The Maryland Fishing Challenge Featuring Diamond Jim is a free, year-round tournament sponsored by the Maryland DNR Fisheries Service, 27 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:

1. Kid’s Fishing Rodeos—at some of the more than 50 community-based Fishing Rodeos, sponsored by DNR-Fisheries, communities, and fishing organizations, an angler under the age of 16 may be chosen to advance to the Grand Celebration in September with a chance to take home a prize donated by one of the Maryland Fishing Challenge sponsors.Click here to find a Rodeo in your area. Additionally, each chosen youth angler is guaranteed a “fishing trip of a life time” sponsored by the supporting Maryland Fishing Challenge organizations.
2. 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 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 and a complete citation award entry form to any of the 84 official citation centers (tackle shops) to receive your official certificate and your invitation to the Grand Celebration. The forms are available at the citation centers.Prize winners will be randomly selected from the attendees at the celebration, which will be held during the 43rd Annual Maryland Seafood Festival on September 11, 2010 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.
3. 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. Each month until September, one fish will be predetermined to be the official Diamond Jim worth as much as $25,000 to the angler who catches him. The other tagged “imposter” fish are worth $500 each. This year, as many as 600 fish will be tagged and released representing more than $300,000 in potential cash winnings.

For the full breakdown on potential Diamond Jim cash prize amounts check out the official rules.

The 2010 contest ends at midnight on Labor Day September 6. The 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge begins at 12:01 a.m. September 7, 2010.

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

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.