ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service announced today that anglers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia caught tagged fish in week eight of the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim. To date, 121 anglers are now qualified to win 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.
“The Diamond Jim Challenge is a fantastic way to bring anglers from other states to enjoy fishing in Maryland’s myriad waterways,” said Dennis Castleman, Assistant Secretary Maryland Office of Tourism. “It’s obvious by this week’s catches that Maryland is luring anglers from around the region which is extremely beneficial to Maryland’s economy.”
The 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge ends September 4, with the closing ceremony to be held September 16 at City Dock in Annapolis. Grand prize winners will be selected during the closing ceremony, and additional prizes will also be awarded.
The following is a list of anglers who caught qualifying tagged fish during week eight of the Fishing Challenge:
o Ron Baldino, Preston, MD: catfish, Choptank River (July 14)
o George Rodney, Rock Hall, MD: striped bass, Tolchester in Chesapeake Bay (July 14)
o Henry Majano, Manassas, VA: sunfish, Greenbriar Lake (July 15)
o Jim Downs, Gaithersburg, MD: sunfish, Rocky Gap Lake (July 20)
o Steve Rizza, Scottsdale, PA: smallmouth bass, Deep Creek Lake (July 23)
o Terry Osborne, Frederick, MD: catfish, Potomac River near Dargan Bend (July 23)
o Nathan Jackson, Milford, DE: largemouth bass, Marshyhope Creek (July 23)
o Rick Morlock, Rock Hall, MD: striped bass, Hickory Thickett in Chester River (July 23)
o Aubrey Trigger, Coles Point, VA: striped bass, Potomac River (July 24)
DNR Fisheries staff released the ninth Diamond Jim striped bass into the waters of the Chesapeake just east of Herring Bay. The $25,000 fish, sponsored by Boater’s World, becomes eligible at 5 a.m. Saturday, July 29 and expires midnight Friday, August 4. The first person to catch a winning Diamond Jim will also win a pair of one-half karat (0.50) diamond earrings courtesy of Zachary’s Jewelers in Annapolis. For more information about the prizes, rules and where to fish please visit, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/.
Recreational fishing has an estimated economic impact of nearly $550 million a year.