ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service announced today an extension in the eligibility of the thirteenth and final Diamond Jim striped bass. This gives anglers an extra three days to catch the $25,000 fish the final week of the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim. DNR Fisheries staff released the last Diamond Jim this week at the head of the Bay, south of the Turkey Point Light. The fish, sponsored by Boater’s World, will become eligible at 5 a.m. Saturday, August 26 and expire midnight on Labor Day, September 4.
The following is a list of anglers who caught qualifying tagged fish during the last week of the Fishing Challenge:
* Heather Kroll, Oakland, MD: rainbow trout, North Branch of the Potomac (August 19)
* Carla Waldt, Earlville, PA: rockfish, Love Point in the Chesapeake Bay (August 22)
The DNR Fisheries Service is encouraging anglers to try and catch the hundreds of tagged fish still at large in Maryland’s waterways before the 13-week tournament ends officially ends on September 4. Qualifying anglers will be entered into a drawing to win one of the tournaments five grand prizes which 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.
Grand prize winners will be selected at the closing ceremony which will be held Saturday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m. at City Dock in Annapolis. For more information about the prizes, rules and the closing ceremony log on to http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/.