Diamond Jim Striped Bass Caught Near the Mouth of Eastern Bay, but 5 days too late to collect $25K prize
ANNAPOLIS – All fisherman like to tell tales about the big one that got away but in this case, it’s true: Frank J. Hendricks of Monkton, MD was fishing aboard Captain Chris Rosendale’s charter boat (Maverick) from Kent Island, when he caught the Chesapeake’s most wanted fish—unfortunately six days too late to collect $25,000.
Hendricks caught the 36-inch tagged striped bass near the mouth of Eastern Bay on June 22, just a few miles from where it was tagged and released. Per the instructions on the tag, he reported his catch immediately. A DNR biologist inspected the fish and verified the tag, #0008, had expired six days earlier. Hendricks, however, is still eligible for the contest’s grand prizes, a chance at $1 million cash, a 20-foot center console Sailfish 206CC motorboat and trailer, an 18-foot 7-inch Tracker Nitro 591 motorboat and trailer, and two 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pick-up trucks.
Each week until September 4, five Diamond Jims will be released into Maryland’s waterways as part of the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim. Only one of the five is worth $25,000.
This week the $25,000 Diamond Jim striped bass was released into the Patapsco River. That fish will become eligible during week four of the tournament starting at 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 24 through midnight on Friday, June 30. For more information about the prizes, rules and where to fish please visit, http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fish4cash/.