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By Slim Randles “When you been maturinatin’ ‘long as I have, they’s a few ultimatum facts about life that jest can’t be ignored,” With that, our favorite old-time camp cook, mule packer and occasional predictor of things that haven’t happened yet, Windy Wilson, stirred the sugar in his coffee and looked at the rest of us. Wisely. Well, as wisely as old Windy ever gets. We knew we were in for another dose of campfire education, even if it’s totally wrong. We smiled. Some people need cable TV to find this kind of fun. “Like them measurementals we use when we’re cookin’, he said. “If you look in them recipe books, they slam a buncha measurementals on ya that you never heard of and no one to convert them into plain American, like we speak here.” “You jest take in there them bakin’ recipes,” he said. “Cups a this, then you gotta shift them so they don’t stick together with stuff you already tossed in a bowl … like a dramblin’ of this or a sticker of butter. You ever see that stuff? How in the everlastin’ hoot owl drumsticks they spect us, ‘way over here in the United States... Read more →

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributor Dec 6, 2024 source Gary Devine Lifting Sunday hunting ban still in sight Dec 6, 2024 (The Center Square) – Pennsylvania sits on a short list of states that still have “blue laws” banning Sunday hunting. But growing momentum to lift those restrictions gives advocates reason for optimism. Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie has announced plans to reintroduce a proposal after Senate Bill 67 nearly made it over the finish line this legislative session. “Since 2018, I sponsored legislation to repeal this prohibition,” said Laughlin in a press release. “Through numerous meetings and compromise, the addition of three Sundays was achieved in Senate Bill 147, now Act 107 of 2019,” continued Laughlin. “Although hunters have the opportunity to hunt on three Sundays, I continue to advocate to end the Sunday hunting prohibition.” The Pennsylvania Game Commission currently permits hunting on three designated Sundays each year, governed by various regulations. Laughlin’s bill would have Pennsylvania join 39 other states with no limits. According to Laughlin, of the 10 states that, like Pennsylvania, impose restrictions, only two – Maine and Massachusetts – still enforce a complete ban, and the others are far more lenient. “We... Read more →

Home Country Slim Randles There is a payoff, Doc told us, for getting the aches and pains of old age. Doc should know. We have it on good authority that he is actually older than a flat, brown rock. "Sure," said Doc, in his usual cheerful way. "You get gray hair, or maybe kinda bald like ol' Steve here, and you develop wisdom, which we all know just means you know not to argue with your wife, right? So then what happens? Your grandchildren think you have all the answers." Doc leaned over conspiratorially. "I LIVE to embarrass my grandchildren." Dud wanted specifics. "With me," Doc said, "it's dancing. You see, they are all teenagers now, and therefore they are cool and know everything, and the world couldn't turn without them. So when their friends come over and they crank that stereo up to where it's killing the neighbor's geraniums, I ask them just once to turn it down." "Takes me a lot more than once," Dud said. "I swear those kids are hard of hearing." "But do you dance for them?" Doc asked. "You see, if they don't turn it down, I kinda totter to my feet and start... Read more →

U.S. Coast Guard District Eleven SAN DIEGO — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter (WPB 87362) interdicted 37 migrants from a 33-foot vessel, approximately seven nautical miles off Point Loma, Saturday. While on patrol, crewmembers aboard the Sea Otter spotted a vessel operating without navigation lights. The Sea Otter’s boarding team, along with members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection boarded the vessel and discovered the 37 migrants aboard. Of the 37 migrants taken into custody, 30 were determined to be of Mexican nationality, two were identified as Salvadoran nationality, three of Guatemalan nationality, one of Colombian nationality, and one U.S. citizen, who was reported to be the operator of the vessel. The 37 individuals were taken to Ballast Point and transferred to CBP. To contact Coast Guard District 11 Public Affairs, call at (206)-815-6689. For updated information follow us on X. Read more →

Home Country Slim Randles You think this pandemic thingie we’re going through is deadly? At least unpleasant? Hey, you’ve come here to this tower of truth to learn the little-known stuff that will make you completely shunned at lunchtime and cussed during choir practice. We modestly refer to it as attempting to commit journalism. When it comes to historical terrors, there are none that reached the pinnacle of pain as quickly and briefly as the dance fever. Yes, friend, the dance fever of 1518 was a month-long plague in Strasbourg, which is today in France. During the dance fever, hundreds of people, for no apparent reason, danced around the clock for a month. A number of them danced themselves to death. There is no record of which platter was spinning during this Renaissance sock hop, unfortunately. Looking back at the music of that time, a bunch of it was Gregorian chant. I like that tune, Dick. It has a good beat, you can dance to it. I’ll give it a seven. Strasbourg is in Alsace-Lorraine, and Alsace-Lorraine is today in France. But every so often Germany decides to take it over, and then we have to help get it back... Read more →

By Slim Randles | CNBNews Contributor “This whole election process just doesn’t work for me,” Dud said, sipping his coffee. “There’s no way we can tell who is best for the job.” Doc, being the senior member of the Mule Barn truck stop’s world dilemma think tank, looked kindly at Dud. “Well, haven’t you been reading what each guy stands for, Dud?” Dud shrugged. “Sure. But I firmly believe they only tell you what you want to hear. They’re the best, and the other guy is going to take you straight to ruined aspirations.” “Ruined aspirations?” piped up Steve, the cowboy with the owlish look of pure bowlegged intellectualism. “That’s why I’ve always thought we need a contest. A real contest. Have them put their aspirations where they’ll do the most good.” “A contest?” “Bull riding,” said Steve, nodding sagely. “Just put them on bulls and the first one to fall off loses.” “But what does bull riding have to do with taxes and warfare and education and all that stuff?” asked Doc. “Nothing at all,” said Steve, “but you can bet it will separate the serious candidates from the oh-what-the-heck guys.” “I like what I’m hearing here,” said Dud,... Read more →

