Photo by Steve Doctor
Words by Sinclair Boggs, Courtesy Maryland DNR
Almost any angler would be thrilled to hold claim to a state record title, but few plan on it. A consistent theme among anglers who catch state records is their surprise when they land the fish, often thinking it was another species or even a snag because of the unexpected weight on their line.
While you can’t harness luck, there are steps Maryland anglers can take to increase their chances of hooking the largest fish of a given species in one of four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive.
For a record to stick, this fish must be caught legally. This means the angler must hold an active Maryland fishing license (unless exempt) and use legal fishing gear for the waterway they are fishing. Gear rules vary by waterway, season, and species. Brushing up on legal fishing methods is an important step all anglers should take. Rules can be reviewed on the Maryland e-regulations website or in the printed Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing.
With the launch of the new MD Outdoors online licensing system, buying a license, checking its status, and renewing it—which now can be done automatically— is simpler than ever.
The state record muskellunge in the nontidal division, weighing 33.0 pounds, was caught by Kyle Mullenix in March 2022 along the banks of the upper Potomac River. Photo courtesy Kyle Mullenix.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides numerous tools and resources anglers can use in pursuit of a state record. The Angler Access Map lists hundreds of public fishing locations. Fish Facts pages provide detailed information on species, and the weekly Maryland Fishing Report offers up-to-date advice on what’s biting and where. DNR recently introduced an interactive Lakes and Ponds map, which provides access to DNR survey data such as population size distribution. And the department’s MD Outdoors App provides easy access to information from your mobile device.