Garn Godwin set a record for largest fish ever weighed in a Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association striped bass tournament en route to winning the amateur division of the Championship on the Chesapeake earlier this month.
His 53.3-pound catch measured 52 inches, earning him $65,437.
Other big amateur money-winners were James Snyder ($22,167), Andrew Wendell ($10,437), Roger Grissom ($9,002) and Rick Schaffer ($7,755).
Bob Arvey had the second-biggest catch among amateurs (50.2 pounds, 49 inches), followed by Kevin Tracey (47.4 pounds, 49 inches), Snyder (46.05 pounds 50 inches) and Grissom (45.9 pounds, 47 inches).
Dave Abell won the pro division of the May 1-3 event on the bay with a catch of 45.6 pounds and 49 inches. He won $6,718.75. Shawn Pruitt (40.55 pounds, 46.5 inches, $7,406.25) was second and Marcus Wilson (36.55 pounds, 45.25 inches, $3,602.50) third.
In the kayak division, judged on the aggregate of the two longest fish, Shane Clift (64.75 inches) won $2,000 and Dave Baden and Matt Baden (61 inches) won $750 each.
Billed as the world's largest rockfish tournament, the event drew about 2,500 anglers on 465 boats. There were 41 youth anglers and 72 female anglers.
Fishing licenses to last 365 days
Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday a bill that authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue recreational fishing licenses for 365 days from the date of purchase, rather than for the calendar year.
The law takes effect Oct. 1.
"By giving anglers the added value and flexibility of choosing their annual license's start date, we expect they'll spend more days on the water, which will benefit Maryland businesses associated with the sport-fishing community, such as tackle shops and charter boats, as well as the food service, fuel and hotel industries," DNR Secretary Mark Belton said.
Currently, recreational fishing licenses are good for a calendar year. As a result, Marylanders who purchase fishing licenses late in the year often buy short-term three- or seven-day licenses, which cost less but limit their fishing options. The new law is expected to encourage these anglers to buy annual licenses.
Sport Fishing Advisory Commission Vice Chairman David Sikorski, who championed the legislation, said, "This is a win for the recreational fishing community. Maryland now joins a handful of states leading the movement to offer the increased value and flexibility of a 365-day license."
The new law covers recreational tidal and nontidal fishing licenses, including the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Boat License. Anglers will be able to purchase these licenses through the online COMPASS system.
Clean Vessel money for Maryland
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a $900,450 grant to the DNR under the Clean Vessel Act grant program, Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski announced Friday.
The grant will fund the DNR's plans to install 10 pump-out stations, replace or upgrade 30 pump-out stations and purchase one new pump-out vessel.
The DNR will also provide operations and maintenance funding to 120 marinas, as well as for four pump-out boats. The state also proposes to provide accurate and updated pump-out information to boaters through the state's education and outreach efforts.
Maryland law requires any marina with 50 or more slips, and any new or expanding marina, to have a pump-out station.