By Slim Randles | CNBNews Contributor Graphic provided Ah … politics! If you’re a responsible American, as I often pretend to be, you’ll have watched and read and listened to as much hogwash on every side of every question ad nauseum, and we’ll all troop to the polls, read the names and say “Is this the best you guys can do for candidates?” And then we’ll vote, anyway. And that’s why I’d like to suggest March 4 as a new national holiday, it being the entire term of the only non-toxic President of the United States. His name was David Rice Atchison, who later on had Atchison, Kansas named for him, along with one third of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Never heard of him? Well, he was a pro-slavery Democrat who never met a bottle of booze he didn’t like. But back in 1849, when Atchison became President for an entire day, some people knew how to throw parties. And Atchison spent his entire term as President sleeping off a dandy drunk. (You can always turn here for the real skinny on history, of course). Here’s what happened. At noon on March 4, 1849, the term of... Read more →

written and compiled by Keith Lockwood October 9, 2024 Steve Evans caught this large flathead recently just below the Conowingo Dam pool on the lower Susquehanna River. Photo courtesy of Steven Evans Marylanders continue to see temperatures dip as we move our way through October. Fishing could hardly be better for a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. To the delight of trout anglers, the fall trout stocking program has begun. Other anglers set their sights on fish like the invasive flathead catfish. With the fall fishing season well underway, anglers are encouraged to participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ volunteer angler surveys. This is a chance for anglers to directly help in fisheries management. The information you provide assists the Department’s fisheries biologists with collection of important data, including species caught, harvest (fish kept), total catches, and fish released. Forecast Summary: October 9 – October 15: Expect moderate, sunny, breezy weather to highlight our fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. Shorter daylight periods and cooler day-time air temperatures have cooled main Bay surface water temperatures to the lower 70s, with rivers running slightly cooler. Salinity in Maryland’s part of the Bay below the Bay Bridge continues... Read more →

Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. (source NRA) Armed Citizen® Archives https://judge.me/ A Grayson County, Va., man is dead after allegedly breaking into a house and attacking an armed homeowner early in the morning on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. According to police, the 41-year-old alleged intruder broke a bedroom window and entered the house while the homeowner was asleep. The resident quickly grabbed for a handgun that was in the room, when the burglar grabbed the man from behind. A struggle ensued, with both men falling to the floor. The homeowner retained control of his handgun and fired twice, striking the invader and killing him. Police say that early investigations indicate the homeowner acted within the law. (WDBJ7 News, Roanoke, Va., 12/6/22) From the Armed Citizen® Archives Three men from Montrose, Colo., were on their way home from a hunting trip when they surprised four youths beating a state patrolman with rocks. The patrolman had stopped the youths for a traffic violation and the four boys had jumped him. The hunters stopped the... Read more →

Maryland Fishing Report – September 25 September 25, 2024 Bluefish, photo by Travis Long Little by little, summer is losing its grip on the Maryland landscape, with cooler nights and milder daytime temperatures. Fish feel it too, and they are feeding aggressively and putting on body stores for what lies ahead. A perfect example are the bluefish in the Chesapeake Bay that are large and fat. Forecast Summary: September 25 – October 1: As we roll into “Rocktober,” expect cool, wet, breezy weather to highlight our fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. Shorter daylight periods and cooler day-time air temperatures have cooled main Bay surface water temperatures to the lower 70s, with rivers running slightly cooler. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. In most places, expect areas with suitable amounts of oxygen – greater than 3 mg/liter – to extend down to at least depths of 35 feet. The improving oxygen and water temperature conditions will continue to provide anglers with more opportunities to catch fish in shallower waters (as well as breaking fish) and the traditional places deeper in the water column such as channel edges, underwater points, hard bottom, and drop-offs. Expect... Read more →

Last updated at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 19 WASHINGTON STATE (September 19, 2024)--On Thursday, Sept. 12 at approximately 9:30 a.m., Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Officers received a report of a human-river otter incident that occurred at the Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County. The victim’s mother reported that a river otter pulled her young child into the water as they were walking down the dock. The child was dragged underwater, and after a few moments, resurfaced. The child’s mother was able to lift the child out of the water while the otter continued to attack and was subsequently bit in the arm. The river otter continued to pursue the family as they left the dock. The child sustained scratches and bites to the top of the head, face and legs. The child was treated for their injuries at a Silverdale hospital. “We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,” said WDFW Sergeant, Ken Balazs. “We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication to their marina tenants.” WDFW Fish and Wildlife officers contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services... Read more →

