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  • Diamond Jim uses the computer

    $10,000 Diamond Jim Still On The Loose
    June 22nd, 2009 NewsEngine Posted in Fishing News

    Annapolis, MD – Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s star of the summer, Diamond Jim is now reaching a new audience as a member of both Facebook and Twitter. The fifth annual Maryland Fishing Challenge, The Search for Diamond Jim – which includes a citation component – kicked off in late May, when DNR biologists tagged 50 striped bass with specially marked Diamond Jim tags. One of those specially tagged fish (Diamond Jim himself) is worth as much as $25,000, the imposters are worth $500.

    “I was a little concerned when DNR asked me to use the internet and a computer to reach out to my angler friends, but so far things have been going along swimmingly,” said Diamond Jim.

    On May 28, fifty specially tagged striped bass – one genuine Diamond Jim and 49 imposters — were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The real Diamond Jim is worth $10,000 cash if caught by midnight June 30, 2009, and the 49 Diamond Jim imposters are worth $500 each for the duration of the contest. Additional tagged fish will be released at the beginning of July and August at which point any previously released and uncaught Diamond Jim becomes an imposter. The newly released Diamond Jim’s value will increase, to $20,000 in July and $25,000 in August, if the preceding Jims remain on the loose.

    “Casting Diamond Jim into the world of social media creates all kinds of new and exciting opportunities for young anglers to connect with the contest and each other,” said DNR’s E-Government Manager Gene Deems, who is the voice behind Diamond Jim. “This is a great way to blend old Maryland traditions with new media to give Maryland Families the opportunity to explore outdoors and get some guidance on the internet.”

    There’s also another new online angle to the Fishing Challenge this month. Anglers can post picture on Diamond Jim’s Facebook wall, with an opportunity to win a prize. DNR will draw a Facebook friend’s name who posted at random on July 4. The deadline to post is July 3.

    Created to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire natural resources stewardship, the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge will run through Labor Day, September 7, 2009. Any angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish and enters the challenge becomes eligible to participate in the grand prize drawing, which includes a boat and trailer package from Bass Pro Shops and thousands of dollars in fishing gear and trips from Bill’s Outdoor Center.

    More than 60 species of fish are eligible for the grand prizes, including large and smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, musky and panfish in the freshwaters of Maryland; rockfish (striped bass), bluefish, drum, sea trout and perch in the Chesapeake Bay; and tuna, marlin, flounder, kingfish and sea bass caught in Maryland waters off the Atlantic Coast. Grand prize winners will be randomly selected at a closing ceremony in mid-September.

    “We have been amazed by the online response to Diamond Jim,” said Deems. “He tweets at least once a day and he already has 225 friends on Facebook.”

    As an added youth component, children participating in various fishing rodeos across the State may qualify for a unique category and win a guided fishing trip. Last year 12 children won trips donated by Maryland charter boat captains, which are currently being scheduled and will take place throughout the summer.

    “Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Martin O’Malley in April. The Bill is part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

    Complete Rules are available online at Maryland Department of Natural Resources - 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge and you can follow Diamond Jim at www.facebook.com/diamondjim_md or www.twitter.com/Diamondjim_md.
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  • #2
    Diamond Jim Still On The Loose! Now Worth $25,000!

    Waldorf Man Catches $500 Imposter

    Annapolis, MD – John Sparrow from Waldorf, MD caught the second tagged striped bass in the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge, which turned out to be a Diamond Jim imposter worth $500. Sparrow was fishing in Cove Point earlier this month when he hooked the prized rockfish, and today at a ceremony in Solomons, MD opened the matching envelope pronouncing it an imposter.

    “At this point it’s still anybody’s game to win,” said 2009 Fishing Challenge Organizer Marty Gary. “With the Fishing Challenge, when you get new people out on the water with their families, enjoying nature, everyone wins.”

    Over the summer, three batches of 50 specially tagged striped bass – one authentic Diamond Jim and 49 imposters – are being released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Since July’s Diamond Jim eluded capture during its validity period, the current Diamond Jim -- which was released today -- is now worth $25,000. Also still on the loose are more than 145 imposters worth $500 each.

    "It's an impostor. We ate him, he made a good dinner, but Diamond Jim is still out there,” said Sparrow. “It’s been fun and I can’t wait for the drawing.”

    Created to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire natural resources stewardship, the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge—which also features a citation component—will run through Labor Day, September 7, 2009. Sparrow—and any angler who catches a prize or citation fish – will also be entered into the final awards ceremony in September, and will be eligible for the grand prizes including a boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and thousands of dollars in prizes from Bill's Outdoor Center on Deep Creek Lake.

    The Bass Pro Shops in Hanover, MD is now the 88th official Sport Fishing Citation Award Center. The Citation Centers are located across the state of Maryland, and function to certify memorable and notable catches of over 81 species categories. Anglers can now take their qualifying catches to Bass Pro Shops in Arundel Mills Mall to be checked in. In addition to receiving an award citation suitable for framing, anglers will be entered into the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge grand prize drawing for a Tracker boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats, which will be randomly selected at a prize ceremony in September.

    As an added youth component, children participating in various fishing rodeos across the State may qualify for a unique category and win a guided fishing trip. Last year 12 children won trips donated by Maryland charter boat captains, which taking place throughout the summer.

    “Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley in April. The Bill is part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

    Complete rules are available online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fishingchallengee Diamond Jim</I> at www.facebook.com/diamondjim_mdd or www.twitter.com/Diamondjim_md.
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