Tideline Summer 2017

CHAPTER UPDATES

News from the Southern Maryland Chapter By Phil Zalesak

Following the very successful Solomons Fishing Fair on April 1st and 2nd the chapter initiated a number of subsidized charter boat trips during trophy rockfish season. These charter trips will continue throughout the year under the leadership of Captain Bruno Vasta. Below is a picture from the April 27th outing of the Strike Zone charter boat. Six fishermen, six fish, it doesn’t get any better than that during trophy rockfish season.

Campers are ready to fish off the Greenwell State Park pier.

On Thursdays, children receive a demonstration on fly fish fishing; try their skills at fly casting; learn about different rods and lures and their application; compete in a casting contest; and receive brand new fishing rods, lures and bottom rigs to take home to continue their interest in fishing. On Fridays, campers crab off the kayak pier and net fish and minnows using casting nets and minnow traps.

A number of chapter members did well on their own boats. Members can post their latest catch on chapter Facebook page titled “Southern Maryland Sport Fishing”. Amy Widerman, the chapter secretary, posted her best catch of the season on this site. Jerry Gaff, Tom Kemp, Bruno Vasta, David Hall, Gary Boyd and David Gaestel show off their catch from their charter boat trip aboard the Strike Zone.

Campers fishing on the Patuxent River aboard ParranWilkinson’s boat, Papa’s Dream.

Looking ahead, the chapter will be providing three week-long fishing camps this summer in support of the Greenwell Foundation fishing camp program. On Mondays, children between the ages of 7 – 12 learn about the fish of the Amy Widerman shows off her 49 ½ inch, 45 pound rockfish she caught aboard Chris Goudreau’s boat on April 29th. Nice job Amy!

In addition to Greenwell fishing camps the chapter will be supporting “Hooked on Fishing” being sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation at Point Lookout State Park in July. Finally, the chapter will continue to support wounded warrior and disabled veteran fishing programs in Southern Maryland this year. In October of 2016 the chapter supported its first event with the chapter providing boats, captains and mates. The chapter partnered with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing who served as the sponsor and the Greenwell Foundation which hosted the event at Greenwell State Park. The chapter will join with these two organizations again to hold another event this coming fall.

Chesapeake Bay, how to tie a “fisherman’s” knot, how to make a bottom rig from a scratch, how to cast, and how to cut up squid as bait for bottom fishing. On Tuesdays, children fish off the pier at the Greenwell State Park pier using the bait they prepared the day before. On Wednesdays, children fish off boats provided by chapter volunteers who serve as boat captains and mates. They also learn how to clean and fillet fish that they caught that day.

SUMMER 2017  | Page 29