Specific Zones Open Saturday, Sept. 14 All Zones Open Sept. 28 The Fall Bow Deer Season opens this Saturday in certain Deer Management Zones. The first deer must be antlerless (except for youth hunters) through September 27. The season then opens statewide on Saturday, September 28. Refer to the Archery Deer Hunting by Season and Zones for specific bag limits and other information. Permits for all deer permit seasons, as well as Fall Turkey season go on sale September 9, 2024. Archery Deer Hunting by Season and Zones 2024-2025 Hunting & Trapping Digest Hunting & Trapping Explorer - Deer Management Zones & Units Deer Seasons & Regulations Automated Harvest Report System (AHRS) Information Report Your Harvest What Do I Need to Hunt Deer in New Jersey? Public Deer Hunting Land in New Jersey Lands Open or Closed to Sunday Bow Hunting White-tailed Deer in NJ Hunters Helping the Hungry Keep NJ CWD Free NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wishes all hunters a safe and successful season! BUY YOUR LICENSE NOW! GET YOUR LICENSE AT A LICENSE AGENT Read more →

Maryland Fishing Report – September 11 Young Nathan Moyer recently got to fish the Conowingo Dam pool for the first time and caught his largest fish to date, a striped bass, all possible thanks to a dad who took him. Photo by Chris Moyer Fishing is often about the adventure of exploring a new place to fish, or the challenge of fishing for a new species, and it always helps when you have the company of family or friends. Landon Derbyshire of Eden, Maryland recently became became the 13th FishMaryland Master Angler and only the second youth angler to reach that milestone. He caught all the qualifying species of trophy fish before his sixteenth birthday. Congratulations to Landon! Forecast Summary: September 11 – September 17 Moderate weather with limited rain predicted will make for comfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. Shorter daylight periods and cooler daytime air temperatures have cooled main Chesapeake Bay surface water temperatures to the mid 70s. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Due to upper bay algal blooms, areas with suitable amounts of oxygen (>3mg/l) decreased this week. However, for finding the best combination of well oxygenated, cooler water... Read more →

BY Slim Randles “Mavis, dear, is that coffee HOT this morning?” “Sure is, Windy.” “Well then, slaver a bunch of it in a cup and flop it down here in front of a freezin’ guy, would you? Thanks, Hon.” “Freezing, Windy?” “Ain’t the first time, Doc, but they never seem any easier as I get older.” “You want to come in for a checkup later?” “Naw, just need to get warm, you know. Used to it at my age.” Steve set his cup down and looked at his old pard, Windy Wilson, camp cook and mule packer extraordinaire. “Don’t know how you can get cold on a summer morning like this.” “It’s the air tempa-choor, Steve. You recomlect that time you ‘n me was up in the high country and got caught in a snowstorm …” “And our slickers and jackets were back in camp? Sure I remember that. I thought about how to get that horse into my bedroll that night, ‘cuz he was cold, too.” “And you ‘member how good that Dutch oven cobbler tasted once we got the circle-lationaries goin’ again?” “You betcha, Windy.” “Okay … okay … I’ll do it,” mumbled Doc. “Somebody has to. Windy,... Read more →

Everyone has his own favorite spot on Lewis Creek, I guess. Some of us favor the swimming hole below Miller’s old place, with its rope swing and the kids who frolic there on hot summer days. For Doc and Dud, it’s the big race below the rocks where the huge lunker trout lives. All our efforts to catch him have so far gone unrewarded, and he keeps getting bigger each year. But for me, there’s a little cove downstream from there, shaded by huge cottonwoods and flanked in by car-sized rocks the color of wet cement. I found it sometime during a previous lifetime, I imagine. At least I can’t remember the first time I discovered this place. It is walled off from the world by the rocks, protected from the sun by the cottonwoods. There is a blackened part of one overhanging rock where I’ve built a good many small cooking and “friendly” fires over the decades. I’ve fished from there, swum from there, and … back when the fires of spring were still racing, shared this special spot with a girl or two. But mostly it has been a private place. Everyone needs one. It’s been a place... Read more →

* These helpful bivalves clean the river and assist in a thriving riverside ecosystem * Philadelphia, PA – There’s been an exciting development for the Delaware River in Philadelphia – freshwater mussels have been found! In a survey recently conducted by the Discovery Center, Aquatic Research and Restoration Center (ARRC), Audubon Mid-Atlantic, Pennypack Environmental Center, and Riverfront North Partnership (RNP) there is confirmation that these helpful bivalves have been found near Pennypack Creek. Freshwater mussels have been scarce along the Delaware River due to multiple stressors. With the help of the 1972 Clean Water Act, community science, and multiple local science organizations, this marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to restore the Delaware River Watershed. “I’ve worked with freshwater mussels for the past six years and there’s always new things to learn and discover,” says Bria Wimberly, Senior Coordinator of Public Programs at the Discovery Center. “These filter feeders are great for the ecosystem so finding them near Pennypack Creek in the Delaware River was a treat. With the help and guidance from multiple organizations, including the Aquatic Research and Restoration Center, we can extend this knowledge to other watershed stewards who are eager to help restore habitats... Read more →

Maryland Fishing Report – August 28 Hopefully, all our crabbers are as lucky as John Turrall and catch a mess of jumbo hard crabs that are large and full of meat. Labor Day is upon us, and September is on the horizon, with promising cooler weather and excellent fishing and crabbing. There will be many crab feasts scheduled for families and friends across Maryland this weekend and recreational crabbers will go out on the water to provide the crabs. Photo by Rich Watts (caption by Maryland Fishing News Editor) Forecast Summary: August 28 – September 3 Cooling weather with limited rain predicted will make for comfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. As a result of the recent warm spell, main Bay surface water temperatures have warmed to the low 80s. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Larger areas with suitable amounts of oxygen – greater than 3mg/l – have continued to be available again this week. For finding the best combination of well oxygenated, cooler water preferred by many Bay gamefish, focus on fishing deeper during the daylight hours. Expect average water clarity for most of the Maryland portion of the Bay. However,... Read more →

