DNR’s gem dandy of a contest

Time running out in search of $25,000 Diamond Jim rockfish

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Director Tom O'Connell releases one of the potential Diamond Jim rockfish into the Patuxent River Thursday near the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge in Solomons. The DNR released 21 striped bass (rockfish) with special tags, one of which is Diamond Jim and is worth $25,000 in cash from Boater's World and a $5,000 diamond from Smyth Jewelers. The 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge ends on Labor Day. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL An example tag for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Diamond Jim rockfish that were released into the Patuxent River Thursday near the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge in Solomons. The 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge ends on Labor Day.

Diamond Jim is out there somewhere and it’s your job to find him, but you only have about a month to do so.

On Thursday, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the final batch of specially tagged rockfish into the Patuxent River off Solomons 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,” Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell said in a press release. ‘‘I encourage all anglers to try their luck at landing Diamond Jim while enjoying all that our state’s waterways have to offer.”

The contest, which was designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, began April 12, officially ends Labor Day Sept. 1.

The awards ceremony is Sept. 13 at Sandy Point State Park.

‘‘It means a great opportunity to go out there and compete against one another on the wonderful Chesapeake Bay for an elusive species of fish,” said Bill Miles, the Vice-Chairman of the Maryland Legislative Sportsman’s Foundation.

ÊAny angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish (see sidebar) 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. Ê

The other way to enter the contest is to simply catch Diamond Jim, which is identified by a bright green tag implanted from the fish.

But there is just one official Diamond Jim along with 20 imposters swimming in the Chesapeake Bay and its related waterways.

Rockfish have been released sporadically throughout the contest and the Solomons batch marked the final group.

Should an angler manage to catch the official Diamond Jim by midnight Aug. 31, he or she would win $25,000 in cash along with a $5,000 diamond courtesy of Smyth Jewelers.

An imposter is worth a $500 Boater’s World gift card.

But rockfish are not the only species that could make a lucky angler a winner.

In the Maryland Fishing Challenge, more than 60 species of fish from Maryland’s fresh, salt and ocean waters are eligible.

As of Monday, 1,140 anglers had managed to enter a fish into the summer-long contest.

One of those is Chris Morgan. In late April, the Huntingtown High School varsity boys soccer coach landed a 42-inch rockfish at the HI Buoy.

‘‘It’s like entering the lottery, you know,” said Morgan, the Huntingtown High varsity boys soccer coach. Morgan weighed in his fish at JJ’s tackle in Solomons. ‘‘I’m sure there’s a lot of people who have citations this year and we’re all entered, but the chance of entering is just a lottery draw. But I’m real excited.”

Just a few of the local anglers already entered in the challenge are David Hickin of Lusby, who caught a 40.5-inch rockfish and Jack Morgal of North Beach, who brought a 51-inch monster to the scales.

Jim Arnold of California hooked and landed a 41-inch fish and a 47.5-inch striper was the helped Leonardtown resident Chris Austin enter the contest.

Jeremy Balderson of Waldorf brought in a 48-inch black drum and Brian Drury’s 42-inch striped bass qualified the Hughesville resident.

But the challenge has not only attracted Maryland residents. Anglers from Pennsylvania, Delaware and as far away from Naples, Fla. and Montreal have all caught qualifying fish.

When asked whether he thought the contest was a great way to promote the sport of fishing within the state, Miles nodded.

‘‘Absolutely because whenever you’re promoting an activity or a competitive venture you’re going to get interest that you might not otherwise have gotten,” he said.

An added component of the contest this year has children participating in various fishing tournaments across the state trying to qualify for a new category. Fifteen young anglers throughout the state are already entered to win one of several guided fishing trips up for grabs throughout the state of Maryland.

Thursday morning, after a brief ceremony, several prominent lawmakers and celebrated guests made their way onto the river in the shadows of the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge and released the wiggling fish into the dark blue waters.

On Friday night, several anglers plied the shoreline in the hopes that the lucky fish hadn’t left the area. You have less than a month to do the same.

For the full rules, list of qualifying fish, and other 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge information go to www.dnr. maryland.gov⁄fishingchallenge.