About the Fishing Challenge
The Maryland Fishing Challenge Featuring Diamond Jim is a free, year-round tournament sponsored by the Maryland DNR Fisheries Service, recreational fishing organizations, and generous donors across the state.

The purpose of the event is to promote the Free State’s excellent fishing opportunities and the importance of kids in the outdoors as the essential key to future environmental stewardship.

The Maryland Fishing Challenge features three components:

Award Citation Achievers—anyone fishing legally in Maryland has the opportunity to catch and record an award-winning fish by landing any of more than 80 eligible species categories above a certain minimum size designated by species. If you catch a fish that meets or exceeds the official citation award size, simply submit your catch to any of the 84 official citation centers (tackle shops) to receive your official entry ticket which clears the way for you to receive your certificate and your invitation to the Grand Celebration. The entry tickets are available at the citation centers with online registration soon to come. Prize winners will be randomly selected from the attendees at the celebration, which will be held during the 44th Annual Maryland Seafood Festival on September 10, 2011 at Sandy Point State Park. Catch and Release anglers may also participate by submitting a Catch & Release entry form using this online form and by attending the Grand Celebration.

The Return of Diamond Jim—Beginning in June, DNR Fisheries biologists and teams of young anglers take to the Chesapeake Bay to catch, tag and release hundreds of striped bass. Every tag has a unique number designating the striper as a potential Diamond Jim. The official Diamond Jim will be worth thousands of dollars while the other tagged "imposter" fish are worth at least $500 each.

Maryland Fishing Challenge (MFC) Youth Component—MFC partners and/or sponsors host fish rodeo events across the state where anglers under the age of 16 may be chosen to advance to the Grand Awards Celebration in September, with a chance to take home a prize donated by one of the Maryland Fishing Challenge sponsors as well as other opportunities offered by supporting Maryland Fishing Challenge partners. In 2010, 21 youth anglers advanced to the awards event and won prizes including tackle packages from Bill's Outdoor Center and Bass Pro Shops and a fishing kayak donated by Kent Island Kayaks. These events are in addition to the nearly 65 youth fishing rodeo events held annually by local community and fishing organizations. Although these events are not a MFC Youth Component event, you can still be entered for a special drawing by attending one of these events and catching your very first fish as part of MD DNR "My First Fish" Program.

My First Fish-The Maryland My First Fish program recognizes an angler of any age that catches his or her fish in Maryland for the first time. Any species, regardless of length is eligible. However, if the fish is below the legal size, the application must be submitted as a catch and release entry, which requires the submission of a clear photograph and a witness signature at a citation award center. A special certificate will be awarded to the angler for this first fish. My First Fish anglers will also be invited to advance to the Maryland Fishing Challenge Grand Awards Event with a chance to win a special prize.
The annual contest ends at midnight on Labor Day each year. The following Maryland Fishing Challenge begins at 12:01 a.m. the next day.

For more information about the citation award program contact Keith Lockwood at klockwood@dnr.state.md.us and (410) 226-0078, Ext 107. For additional information regarding the Maryland Fishing Challenge contact Marty Gary at mlgary@dnr.sdate.md.us.

To “Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley in April 2009 as part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/challenge/