History of Maryland State Record Fish Program

Type: Nontidal and Tidal
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The Fishing In Maryland Awards program and the beginning of the MD State Record fish program were established in 1963 by a group of outdoor writers and publishers that printed the annual fishing in MD magazine (FIM). The FIM Awards program continued into the early 2000s until the magazine went out of business. The state records program for largest rod and reel caught fish by weight was taken over by either the MD Tidewater Administration or by DNR sometime between the 1970s and mid 1980s. The first state records are shown here. Some species (including striped bass, the state fish) did not have an established record until the late 60s and early 70s. By the time DNR took over in the late 70s and 80s, all species had an established weight, and several new species were added. All current records are now posted online at:
dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/state-records.aspx