Dolphins on the Severn

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central, Mid-Bay
Location: Severn River Mouth

Joe Fulton and John Agius viewed two dozen dolphin on the Severn river (Naval Academy) heading to the Bay. The picture was taken by Joe Fulton. Joe hooked a 4 foot wide "skate" (cownose ray) under the Bay bridge. He fought it for 20 minutes before it broke the line. Question-What's up with dolphin and skate in the upper bay? I never saw them before.

DNR Answer: the dolphin are probably feeding and chasing baitfish in the mouth of the Severn. They may have followed prey fish up the Bay from ocean waters. Cownose ray sightings ("skates") are not unusual in the area around the Bay Bridge and all the way up to Love Point. The rays usually show up in the lower Bay around Solomons in May, and work their way up the Bay to the Annapolis/Love Pt area by June. This year, the rays were observed in the Severn River at Chase Creek, upstream of the Rt. 50 Bridge!