Maryland Fishing Report August 21, 2024 James Crosby got a little help from his friends during his battle with this huge bigeye tuna. Photo courtesy of James Crosby. Fishing is always better in the company of family or friends, and when an angler is successful and has their friends to cheer them on and offer encouragement it makes all the difference when battling a fish of mammoth proportions. As a reminder to all Maryland anglers, please participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ Volunteer Angler Surveys by reporting your catch of any number of species. This allows citizen scientists to contribute valuable data to the monitoring and management of several important fish species. Forecast Summary: August 21 – August 27 Moderate weather with no rain predicted will make for comfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. As a result of the recent rains, main Bay surface water temperatures have continued to cool to the upper 70s. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Areas with suitable amounts of oxygen (>3mg/l) have greatly increasedagain this week. Combined with the cooling water temperatures, current conditions have improved and have provided expanded habitat for many Bay gamefish. Expect... Read more →

by Slim Randles Looking around at all the yard signs and hearing politicians tell us on television what a lying crook their competition is, I have to admit I miss Guv Reeve. Guv had a real first name, but I sure don’t recall it now, because this was back in the 1960s and 1970s in the high desert of California. He had his first name legally changed to Guv so everyone would know what he was all about. Every four years, he ran for governor. I worked for the Victor Valley Daily Press in Victorville, which is just 30 miles from Barstow, where everyone’s car breaks down on the way to Vegas. The other folks in the newsroom knew me as the “weirdo reporter” because if someone needed some serious couch time, they were pointed toward my desk. Guv was maybe in his early 50s when I met him. He came into the newsroom one morning surrounded by four attractive middle-aged women, and all of them were smiling and handing out free cookies. Guv and I closeted ourselves for the story while everyone else munched cookies, and I learned the Guv Reeve story. He was a self-proclaimed preacher and lived... Read more →

by Slim Randles “Waal,” said Windy, stirring his coffee. “I hate to do this here, but I’m afeerd a whole bunch of it’s Doc’s fault.” This announcement coincided with Doc coming to join us at the counter here at the Mule Barn Coffee Shop and Desperate Dilemma Depository. Yeah, it’s kinda like that. “So Windy,” Doc asked, flipping his coffee mug to the upright and fillable position, “what have I done now?” “Oh, Doc,” Windy said, “ain’t so much you as it is doctorin’ in the general, you know. You guys go to school until you’re 72 and have to stick us with words we don’t know, can’t say, and don’t need.” Doc waited and looked at his old friend before adding sugar. “Ya see, Doc,” said Windy, “ever since I found my ownself approachin’ middle age …” “Yeah, Windy, but from which end?” The laughter eventually subsided a little. Enough to allow for more ideas. “Wellsir, them doctor guys come up with diseases and pills nobody else can say proper like, and not even the girl at the drugstore kin spell ‘em right. Like fluteraginatic flim-flams. Heck, it you had ‘em you’d have to write down how to spell... Read more →

BY Slim Randles When the world is hot and my skin is fried, scratching from the constant dry, let the clouds boil up – boil up high. And then shade the earth with the darkening sky and bring the secrets and the smell of rain. The heat and the blessed rain, again. Our land is brown but blessed, stressed in the heat, the shiny heat of day. The slender green of desert rivers slides along, striving to continue, to feed its own along the banks – the banks where the dust rises. Rises, powdery clomp by clomp as we walk – walk the shady way. Ours is the blessing of challenge, to live, to thrive in the heat. But bring us the clouds, the black bellied clouds, the clouds that softly hold the heads of gods in their moistening grasp. Let them come, with their silver tops and their bellies black as night and cool as forgiveness. The summer clouds, the clouds that define our culture, our art, our summer, our hot, heavy summer. Let the magic come and stay, stay for a while, at least for a while, and wet us down, all the way down. Fill our pores,... Read more →

July 31, 2024 Claire Toth is all smiles with her first catch of white perch. Photo by Kevin Toth The excitement of seeing a young angler catch their first fish is enough to warm the heart of anyone, much less a veteran angler. Bluegill sunfish and white perch often fit the bill for this first fishing adventure. The Chesapeake Bay striped bass season reopens August 1, and although it is legal to fish for striped bass, anglers are urged to practice the most careful catch-and-release practices possible. Water temperatures are in the low 80s this week and low dissolved oxygen levels tend to be at cooler depths, making it difficult for fish to recover effectively. The Department of Natural Resources website provides a good overview of catch-and-release practices. The Potomac River striped bass fishery (managed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission) remains closed to recreational fishing through Aug. 20. Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay remain closed to recreational striped bass fishing through October 3 and the Virginia fall season opens on October 4. Forecast Summary: July 31 – August 6: Hot weather with low winds and a chance of T-storms all next week could make for uncomfortable fishing conditions.... Read more →

By ... Slim Randles The evening was one of those that come back to you time after time, year after long year. It comes back and whispers of how good life can be when you’re well fed, enjoying life, and a good friend shares the front porch with you on a summer’s evening. It was that way with Doc and Steve the other night. Doc thought he might have to do a scientific paper on the soporific effects of ice tea, fried chicken, and corn on the cob. As long as it didn’t take any effort. So when this huge meal had been bull-snaked down, the two grinning friends came out to the porch to watch the sun go down behind the trees along Lewis Creek. The air had that orange and russet glow, and the breeze, that little one that caresses the neck, came slowly down from the hills and made their shirt collars wiggle ever so slightly. It was like taking a dry bath in paradise. Doc sidled up to one of the porch posts and gently tested it to see if it could hold the extra weight he was carrying with that meal. It stood fine, so... Read more →

