ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service today announced that in addition to five grand prizes, a wide variety of sponsored fish-level prizes will also be awarded at the September 16 closing ceremony for the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim.
Legendary outdoor writer Bill Burton assisted DNR in the random selection of tag numbers to win fish-level prizes. Fish-level prizes will be awarded to the lucky anglers who catch a qualifying fish with the winning tag number.
Fish-level prizes include:
* Full day and half day charter boat fishing trips,
* $100 store merchandise gift certificates,
* $100-$500 cash prizes, and
* Free rounds of golf and overnight stays at Rocky Gap Lodge
The five grand prizes are:
* A chance at $1 million cash, sponsored by Boater’s World,
* A 20-foot center console Sailfish 206CC motorboat and trailer sponsored by Boater’s World,
* An 18-foot, 7-inch Tracker Nitro 591 motorboat and trailer sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, and
* Two 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pick-up trucks sponsored by Toyota Maryland.
To view a full list of prizes please log on to http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/.
Despite the record heat wave, several fish were caught in week nine of the Fishing Challenge. With four weeks left in the 13-week tournament, more than 125 anglers are qualified to win prizes, which surpass last year’s grand total of 101anglers.
Below is a list of anglers who caught qualifying tagged fish in week nine of the tournament:
o 17-year-old Randy Plummer, St. Inigoes, MD: striped bass, St. Jerome's Creek in the Chesapeake Bay (July 24)
o Wayne Petrone, Annapolis, MD: striped bass, at the Bay Bridges in the Chesapeake Bay (July 31)
o Steve Murray, Edgewater, MD: striped bass, north of Bloody Point in Chesapeake Bay (August 2)
The tenth Diamond Jim striped bass has been released east of the Spider Buoy in the mid-Bay region. The $25,000 fish, sponsored by Boater’s World, becomes eligible at 5 a.m. Saturday, August 5 and expires midnight Friday, August 11. 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.