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Diamond Jim Valued at $30,000 Released Today Near Solomons
By Dalton Terrell Published: July 31, 2008  Print  EmailSOLOMONS, Md.— Today, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the final batch of specially tagged rockfish into the waters near Calvert and St. Mary’s counties as part of the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge featuring Diamond Jim. “The tremendous participation in this year’s contest is a testament to Maryland’s abundant fishing opportunities,” said Fisheries Service Director, Tom O’Connell. “I encourage all anglers to try their luck at landing Diamond Jim while enjoying all that our state’s waterways have to offer.” Designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge began April 12 and will run through Labor Day, Sept. 1. Any angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish and enters the challenge may win one of the official grand prizes. To date, more than 1,130 anglers from twenty states and territories have qualified to win one of the grand prizes, including a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4x4 pickup truck from Central Atlantic Toyota, a boat and trailer package from Bass Pro Shops and $5,000 in fishing gear from Bill’s Outdoor Center. One genuine and 20 imposter specially tagged Diamond Jim striped bass were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. If a lucky angler catches the genuine Diamond Jim by midnight on August 31, he or she will win $25,000 cash courtesy of Boater’s World and a $5,000 diamond from Smyth Jewelers. Anglers catching Diamond Jim imposters will receive a $500 Boater’s World gift card. More than 60 species of fish are eligible for the grand prizes, 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. Grand prize winners will be randomly selected at a closing ceremony to be held on September 13 at Sandy Point State Park. As an added youth component this year, children participating in various fishing rodeos across the state may qualify for a new category at the Challenge finale to win a guided fishing trip embarking from several different locations across the state. Fifteen lucky young anglers from Oakland to Salisbury are already entered to win the trips. In addition to supporting the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge, Governor O’Malley continues to make conserving and restoring our natural resources a priority through a more balanced budget that includes an additional $25 million in funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts; fully funding Program Open Space; an additional $750,000 to improve fisheries management and restore habitat; an enhancement of more than $4 million to ensure sustainable management and quality outdoor recreational opportunities in our state parks; and $3 million for new Chesapeake Bay oyster and habitat restoration projects. Governor O’Malley also strengthened Maryland’s critical areas law to ensure more adequate protection from development of the most environmentally sensitive and significant lands within Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Bays watersheds. Protecting vegetation and natural, living shoreline of our Bays will help prevent water quality and fish habitat decline. For the full rules, list of qualifying fish, and other 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge information visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/fishingchallenge. View Comments (0) |
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