Whether anglers are looking to stuff their cooler with Maryland fresh seafood or compete for prize money, angling for blue catfish can be rewarding. Competitive angling for invasive species also helps promote a healthier ecosystem in Maryland waters. (Credit: Keith Sutton)
Catfish Competitions Benefit the Chesapeake
Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland catfish tournaments offer invasive species angling.
With record catches around the country tipping the scales at more than 100 pounds, blue catfish have become quite the draw for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Introduced in the 1970s as a recreational fishing target species in Virginia, invasive blue catfish populations have grown rapidly in Maryland waters.
As commercial harvests of blue catfish have risen exponentially, recreational fishing for the species is becoming more popular as a way to enjoy a day on the water, as well as bring plenty of fish home for dinner. Commercial landings of blue catfish have grown from 609,525 pounds in 2013 to 4.2 million pounds in 2023, more than a 500% increase in the past decade. The fish is increasingly showing up on menus and in grocery stores, helping it to become more appealing as table fare.
This year, avid anglers can fill their calendars with tournaments to try to catch the biggest and most blue catfish. There are no fishing restrictions on the species. In fact, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is urging anglers to catch as many blue catfish as possible and remove them from the water. Blue catfish stomach studies have determined the invasive fish are eating large quantities of native species such as white perch and blue crabs and harming the overall ecosystem.
“Maryland’s recreational anglers have done a great job of drawing attention to fishing for invasive species,” said Branson Williams, invasive fishes program manager for the MDNR. “Targeting these fish in a tournament-based setting can incentivize anglers, remove large quantities of blue catfish at once and support researchers as they study the health of the ecosystem. Maryland anglers are lucky to have these competitive fishing opportunities, which have low barriers to entry and can even educate new anglers on tactics and methods for catching catfish.”
Below is a partial list of Maryland tournaments and other events that feature blue catfish and other invasive species targeting. Whether anglers are looking to stuff their cooler with Maryland fresh seafood or compete for prize money, angling for blue catfish can be rewarding. Competitive angling for invasive species also helps promote a healthier ecosystem in Maryland waters.
Mid-Shore Fishing Club Invasive Species Tournament (March 1-December 1, 2024)
Sponsored by the Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland, anglers target blue catfish and northern snakeheads inside the boundaries of the Eastern Shore. Payouts are awarded for most fish and largest fish.
Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative Reel Rewards Program (April 1–October 31, 2024)
The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative is a Baltimore-based nonprofit offering this new program that offers incentives for the catch of snakeheads, blue catfish and flathead catfish in the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.
Great Chesapeake Invasives Count (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025)
Coastal Conservation Association Maryland hosts this research-backed tournament which is free to enter. Anglers compete for monthly prizes and log catches through a mobile app where you can input total length, weight and even stomach contents.
Sharptown Catfish Tournament (April 13, 2024)
Weighing thousands of pounds in blue catfish in recent years, the annual Sharptown Catfish Tournament returned earlier this month. For $100 per boat (or kayak) with a four-person limit, anglers depart from Cherry Beach before sunrise to compete for cash prizes.
Benedict Volunteer Fire Department Outdoor Extravaganza (April 13, 2024)
The Benedict Volunteer Fire Department out of Charles County hosted their inaugural Catfish Tournament on April 13. BVFD hosted weigh-ins at the firehouse, where fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment vendors were also set up. Cash prizes were available for the heaviest five-fish total and single fish for boat, kayak and shore categories.
Wicomico Invasive Fishing Tournament (April 20, 2024)
Wicomico Environmental Trust is a nonprofit working towards the environmental health of Wicomico County and the Chesapeake Bay. Their tournament, which is free for children, also features live music and a food truck on site at the Riverside Boat Ramp in Salisbury.
Eric Altemus Memorial Catfish Tournament (June 8, 2024)
Supporting a great cause, awarding cash prizes and benefitting multiple local organizations, the Eric Altemus Memorial Catfish Tournament in Chesapeake City will be a great event fun for all ages. It will be held at Safe Harbor Bohemia Vista.
Back River Restoration Committee Larry Farinetti Fishing Tournament (September 7, 2024)
Formerly a wildly successful striped bass tournament, this tournament is shifting gears to a catfish tournament in its 17th year. Hosted at the West Shore Yacht Center in Essex, 60 boats compete for thousands of dollars in guaranteed prize money, while the remaining proceeds go toward the committee’s future projects and cleanups of the Back River watershed.
Fish For A Cure (November 9, 2024)
This fishing tournament and fundraising challenge makes waves to fund local initiatives in cancer care, including the annual fishing tournament on the Chesapeake Bay followed by a Shore Party in Annapolis, Maryland. The tournament includes an invasive species category.