July 17, 2024 Adam Krauss holds a large Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) caught in Dundee Creek. Sly and the Family Stone sang about “Hot Fun in the Summertime” back in 1969, and it seems very appropriate at the moment. As the temperatures stay high, summer fishing and crabbing is in full swing – freshwater, tidal, and Atlantic fish are providing plenty of exciting action! The striped bass season in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay is now closed and will reopen August 1. The purpose of this annual summer closure is to reduce striped bass catch-and-release mortalities. Water temperatures in the Bay are generally running in the 86-degree range and are rising due to the continued heat. Striped bass suffer in these warm water conditions and the added stress of catch and release can be too much for them to recuperate. The extremely warm water also fuels bacterial and fungal growth in Bay waters that are burdened with too many nutrients. The slime layer on fish is their protection from bacteria and fungi, and any disturbance of that layer can invite infections in warm water conditions. A common summer bacterial infection is called mycobacteriosis. These infections can manifest themselves as... Read more →

RELATED: HOME COUNTRY By Slim Randles When Windy Wilson joined us for coffee down at the Mule Barn coffee shop, we smiled. Windy doesn’t show up for too many of the b.s. coordinations and we think it’s because he doesn’t like the competition. “You boys seen that sun this mornin’?” “Sure did, Windy,” said Doc. “Looked about like the one we had yesterday.” “See, that’s just my point. You heard on the radio ‘bout that climatic change stuff, right?” “Right.” “Well, you remember ‘way back to July last year? I shore do. Hotter’n a chile pepper on a campfire, it was. So what we got now? Hey, it’s still a-boilin’ hot out there. Oughta be somethin’ we could do ‘bout it.” “Don’t get ya, Windy,” said Steve. “Like what would you do?” “Maybe sue ‘em,” Windy said. “Who?” “Why, those lyin’ snakes that opportuned us to ‘spect cooler weather. What’s the sense in havin’ another hot summer if we are supposed to climatohoosically change? Ain’t right.” Loretta refilled the coffees. We all took a grateful sip. “You might have a hard time finding someone who is responsible for the weather, Windy.” “I know it, Doc. But hey, I’ll prepostterate to... Read more →

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews ROCK HALL, MARYLAND (JULY 6, 2024)-- The Maryland Fishing report we publish weekly has a picture of a man holding a gigantic Blue Claw Crab that he caught in the Chesapeake Bay. Seeing that photo brought back memories of the Rock Hall Gang from Gloucester City. For several years, between 50 and 100 men would travel to Rock Hall, Maryland, in the summer for an All-You-Can-Eat Crab picnic. The fee was nominal, maybe $25. It was 40 years ago, and most of the people who were involved have died. As such this reporter is guessing at the amount. Only men were allowed. Usually, it wasn't advertised because those running it didn't want it to become too large. Eventually, that was the main reason why it was stopped. This was "Back in the Day" in Gloucester City"; the year was 1980. The population of Gloucester City had been declining since the 60s when there were over 16,000 people living there. The blight and the flight from the City was still some 20 years away. In the years to come the city would have more rental housing than permanent homeowners. In the 80s there were still... Read more →

Rich Watts holds up what every crabber is looking for, a heavy jumbo blue crab. Photo by Rich Watts It’s the Fourth of July – time for family gatherings and barbecues, and steamed blue crabs will be on the most wanted list for many. Blue crab catches have been good recently, so we wish all our recreational crabbers the best of luck. On July 4, unlicensed anglers are free to fish anywhere in the state without a fishing license – so feel free to take someone fishing. Forecast Summary: July 3 – July 9: Continued warm and sunny with moderate winds and a chance of thunderstorms most of this week will make for unsettled fishing conditions in Maryland’s waters. Chesapeake Bay surface water temperatures are holding at about 80 degrees. River temperatures are also holding in the mid to high 70s to low 80s. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher and warmer than average. Areas with suitable amounts of oxygen, greater than 3 mg per liter, have moved towards typical summer conditions. On the Potomac River, avoid the low oxygen areas below 15 feet between the Wicomico River and St. George’s Island. On the main Bay, from... Read more →

By Slim Randles Now I’m not sayin’ that comin’ down with that Lombardo in my back was a good thing … nossir. Hurtin’ like that can’t hardly ever be good, ‘course, but every white cloud has a silver linin’ as they do say. Alphonse Wilson here, with another life lesson to be disgruntlified whenever you get around to it. And there’s never any charge for these lessons unless you don’t believe me. If that happens, send me a dollar. Wellsir, I think getting’ that Lombardo musta happened back when I was haying. See, we used to bale alfalfa up in 300-pound bales and we didn’t have them lifter thingies like they do now, so we had to pick ‘em up and toss ‘em on the flatbed wagon, yes we did. ‘Course they don’t do that any more ‘cause ranch hands just ain’t as strong or fortifried as we were back then. So now they got machines that do the work. And the bales are now these little two-string things that a child can manhandleize. Now that Lombardo don’t just kick in automatical. Nossir. Has to kinda build up speed you see. First there’s a little twingie of something back there,... Read more →

