Important info for Maryland Tidal largemouth bass anglers

[BrianinMD]

If you fish for largemouth on the tidal Potomac or Upper Chesapeake you will want to read this http://dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Write-up-Catch-and-Return-Area.pdf

[Logan S]

I'd rather have this solution than some of the other ideas I've heard floating around, but I doubt it will make any noticeable difference (especially outside those specific areas).  The biggest issue with the Potomac is the significant decrease in fishable water due to the significant decrease in submerged grass.  Less bass in smaller areas being targeted by more fisherman...Of course the fishing is going to take a downturn.  I don't think C&R/off-limits zones are going to change that.  If the grass grows back the fisherman will spread out again and the fishing will stabilize.  It looks to be heading that way which is good news, there was more grass this past season than the season before.

It's still a good fishery, but nothing like it was before this downturn.  

[ClackerBuzz]

i'm lost here. they are blaming tournaments for the bass decline?  i've seen endless studies of tourny bass being released only to return to their exact same haunt w/ in 24-48 hrs.  it held true even under very far distances.

they based this proposal on 'angler feedback and surveys' and not science?

[Logan S]

I don't know if they are specifically blaming tournaments, but it seems that's part of the idea.  There is a small group of people who are very vocal against tournaments...Proposing closed seasons, 3-fish limits, and restricting the number of tournaments.  Which is why I say I'd rather have this 'solution' over the alternatives.  We already have restrictions in the spring, March 1 thru June 15 the size limit is 15" as opposed to 12" the rest of the year.  I think the proposed model would make more sense if it was C&R during the 15" season and open the rest of the year.  

It seems to me that nobody wants to address the actual problem, which is the declining health of the river.  When the river was healthy it supported even more tournaments than we have now without blinking.  The predominant cover/habit for bass on the Potomac is grass, without grass a huge percentage of the river is just featureless mud/sand flats.  Less grass = less bass.  IMO the real solution would be to figure out why the grass disappeared and then figure out how to bring it back...But I'm not a biologist, just a guy that's spent a ton of time on this river over the past 15 years.  

Last year it seemed to rebound slightly, which is good news...I'm hoping for more progress this season. 

 

[Megastink]

My solution: MLF rules for tournaments. My old club did this on release-only lakes.

[RichF]

I could bring some more milfoil down from Northern New York and "accidentally" drop it in the Potomac  Being a recent Northern VA transplant, this lack of grass has me worried about my new "home water."

[docirv]

Season should be closed like it was in the good or not so good old days: No bass fishing during bedding season at all and no sight fishing for bedding bass. Too many of the waters in this geographical zone are experiencing declines in fishing population. Is it due to fishing pressure or something else going on with the environment?

[BrianinMD]

Its due to environment, guys out fishing during the spawn have no effect on grass which is the main issue. Something is killing the grass fields, if you look at old Google Earth images and compare it to current grass fields it will shock and repulse you. The health of the bass will rise and fall as the grass does. However, I have still not seen much being down to determine why the grass died.

[Logan S]

I did a comparison last year on the grass topic using Google Earth photos so I'll post them here.  These are just a few sections of the Potomac.  There were 2 phases of grass disappearing, one starting around 2002/2003 on the DC/Northern part of the river and the other started around 2010/2011 and hitting most of river the south of DC.  These pictures are from summer or fall, times where the grass will be at it's highest levels.  

This is the southern DC/Smoot Bay section of the river, 2001 on the left and 2014 on the right.  The DC sector was the first area to lose grass, many guys now weren't around when this part of the river was kicking out bass...It was arguably the most productive area of the entire tidal Potomac system.

This is Dogue Creek, which is about 10 miles south of the the first pic.  2010 left and 2014 right.  

This is Mattawoman Creek, 12 miles south of the second pic and 22 miles south of the first.  

 

What happened in 2002?  Construction on the new Wilson Bridge, continued through 2007/2008.  What happened on an ongoing basis from 2008 through 2014?  Construction on/at National Harbor.  I'm not a scientist, but IMO it all leads back to these major construction projects which are in/on the water.  Now that most of that work is done, hopefully we'll see the rebound.  Like I said previously, the end of last season showed promise so I'm optimistic.  

I've also heard a rumor that a member of a certain group that is VERY anti-tournament (and has a financial interest in being that way) is now the VP of MD tidal bass fisheries...I won't add my comments but you can draw your own assumptions on that and the idea of conflicting interests.

For the record, this is just one man's opinion (mine).  

[CaptMikeStarrett]

So if you want fish these areas in a tourny you will need to not use livewells. Photo measure and release. Longest total wins.

Or go to the MLF style. No more teams that way.. unless an official is on board. Since the back seat or front seat will need to stop fishing and verify weights. I do not see that working. But it takes change sometimes to get a resolve. 

Capt Mike