State waterfowl hunters, who again this year will be barred from hunting migratory Canada geese, will have an opportunity to participate in an experimental season for blue-winged or green-winged teal.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state's Department of Natural Resources will allow the special teal season from Sept. 12 to 22 (excluding Sunday) in areas of the state east of I-95. The bag limit will be four per day, singly or in aggregate.

Shooting hours will be sunrise to sunset.

"Shooting hours have been modified to avoid the traditional pre-sunrise [30 minutes before sunrise] when non-teal species, particularly local wood ducks, are most active," said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin. "Hunters are advised to avoid shooting at non-teal species during this season.

"The September teal season is experimental and DNR employees will be monitoring harvest and hunter activity in an attempt to evaluate the impact of the season on teal and non-teal species."

How well hunters comply with regulations for the test season will determine whether the experiment is continued, Griffin said.

The nine-day season is in addition to proposed regular waterfowl seasons and has been offered only to states that derive more than 80 percent of their annual teal harvest from mid-continent breeding areas.

According to DNR, the moratorium on hunting migratory Canada geese has been continued because the number of breeding pairs declined from 63,000 in 1997 to 42,000 this year. The season has been closed since 1995 in an effort to restore breeding pairs to acceptable levels.

A meeting to discuss and receive public comment on proposed waterfowl seasons and bag limits for 1998-1999 is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. this evening at the National Guard Armory in Easton.

Fishing updates

Upper Chesapeake Bay: According to DNR reports from last weekend, trollers working the western shore from Belvedere Shoals to Sandy Point did well on rockfish on bucktails, while drifted eels were more productive over humps and oyster bars below Poole's Island and at humps and holes at the mouth of the Chester River. Increasing numbers of two- to four-pound bluefish are being caught above the Bay Bridge as far north as Worton Point, and at times they are causing havoc among eelers. Big white perch, medium to large spot, some sea trout and croaker are being caught by bottom fishermen at Snake Reef, Podickory Point, Hart Miller Island, Gayles Shoals, Tea Kettle Shoals and off Bay Bridge pilings. Catfish, yellow perch and white perch have been fairly abundant in the Elk, Bohemia and North East rivers, and tidal bass anglers have been doing well in the Sassafras and Gunpowder-Middle river complex.

Middle Chesapeake Bay: The opening weekend of rockfish season produced erratic fishing in many areas, but trollers working the 32-foot line along the western shore from the Silver Ball to Cove Point did well on bucktails, spoons and deep- diving plugs. Chummers at the Gas Docks also did well, although DNR reports numerous dead rockfish in the area, perhaps as the result of poor handling by anglers. Bluefish and a few Spanish mackerel moving through the region, although the bulk of the mackerel are still to the south. Bottom fishermen can hook up with sea trout, spot, flounder and decreasing numbers of croaker along eastern edge of the shipping channel from Buoy 84 south. Flounder also are being caught along channel edges in Eastern Bay, the western edge from Breezy Point to Deale and at False Channel below the mouth of the Choptank. Holland Point Bar is good for sea trout and spot. Cooks and Todd points at the mouth of the Choptank are excellent. Hard bottom areas from Thomas Point Light to Hacketts continue to be excellent for white perch and some spot.

Lower Chesapeake Bay: Chumming is the favored method for rockfish and bluefish along the eastern edge of the shipping channel from Buoy 72 to the SW Middle Grounds, although trollers, too, are doing well for stripers. Ken Lamb of the Tackle Box in Lexington Park reports breaking rockfish, blue and Spanish mackerel in huge schools from Point No Point to Point Lookout. Croaker, the mainstay for bottom fishermen for the past couple of months, are moving out now and the focus is shifting to sea trout and flounder. Cornfield Harbor, Cedar Point Hollow, Buoy 76 and the Richland Bell Buoy are good locations for trout and flounder. Spot and weakfish are good bets in Tangier Sound, and spotted sea trout to four pounds have been hitting in the shallows around Bloodsworth and South Marsh islands in the evenings.

Susquehanna River: Bass fishing continues to be steady with crankbaits, spinners and poppers taking fish from islands, shorelines, deep holes and bridge piers. Rockfish action has been largely for smaller fish.

Tidal Potomac River: Best largemouth bass action has been in and around grass beds in the main stem. Next week, the river will be busy with competitors in the Maryland Top 150 pro tournament based at Smallwood State Park on Mattawoman Creek. Competition days are Wednesday through Saturday.

Upper Potomac River: Grubs and live minnows best for smallmouth bass, many of which range from 11 to 13 inches. Catfish action spotty, but cut bait working best.

Deep Creek Lake: Trout in 24 feet of water near the dam, walleye action picking up off rocky points and smallmouth hitting drifted minnows in 12- to 15-foot depths.

Ocean City inshore: The first and last two hours of each tide cycle have been producing increasing numbers of keeper flounder, with some catches reaching seven pounds, with the Route 50 bridge and the area between buoys 9 and 13 behind Assateague good bets. Sea trout in the two- to five-pound range have been taken from the bridge and the south jetty. Croaker still numerous in the back bays as far north as the Route 90 bridge. Sea trout, croaker, small blues and spot in the surf and at the inlet piers.

Ocean City offshore: Good numbers of white and blue marlin reported as close as the Hot Dog and out to the 50-fathom line between Washington and Poor Man's canyons. Numerous dolphin under debris or weed lines from Bass Grounds out to the canyons. Skipjack tuna, false albacore and bluefish to 15 pounds at the Jackspot. Tuna bite has been sporadic.

Pub Date: 8/20/98