Please note for the upcoming 2024-25 Deer Season: Deer Management Zones 45 and 46 will be open for deer hunting during the 2024 Fall Bow, Youth Archery Day, 6-Day Firearm, and Youth Firearm Day ONLY. ALL other deer seasons for DMZ 45 and DMZ 46 are CLOSED until further notice. Bow, shotgun, and muzzleloader permits WILL NOT be available for DMZ 45 and DMZ 46. Closures are a result of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) mortalities from 2021 and 2022 and a failure of the population to recover. This area will continue to be closely monitored by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. We encourage you to harvest coyotes in this area, which can aid in the recovery of the deer herd within these DMZs. For more information, please email [email protected]. Read more →

June 12, 2024 Bret Grossnickle found some quiet time and this beautiful smallmouth bass at Liberty Reservoir. Photo by Bret Grossnickle Summer breezes and warm temperatures set the stage for all kinds of fishing this week. Whether fishing in the Atlantic Ocean or Chesapeake Bay, or just lazily watching a fishing rod nestled in a forked stick at your favorite freshwater fishing hole, it’s all good. We can all find a bit of peace and reflection wherever the outdoors takes us. As the weather gets warmer, so does the water temperature. Summer heat can be damaging to fish, and for the striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, certain conditions can be deadly for fish that are caught and released. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides a weekly striped bass fishing advisory forecast during the hottest months, using “warning flags” to let anglers better plan their fishing to help protect our state fish. Forecast Summary: June 12 – June 18: Warm, sunny weather with low winds this week will make for stable fishing conditions in Maryland’s waters. Main Bay surface water temperatures have warmed to the mid 70s. River temperatures have also risen to the low 70s. With Maryland’s part... Read more →

Slim Randles When the Rafter E branded recently, a bunch of us went out to help. There’s a definite pecking order here, and it's a badge of pride to have worked your way up the branding ladder. As a kid, you flank the calves; you grab them, throw them and hold them down. This is conducive to abrasions, muscle strain, and involuntarily changing the color of your shirt. As you get older, you get to handle the branding iron, then move up to giving shots. After that comes earmarking. When you reach the pinnacle of branding, that is, when you own the calves, then you get to rope the calves and drag them up to the fire. It is a swirling cauldron of heat and hooves, excited cowdogs and bawling cows. There is the smell of manure and singed hair and sweat and corral dust. At the Rafter E, I wielded a syringe as the youngsters got their teeth rattled by the heavy stuff. Wasn't the first time I’d given the shots, though. Once during a branding at the Triangle Cross, I was about to immunize a calf when the calf jumped and I stuck the needle into my thumb.... Read more →

The trees planted at the Ayton State Tree Nursery go to reclaimed forests, and restoration projects. At the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery, little green saplings progressed down rows of conveyor belts. On both sides of the line, workers sifted through bread trays stacked with young trees, bundling them and placing them on the belt. At the end of the row, a worker lifted the clump from the creaking machinery and whacked it with a machete to prune off excess roots. Then they bagged the bundle and marked it off: “1,000 loblolly.” This is just a small step in the production process at the state nursery, part of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Service, which oversees trees from seed to sapling, planting them, growing them, and then shipping them out. Every year, the nursery produces millions of trees. The team there is filling orders for 2.75 million trees this year. “This is a mad dash,” Richard Garrett, the nursery manager, said at the site during a busy time in late February. “We’re getting trees into customers’ hands. Then on top of that, it’s the start of the growing season again.” The nursery, in Preston on the Eastern... Read more →

Slim Randles Mrs. Doc brought them some ice cream, but Doc and Charles weren’t that interested. Charles is Doc’s six-year-old grandson, and both Doc and Mrs. Doc have found it fascinating to view the world, after having been around so many years, through the fresh eyes and wonderment of a youngster. But turning down ice cream? Doc had to chuckle, because he didn’t even know that was possible. But the remote-controlled toy wouldn’t be denied. As Doc watched, Charles turned switches and pushed buttons and the mysterious machine changed form. It became a monster instead of a race car and walked over to scare the sleeping cat. When the laughter finally died down, they both agreed it was worth it. Then the monster became a race car once again and shot across the floor and had a head-on collision with the leg of the couch. Charles expertly backed it away. “You want to drive it a while, Grandpa?” “No thanks,” Doc said. “I couldn’t drive it as good as you can.” And Doc knew that was true, even though Doc had been driving a car since the invention of stop signs, and Charles couldn’t do that yet. But Charles, a... Read more →

Proposed Regulations: Multiple Topics Open for Comment The following regulatory proposals have been printed in the Maryland Register: BLUEFIN TUNA, BILLFISH, SWORDFISH, AND SHARK - Recreational Reporting LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB - Vessel Monitoring Systems OYSTERS - Amendment 1 to the 2019 Maryland Chesapeake Bay Oyster Management Plan OYSTERS - Container Rules SNAPPER GROUPER COMPLEX - Sheepshead Size Limit and Combined Catch Limit The department is seeking comments on the proposed regulations. Comments provide the department with additional information and perspectives. Please visit our Changes to Fishing Regulations page for information about what has been proposed and how to submit comments. All comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on June 17, 2024. Read more →

