Fishing opportunities for land based fishermen and crabbers

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Eastern
Location: Choptank River

Friends and family gathered to dedicate the two fishing piers that are formed from the two ends of the old Choptank Bridge that used to span the Choptank River between Trappe and Cambridge. Deputy Secretary Joe Gill spoke about Bill�s career as an outdoor writer and advocate for taking children fishing. Bill�s wife Lois and daughter Heather shared with everyone Bill�s love of fishing and his desire to see all people enjoy the simple pleasures of fishing that can be achieved by taking children fishing at convenient local spots. Bill was instrumental in convincing officials to retain the old Choptank Bridge and designate it as a fishing pier. The new Bill Burton State Park Fishing Piers will fulfill Bill�s legacy and certainly provides easy access for fishermen to a variety of bay and tidal river species. Fishermen are catching white perch, croaker and spot in the early morning and late evening hours this week about 2/3rds of the way out on the north pier. The fishing piers are an excellent place to crab with collapsible crab traps. Recreational crabbers have been doing well with collapsible crab traps from about 1/3 to 2/3rds of the way out on the piers on both sides of the river.

There is plenty of parking at both piers some picnic tables and outdoor toilets located out on the piers. The Bill Burton State Park Fishing Piers are a trash free park so please remove your trash when leaving. The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park is now open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Both sections of the piers are lighted for night fishing from April 1 through December 31 and the Dorchester County side of the pier is open and lighted year round.