100 Bay Plate Factoids placed strategically at parks, schools and community centers around the state.

To enter, participants can email a picture of one of the factoids to contest@baytrust.org, along with a short description of why they love the Bay. Additionally, participants can visit www.bayplate.org and complete the entry form, or they can text “BAYPLATE” to 24587 to enter.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust will award 100 Bay Plate prizes to the first 100 eligible entries received by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges who will select the best “Why I Love the Bay” message. Judging will be based on originality, creativity, relevancy, and amusement factor. Complete contest details can be found at www.bayplate.org.

Research conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and The Cyphers Agency showed that while 76 percent of Marylanders easily recognize the plates, which feature a heron and a Maryland blue crab, most do not know that 90 percent of the revenues derived from the $20 license plate supports Bay restoration and education programs.

“The majority of Marylanders rank keeping the Bay clean and healthy as their top environmental priority for the State,” says Allen Hance, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “What many don’t realize is that buying a Bay Plate is a simple, affordable way to help achieve this goal.”

Last year, revenues from Bay Plate sales helped:
•    Restore 65 acres of wetland, oyster reef, and streamside buffers
•    Award 401 grants to schools and organizations from every county in Maryland
•    Remove 429 tons of trash by engaging more than 30,000 volunteers across the State
•    Install 6,752 linear feet of living shorelines
•    Educate nearly 90,000 students on environmental issues concerning the Bay
•    Plant more than 220,000 native plants and trees

The research also showed that many Marylanders also incorrectly believe that the plates can only be purchased when renewing vehicle registration. Bay Plates can be purchased at any time of the year at www.bayplate.org.

The contest runs until September 15, 2010, and winners of the contest will be announced in October 2010.

In July, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) formally dedicated the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park. Attending the ceremony were members of the Burton family, DNR Deputy Secretary Joe Gill, representatives of the Fisheries Service, Maryland Park Service and other invited guests.

The park is now officially dedicated to Bill Burton, an outdoors reporter, writer and fisherman who chronicled outdoor activities in Maryland for over half a century.

At the dedication ceremony, members of Bill’s family including his wife, Lois, and daughter, Heather, each spoke about his lasting legacy and dedication to Maryland’s many natural resources.

The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is a fitting tribute to Bill’s life and work, as he was instrumental in preserving the Choptank River Bridge for use as a fishing pier when the new bridge was constructed.

The park is a destination fishing spot for anglers and a popular access point for many working families of Maryland because of the variety of fish that can be caught there, including perch, striped bass, hardheads, sea trout and catfish.

The dedication took place nearly one year to the date from when the Board of Public Works approved the renaming of the Choptank River fishing piers in Talbot and Dorchester counties on July 22, 2009. Sadly, less than a month after the renaming, Bill passed away at age 82 on August 10, 2009.

“Bill is an iconic figure in Maryland’s outdoor history, having reported for over 50 years on outdoor opportunities for Maryland citizens,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is a wonderful tribute to a man who spent his life’s work sharing information about the bountiful natural resources our state has to offer.”

Portions of the Bill Burton Fishing Pier were closed for several months to replace over 700 broken, cracked and hazardous handrails with new concrete rails. During this time, the Maryland Park Service also upgraded park benches and picnic tables. The Dorchester section of the pier was closed first and reopened, and then the Talbot section of the Pier was closed and reopened Friday for fishing and crabbing.

The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is now open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Both sections of the piers are lighted for night fishing from April 1 through December 31 and the Dorchester County side of the pier is open and lighted year round. The pier adjoins Sailwinds Park via the walkway under the bridge.

Source: MD DNR press release

TEAM DNR Volunteer Training
March 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free
Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis (Anne Arundel County)

Maryland DNR is seeking interested adults to become TEAM DNR volunteers. Volunteers should have an outgoing personality and a strong desire to protect the Chesapeake Bay. No prior teaching experience is necessary. Currently, TEAM offers schools free classroom programs on the following topics: Chesapeake Bay watershed, streams, oyster reefs, horseshoe crabs, and Chesapeake Bay watermen. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. Beverages and snacks will be provided. For information, call 410-260-8828.