Slim Randles Doc hadn’t even finished loading his coffee with fake sugar before Steve piped up. “I think it’s disgusting and weird and unnatural and it should be outlawed!” the tall cowboy said, coming to rest at the philosophy counter of the Mule Barn truck stop. “Aw Steve,” said Doc, “the coffee isn’t that bad.” “Coffee? Nay, I say unto you, Doc. It ain’t the coffee … it’s them Academy Awards on the television. You see them? All them good-looking women Scotch-taping themselves into those dresses so they almost stay on? Those weird guys they’re with who only shave on Tuesdays?” “And this makes you angry?” “Sure does, Doc. Those folks make a lot more money than I do and all they have to do is dress up and talk to those red carpet cameras.” “Those were two months ago, Steve,” said Doc. “I know,” Steve said, “I recorded them.” “Well, Steve,” said Dud, “we can do just as good as they can. Stand up.” Steve looked around and then stood slowly. Dud picked up a bottle of Tabasco sauce and, using it as a microphone, turned to the breakfast crowd in the Mule Barn. “Good morning, folks, and we’re... Read more →

image courtesy of Vanessa Obran The dramatic footage was captured when a jealous male sprinted across the shale, tackled one of the mating pairs, and pinned it to the ground. video courtesy of Vanessa Obran BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (MAY 9, 2024)(CNBNEWS)--Two grizzly bears fight over mating rights for 17 minutes. The film was shot in June 2023 in British Columbia. A group of tourists was left ‘distressed’ as two grizzly bears brutally battled over mating rights mere meters away from their boat. Vanessa Obran and her husband, John, were on a tour of a bay in British Columbia, Canada, on June 3 when they spotted two bears mating on the shore. In an epic 17-minute encounter, the two testosterone-fuelled bears tore chunks of flesh off each other with their teeth and paws and even took their fight into the water. Vanessa, from Australia, said: “While filming, the violence made me feel physically sick to the stomach. “I love bears so much, and the violence was so hard to watch. There are parts of the video that I don’t watch now as it is distressing. “One minute, we watched a tranquil scene of two bears mating on the beach. We thought... Read more →

BY CNBNews Staff photos provided GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (May 8, 2024)(CNBNews)--The Ike's Hook 'em Early fishing event was held at Martins Lake in Gloucester City on Saturday, May 4. Over 50 kids participated in the contest, most of whom lived in Gloucester City. The non-profit foundation distributed a Flambeau Tackle Box and an Ike's Abu Garcia rod and reel to each child. The Ike Foundation's objective is to introduce the sport of fishing to children in both urban and rural areas. Through this, they aim to instill in them a strong love and respect for the outdoors that will last a lifetime. The winners of the contest included: Age 6 and under: 1 - Colton Zuccarelli….33” 2 - Jassie StBernard…3.5” 3 - Jacob Ellis…2” Age 7-11: 1 - Kai Reader…45.25” 2 - Addison Foote…26.5” 3 - Cooper Smith…22” Age 12-15: 1 - Roman Mahler…37.5” 2 - Ethan McCormick…31.75” 3 - Khazion Hudgias…22.25” The Ike Foundation’s Never Give Up award went to Sean Houser!!! For more information, click here. photos provided Read more →

BY Slim Randles Feel that warmth? Right there on the back of your neck? Yep. That’s the one. Around here that means only one thing: time to cruise down to the Mule Barn coffee shop and get something hot to drink. Of course, that’s what we do regardless of any vagaries of the weather, but that spring sunshine makes it more pleasant. Gives a guy the impetus to be an impetur, I’m thinking. “I believe,” said our mustached cowboy, Steve, after his first cup, “that it is the duty of ever-dang one of us to improve the lives of others while we’re here, and I’ve found my own way.” “And that is?” asked Doc. “Well, Doc, you’re the reason I decided on this here. You know them medicines you prescribe for me? Can’t read ‘em. Know why? They’re in a different language and we’re Americans ‘round here.” “Like which ones, Steve?” Steve pulled a pill bottle out of his shirt pocket and looked at it. “A-mox-a-silly-un, for one.” “It’s for killing germs.” “Well, so is that Lysol stuff, but I think drinking it would make a guy sick.” “So?” “I’m going to rename all them hard-named medicine so folks can... Read more →

BY Slim Randles “Happy May Day!” said Delbert McLain, our self-appointed, undisputed, and unpaid head of our non-existent chamber of commerce. He wears a tie. Here, in this town. ‘Nuf said. “By golly you’re right,” said Doc. “I have a question, Del. How are we supposed to celebrate it?” “By starting a business, maybe,” he said. “You know. And then joining the chamber of commerce.” “And paying dues?” “Why not?” “Well,” said Dud, our budding novelist, still using small buds, “how about erecting a May pole and then dancing around it waving flowers and yelling ‘hooray for May’? They used to do that.” There’s lots of ways of celebrating the beginning of May, it turns out. In some places it was a drunken orgy and actually gave us the word orgies. In some areas in ancient times, it was time to chase girls around flowering trees and be fruitful. If you were too old to do that, simply singing spring songs like they did at Walpurgis and Beltane would be on the menu. Well, to be fair, at Beltane, the Scots and Irish used to burn their fields and turn the cows out to pasture, too. Then of course, you... Read more →

