Chesapeake Bay News

The annual Bay Bridge Boat Show in Stevensville, MD is scheduled to open its doors with special features April 28 – May 1, 2011.  In its twenty-ninth season, this show is recognized as the largest spring recreational boating extravaganza in the mid Atlantic.

The Marina facility has been completely renovated with high quality floating docks and a more efficient show layout. The revised exhibitor price list will allow your organization to display more boats or boating gear for less money. New show features and regional advertising are expected to attract more visitors to the show than any time in recent history.

For the 2011 show, several attractions are planned:

Delmarva Dock Dog Competition

The Delmarva Dock Dogs are the regional group of the National Dock Dogs, www.dockdogs.com.  They will compete in an above ground pool in three waves: speed retrieval, extreme vertical, and big air.  This competition will bring fun to the show for all ages.

MSSA Rockfish Tournament Weigh Station

The Maryland Saltwater Sportsfishermen’s Association and AllTackle will be adding a weigh station at the Bay Bridge Boat Show for the largest Rockfish Tournament in the Nation.  In addition the Bay Bridge Boat Show will be hosting a weekend rendezvous for the anglers. Adjacent to the weigh station will be a “fishermans pier,” which will house unique fishing boat makes.

Other Show Features

Expansive Food Court

Children’s fishing activities and demonstrations by AllTackle on the weigh station

Daily seminars co-sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Magazine and Annapolis School of Seamanship

Live entertainment at the Pool Bar & Grill

Racing hydroplanes from Kent Island Racing Association

Bay Bridge Boat Show :     April 28 – May 1, 2011.

Show Hours:

Thursday, April 28         Noon to 6pm
Friday, Saturday, April 29-30    10am – 6pm
Sunday, May 1            10am – 5pm

Tickets:

Adults $12.
Children (7-12) $4.
Under 6 Free.
Two day ticket $19

For tickets and complete details:

www.usboat.com
Phone 410-268-8828

Anglers from Maine to North Carolina made their way to Maryland to test their skills and promote recreational fishing on the Chesapeake Bay as the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) hosted the 17th annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Rockfish Tournament.

Nearly 200 boats carrying over 1000 anglers took to the water to try to reel in the big one for their share of the prize money.  The MSSA set up 7 weigh stations from Sandy Point state park to Point Lookout for anglers to bring in their top fish.

“This tournament, like our others, lures anglers from Maryland and other states to the Bay and gives our local communities a little economic boost and of course gives our members one last chance to participate in a tournament this year,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of the MSSA.

This was the final tournament in the 2009 MSSA Tournament Series which consists of four total events including the largest spring rockfish tournament in the country.

Robert Harris Jr. of Solomons, MD took home first place with his 47.95 pound rockfish, securing him $44,703 for his efforts.  Harris caught the winning fish on a crippled alewive Saturday morning near 72A.  Harris has been competing in MSSA tournaments, as well as many others all over the East Coast, for almost ten years now.

Lee Tippett of southern Maryland placed second with his 43.25 pound rockfish caught near the gas docks just in front of Solomons, MD.  Tippett will walk away with $18,000 and attributes his success to a Tyler’s Tackle parachute rig.

Third place went to James Rose of Kent Island.  Rose caught his fish near 78A on a 21 Tony early Saturday morning.  Rose and his crew will have a lot to be thankful for this holiday as they take home $4,441.
Also in the money was Frank Hagner of Baltimore who took third place in the Skill Levels with his 41.65 pound rockfish weighed in at Point Lookout state park.  Hagner will be receiving a check worth $7,560 as he entered all of the additional skill levels.  Hagner entered the tournament with his son David Hagner who just recently returned from Afghanistan.

The MSSA gave away almost $75,000 in prize money for the tournament and has increased its participation each year since 1992.

Tournament results will be posted on the MSSA’s website.  Smith said all results are unofficial until he and the Tournament Committee can check and confirm all fish weights and the winners pass their respective polygraph tests.

The MSSA, an organization of 7,000 conservation-minded members and the largest of its kind in the state, is most famous for its advocacy work protecting anglers’ rights and the largest spring rockfish tournament in the country, The Championship on the Chesapeake.  The organization uses these tournaments to promote and encourage recreational fishing in the state of Maryland, with a special focus on the state’s youth.  “We are trying to get kids and adults involved and give them the access and opportunity to get out there and fish”, Smith said.

For more information on this tournament and the MSSA you may visit www.mssa.net

The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) invites anglers to participate in the 17th Annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Tournament. The tournament will be held on November 21st and 22nd, 2009 on the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.

Sign-up meetings will be held at:

Essex Middle River Chapter – Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 – 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

Annapolis Chapter – Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 – 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

Southern Maryland Chapter – Thursday, November 19th, 2009 – 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

The last time to register for the tournament will be November 20th, 2009 at the MSSA office from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

There will be seven Official Weigh-In Stations throughout the Bay. They are as
follows:

• Sandy Point State Park
• Calvert Marina – Solomons
• Taylors Island Family Campground
• Knapps Narrows Marina – Tilghman Island
• Breezy Point Marina – Chesapeake Beach
• NEW – Point Lookout State Park
• NEW – Rod ‘N’ Reel – Chesapeake Beach

All weigh-in stations will be open from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is geared to target rockfish and bluefish. Rockfish will be the number one species in the main tournament as well as five skill levels. There will be a special category for bluefish which will be one winner.

The MSSA encourages anglers to come out and fish the Chesapeake Bay on November 21st and 22nd, 2009.