If you’re looking for an excuse to get on the water post-Labor Day, here it is: a unique Chesapeake Bay fishing tournament with a slightly different objective than most. The goal of the Maryland Rod and Reef Slam is simple: to catch as many different species of fish as you can between Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 15.
The Maryland Rod and Reef Slam is meant to show off the wide range of fish that oyster restoration reefs attract. Anglers will challenge themselves to discover species they never targeted before along with favorites like rockfish, or invasive species like blue or flathead catfish and snakehead (“Chesapeake channa”).
The tournament is co-hosted by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA).
You can go out on your own time during the eight-day window beginning the Saturday after Labor Day and choose between more than 100 Maryland oyster reefs to fish. Anglers can take advantage of the small sites in the northern Bay and around Annapolis, to the large-scale restoration reefs in Harris Creek, the Little Choptank River, and Tred Avon River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Fishermen and women have known it for years: oyster reefs don’t just increase the Bay’s depleted oyster population. They tend to become angling hot spots.
“Oysters build underwater habitat that naturally attracts bottom-dwelling critters that gamefish eat,” explains CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden. “In this family-friendly tournament, anglers will experience the immense diversity of fish species that rely on oyster sanctuary reefs to thrive.”
The Rod and Reef Slam has been successful in turning up a wide range of fish species in the past. At times, as many as 16 different species have been caught in just one day. White perch, drum, toadfish, bluefish, rockfish, blue crabs, and Spanish mackerel have been recorded in past tournaments.
Multiple-time Maryland Rod and Reef Slam champion, Herb Floyd, has hooked some interesting fish—pufferfish, toadfish, pigfish, kingfish, the bottom-dwelling lizardfish and even the rare silver perch.
We asked Floyd his favorite reefs to fish and he mentioned the large-scale restoration sites in the Manokin River and Harris Creek, as well as Tilghman’s Reef near Poplar Island and Fort Carroll, alongside the former Key Bridge on the Patapsco River. He says white perch and spot were biting there nonstop during last year’s tournament. This year he’d like to try Jane’s Island Reef near Crisfield.
What about strategy? Well, anglers are known to have their secrets. But Floyd shares with Chesapeake Bay Magazine that if you’re targeting multiple species at once, you can’t go wrong with bloodworms (or artificial bloodworms known as Fishbites). He mentions a Chesapeake Sabiki rig, available at most local tackle shops. “A Sabiki rig with a 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch piece of bloodworm—drift or bounce that around the reef,” he advises.
Other pieces of advice Floyd offers? The smaller the hook, the better to catch the smaller fish, which increases your chances of catching more species. He also says, the further south you fish, the more variety you tend to find.
Anglers who put the work in will be rewarded, even if they don’t win a prize. CBF hosts a beachfront after-party and awards ceremony at its waterfront Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis on the final day of the tournament, Sept. 15. It features live music by the Eastport Oyster Boys, plus local food and drinks.
This year’s event will run from Saturday, September 7, through Sunday, September 15. Fishing will be followed by a beachfront after-party and awards ceremony at CBF’s Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis 12-3 p.m. on September 15, featuring live music from the Eastport Oyster Boys, local food, and drinks.
You can enter the tournament ($50 for adults, $25 for youth) or buy after-party only tickets. Anyone competing in the tournament must log their catches by species, size and location through the iAngler Tournament app.
The grand prize goes to the highest overall diversity of species caught. If there’s a tie, fish length will determine the winner. There are separate divisions for Powerboat, Kayak and Youth anglers. Awards will be given to first, second and third place for each division. Everyone can compete in the Invasive Species division.
“It’s a fun tournament because size doesn’t really play into it,” Floyd says. “Take the kids out, catch lots of little fish, and take pictures.”
Interested anglers must register here by Sept. 6, 2024. Good luck!
