Crisfield trout tournament brings anglers, awareness

Anglers from throughout the Mid-Atlantic can now sign up for the third annual Huk Performance Fishing-CCA Red Trout Catch & Release Tournament on Sept. 18-20 in Crisfield, Md.

The tournament, headquartered at Somers Cove Marina, plays host to many of the Chesapeake region’s top light tackle, fly, and kayak anglers, and this year a live bait category has been added. The tourney promotes sustainable, catch and release fishing methods where anglers photograph their catch for digital submittals in lieu of a weigh in.

“The Crisfield-Tangier Sound area boosts some of the best redfish and speckled trout fishing on the Eastern Seaboard,” said Tony Friedrich, CCA MD executive director. “This tourney provides anglers with the opportunity to test their skills against some of the Chesapeake’s most challenging species.”

Winners will be selected based on the total length of their three longest fish caught Saturday and Sunday. At least one of those three fish must be a speckled trout or redfish. The remaining two can be a striped bass, flounder, bluefish, or additional speckled trout and redfish.

Categories include a boat division for bait and light tackle anglers and individual divisions for fly and kayak anglers. Boat teams will consist of two fishermen. All entrants must attend check-in meetings Friday and Saturday nights where food will be served.

All rules and registration information can be found on the CCA MD website, www.ccmd.org.

The tournament was founded in 2013 to draw attention to the value of redfish and speckled trout that recently have been making a comeback in the Chesapeake Bay.

“The Huk Performance Fishing Gear-CCA MD Red Trout Tournament started as an effort to bring awareness to the speckled trout and redfish fishery that exists in Crisfield,” explained Friedrich. “CCA Maryland recognized a problem with the old regulations for speckled trout.

Friedrich says the recreational bag limit was excessive and the commercial limit had no limits, gear restrictions, season limits, and a minimum size that did not allow for the fishery to grow. (Tournament organizers) worked with Maryland DNR to put meaningful regulations in place, and after several years emerged victorious.

The recreational limit was cut from 10 to 4 fish.

“The commercial limit was cut from an unlimited fishery to a 125 pound by catch allowance. We now hope to see a more stable population of speckled trout within Maryland.”

This is the first year Huk Performance Fishing Gear has been the title sponsor of the event. Additional sponsors include Yeti, Starbrite, Hookedup.fish Network, Shimano, Costa del Mar, LL Bean, Chesapeake Brewing Company, Annapolis Boat Sales, Bomber Saltwater Grade Lures, and Shore Tackle Custom Rods.