The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has modified the restrictions it will place on tournaments at the Potomac River and Upper Chesapeake Bay from mid June through the end of October in regard to the possession of bass measuring 15 inches or more. Tournament directors will now be given two options for conducting their events, one of which allows participants to adhere to the standard statewide regulations for that time period (five-fish creel, 12-inch minimum length, all five fish can exceed 15 inches).
That option, which requires directors to meet special conditions that reduce stress on larger bass, likely means that the Bassmaster Elite Series event scheduled for the Potomac in August will proceed as scheduled. BassFan was informed by email on Friday that the organization would provide a statement on the situation today.
The prior stipulation (still listed as Option 1 on the DNR's Tournament Anglers web page) would've allowed each angler to posses (i.e. weigh in) only one bass that exceeded the 15-inch mark each day. The DNR said the revision was made after considering the input of those most affected by the restriction.
The less angler-restrictive Option 2 calls for the redistribution of tournament-caught bass to approved locations, for each competitor to have a free participant permit and "requires other actions to improve survival of large bass."
To read the DNR's announcement of the modification, click here.
