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I assumed I was in full compliance with DNR's striped bass regulations when I trolled for stripers in the Severn River last week. I interpreted the requirements as a result of viewing the striped bass maps on the DNR website. Over the weekend, Bignose posted text from the 2013 Fishing in Maryland brochure that suggested a more strict interpretation. This afternoon, Dogfish expressed a similar opinion.
I spent some time looking through the official DNR Fisheries regulations at COMAR 08.02.15. They define those rivers that are considered "spawning rivers" -- the Severn is not one of them. There is no doubt that the spawning rivers are off-limits at this time. They also have a separate section that lays out the special rules for catch and release in the Susquehanna Flats and the Northeast River. But they never come out and clearly indicate whether those tributaries not considered to be spawning rivers are eligible for catch and release fishing.
The maps on the website seem to tell a slightly different story from the regulations and the Fishing in Maryland brochure. My intuition told me that the regulations and brochure were written using more formal language and the maps were added to make things easier to understand. But there still was enough nagging doubt that I called DNR this afternoon. I spoke with Diane Samuels in the Fisheries program and explained that I saw two different interpretations of the actual rules. She clarified that the maps had been created by DNR to provide a simpler and more readily understandable version of the regulatory requirements. I now feel more comfortable about fishing in the Severn.
I spent some time looking through the official DNR Fisheries regulations at COMAR 08.02.15. They define those rivers that are considered "spawning rivers" -- the Severn is not one of them. There is no doubt that the spawning rivers are off-limits at this time. They also have a separate section that lays out the special rules for catch and release in the Susquehanna Flats and the Northeast River. But they never come out and clearly indicate whether those tributaries not considered to be spawning rivers are eligible for catch and release fishing.
The maps on the website seem to tell a slightly different story from the regulations and the Fishing in Maryland brochure. My intuition told me that the regulations and brochure were written using more formal language and the maps were added to make things easier to understand. But there still was enough nagging doubt that I called DNR this afternoon. I spoke with Diane Samuels in the Fisheries program and explained that I saw two different interpretations of the actual rules. She clarified that the maps had been created by DNR to provide a simpler and more readily understandable version of the regulatory requirements. I now feel more comfortable about fishing in the Severn.
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