Chesapeake Bay News

The 27th annual Championship on the Chesapeake, the country’s largest rockfish tournament, concluded on May 4th with 580 boats and approximately 4,000 anglers participating in this year’s event.  The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA), the largest sport fishing group in the state hosted this event.

For three days, starting on April 30, anglers from all over the East Coast put their skills to the test as they experienced world class fishing on the Chesapeake Bay and competed for some significant cash prizes and the title of Champion.

This year’s champion in the amateur division is Kevin Howell of Edgewater, Maryland. Howell weighed in a 52.55 pound rockfish at the Rod N’ Reel docks in Chesapeake Beach just after noon on Friday. Howell said he caught it just south of the CR buoy in 55 feet of water using a 9 inch white shad off his planer board.  Howell’s catch secured him first place in the overall tournament and first in three of the additional skill levels bringing his total earnings to $21,750.

Second place went to Steve Smith of Hanover, PA who weighed in a 41.9 pound fish at Chesapeake Beach.  Smith said he caught his fish near buoy 78 using a tandem rig with 9 inch shad. Smith is the big money winner this year as he entered all of the additional skill levels and will be taking home $63,022.

Third went to Jeff Schmitt of Baltimore as he weighed in a 40.05 pound rockfish at Calvert Marina in Solomons, Maryland on Friday, the first day of the tournament.  Because Schmitt entered additional skill levels he will be walking away with over $12,000.

Additionally James Lutz also of Baltimore will be taking home a considerable amount of money for his 39 pound fish.  Lutz entered in several of the skill levels and for that he will cash in for $21,750.

Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) said they have increased the prizes in the Kid’s division as well as the Catch and Release division.  The top fifteen kids will receive fishing gear and merchandise as well as certificates congratulating them on their catch.

“If we don’t get our youth involved in fishing and the outdoors our sport will be in serious trouble and fishing tournaments provide that opportunity to get kids involved”, Smith said.

New to this year’s tournament was the use of text messaging as a way to update tournament anglers on who is winning and what they need to bring in to have a chance.  This new feature is something new to the sport and another example of responsible fishing tournament management.

“Texting is a great opportunity to communicate with our tournament anglers and let them know what they need to have a chance at winning”, Smith said.

The Catch and Release division was popular this year as anglers turned in their catch logs for a chance at some new fishing gear.  The winner Sam Fisher Jr, who has won this portion of the tournament before, will receive $800 in fishing gear and merchandise from local tackle shops.  Second through fifth place will also receive fishing gear for their efforts.

Recreational fishing and tournaments in specific generate huge amounts of money for local economies here in Maryland.  That was evident by the thousands of people in Chesapeake Beach and Solomons Island this weekend for the tournament not to mention the thousands that took to the water from all over Maryland to participate in this event.  Having spoken with Solomons Pier owners Philip and Jeanie Stone, they couldn’t be happier and look forward to the next MSSA tournament that comes to town.  Solomons Pier was the venue for one of the five Captains Meetings that were held prior to the tournament.

Professional and Charter Boat Division

This year’s Champion in the Professional and Charter Boat division went to our own Captain Ed O’Brien.  Captain O’Brien runs a charter boat, Semper Fidelis III, out of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.  Captain O’Brien weighed in a 35 pound rockfish taking home nearly $10,000.

Second place went to Captain James Gray who brought in a 34.6 pound fish earning him over $10,000 as he entered several skill levels.  Third place went to Captain White who entered a 32.7 pound rockfish.  But this year’s big winner went to Captain Sweitzer who secured fifth place overall and placed in several of the skill levels. Fortunately he entered the $500 skill level which paid out $9,000.  In total Captain Sweitzer took home $12,972.

All awards and cash will be given out at the awards ceremony on Thursday, May 13 at the Columbian Center in Severna Park starting at 7:00 PM.  All tournament anglers are invited as there is still prizes to be given out as “last chance awards” and door prizes.  The big winners will receive checks and the Champion will receive the coveted Championship on the Chesapeake trophy.

For more information and a complete list of tournament results please visit www.mssa.net.

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

Three winter striped bass tournaments are coming up in Hampton Roads Virginia.

They are:

ASA National Striper Tournament

Long Bay Pointe Marina
2109 W. Great Neck Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(321) 287-6351
Start Date: 12/12/2009
End Date: 12/12/2009

Tournament Headquarters
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
30th and Pacific Ave
Virginia Beach, VA
757-417-7701

ASA National Striper Tournament American Striper Association, the Nation’s largest Striped Bass Tournament Series, is hosting its 2009 National Tournament to Virginia Beach. The Chesapeake Bay is known as the premier Striped Bass fishery on the East Coast. Expected payouts will exceed $100,000 for the tournament and Angler of the Year awards.
*All boats fishing the Virginia Beach National Tournament will qualify for a $5,000 bonus to be awarded at the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout.

Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout

828 High Point Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 319-5146
Start Date: 1/07/2010
End Date: 1/09/2010

Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout The 7th Annual Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout returns to Virginia Beach January 7th to the 9th. Get ready to reel as the largest Rockfish Tournament in the country comes to the Beach. Over 1,000 anglers will battle it out for the top bragging rights and a guaranteed CASH prize of $100,000. This year will have two divisions – one for live bait and one for artificial bait.

2nd Annual Virginia Beach Rockfish Frostbite Challenge Tournament

P.O. Box 6807
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
(757) 689-2694
(757) 576-4013
Start Date: 1/14/2010
End Date: 1/17/2010

Thursday, January 14th: Registration 4:00pm until 7:00pm, Captains Meeting at 7:00pm with the party rolling until 9:00pm. Awards Banquet will begin at 6:00pm on Sunday, January 17 and run to around 10:00pm, with awards presented at approx. 8:30pm. Give-Aways start at 7:00pm and will continue throughout the night. All events will be hosted by and take place at HOOKS at Rudee Inlet in Va Beach. Weigh scales are at Fisherman’s Wharf Marina and Long Bay Pointe Marina.

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.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce presents its second annual black drum tournament weekend from Friday, May 16, 2008 – Sunday, May 18, 2008 (8:00 AM-6:00 PM) . Cash awards will go to the top three anglers.

The event will be held at:

Bay Creek Resort & Club Marina
1 Marina Village Cir.
Cape Charles, VA 23310

Admission Fee: TBA
Children Welcome
Pets Welcome

For more information contact:
Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce: (757) 787-2460
Fax: (757) 787-8687
Email: info@esvachamber.org
Website:  www.esvachamber.org