Captain William "Bill" Thompson Bittmann Sr., 81, of Beaufort, North Carolina, passed away at his home on Monday, April 29, 2024. Bill was born on December 29, 1942, in Camden City, New Jersey and raised in nearby Gloucester City, New Jersey, where he developed an interest in the outdoors at an early age. Before graduating Gloucester High School, he was known to go fur trapping early in the morning to help fund his love of hot-rod cars, which earned the nickname "Fireball." Following high school, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a radio equipment repairman and was deployed as a forward base operator during the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge, Bill once again gravitated to the outdoors, owning a sporting goods store before working as a mate on several NJ-based charter and party boats. Upon earning his Captain's License in 1978 he purchased his first charter boat, "Endeavor." This would spur his next forty years as a much-respected captain based in Cape May, NJ. In 1985, he hand-built his own 55-foot boat, "Morning Star," to carry large parties in greater comfort while pursuing gamefish ever further from shore. His design was so popular that he was contracted... Read more →

What Anglers Can Do After Harvesting Invasive Fish Species Such As Blue Catfish or Northern Snakehead Anglers who catch invasive species in Maryland waters have multiple options to make use of the fish Catch and release of blue catfish, flathead catfish, and northern snakehead is discouraged as they are harmful to native species. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo. Invasive species can have detrimental effects on ecologically and economically important native species. Once invasive species establish themselves in an ecosystem, they can reproduce in such numbers that it becomes hugely expensive, or even impossible, to eradicate all of them. For that reason, habitat and wildlife managers aim to minimize the harm caused by invasive species by reducing populations or containing them in a specific area. Northern snakehead, blue catfish, and flathead catfish are the most harmful invasive fish in Maryland. Blue catfish prey on blue crabs, menhaden, white perch and other species. They and other invasive fish also out-compete native species for habitat space and food, and pose a threat to key commercial fisheries. To combat these ecologically-threatening species, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources urges anglers to kill all invasive species they catch. In fact – in Maryland –... Read more →

Maryland Fishing Report – April 24 Zach Bennett caught this northern snakehead in the Patapsco River. Photo courtesy of Zach Bennett The weather forecast for the next week promises mild and sunny conditions, perfect for venturing into the outdoors for fishing with family and friends. Trout continue to be stocked each week in the put-and-take trout waters, and a wide variety of fish are active, including the northern snakehead. Forecast Summary: April 24 – April 30: Stable, moderate weather this week will make for great fishing conditions to enjoy the variety of fish currently swimming in Maryland’s waters. Main Chesapeake Bay surface temperatures are holding in the high 50s. River temperatures have also risen to the upper 50s and low 60s, although smaller streams and downwind areas will warm faster on a sunny day and can hold temperatures even warmer. Such low salinity areas will be prime areas to look for hickory and American shad as they move upriver to spawn. Keep an eye out for large gamefish ambushing the shad as they move upriver. Expect above average flows for the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers but average flows for most of the other Maryland rivers and streams. Expect poor but... Read more →

By SLIM RANDLES Ran into Doc down at The Mule Barn the other day, so naturally we had to rid the world of about a gallon of coffee and solve the world’s problems for an hour. It is the duty of all true Americans of our age, you know. Doc said he’d been aching a little bit lately. Joints or something. He’d been out fixing the pasture fence where the mare had been pushing on it. The next morning it made him walk funny. “I remember when my dad was my age,” he said. “I asked him how it felt to be this old. Well, he looked at me as though I were committing a crime by having brown hair, you know? And then he said, “To be this old? Well, I guess it beats the alternative.” The truth is, the morning coffee drinkers of our area aren’t really old, not inside. We hurt a bit more the next day when we do things, that’s all. And having to walk funny for an hour or so is a small price to pay for our experience. Being experienced sounds better. “The other day,” Doc said, “I was down to the feed... Read more →

photo provided CNB HUNTING AND FISHING NEWS (April 19, 2024)--Rob Bongiovanni Jr., a remarkable fisherman from South Philadelphia, caught a massive 40-pound hog stripper near the Delaware Memorial Bridge on Wednesday, April 17, around 11:30 PM. His skills and determination are truly impressive, and his catch is a testament to his hard work and dedication. Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that he is the nephew of Gary and Rose (Bongiovanni) Devine, which shows that fishing talent runs in the family. Gary and Rose reside in Pilesgrove. Gary, a retired plumber, is a former resident of Gloucester City. Read more →

Spring mornings are a lot like Christmas. Each day we get up and go out into the yard, or walk along the creek or visit the horses in the pasture. And each day, each morning, we find something new the sun has brought us. Pinfeather leaves of an unbelievable green now start showing on cottonwoods that have stood like stark ghostly frames all through the cold winter. Hopeful blades of grass peek through clumps of brown left over from last summer’s verdant pasture. Everywhere we look there is something new and different. A lot of this Christmas-in-spring is kept just among us, because we might be accused of being ... well ... poetic if we told people why we were really carrying that coffee cup out into the yard. So we say lame things like “I think I’ll get some of that fresh air this morning.” What we really mean, of course, is “I want to see if Richardson’s bay mare has had that foal yet.” Some of us have worked very hard last fall and winter to prepare for this spring. By grafting. OK, we have a Granny Smith apple tree. Let’s see if we can’t get a branch... Read more →

by Slim Randles “Well,” said Steve, the tall cowboy, “at least it’s Friday and we all have the weekend to look forward to.” Doc glanced up from his paper at the philosophy counter of the Mule Barn truck stop and world dilemma think tank. “Fastest Friday you’ll ever experience, Steve,” said Doc. “That’s about right,” said Dud. Steve got that confounded look on his face. “What do you mean by that?” “Today is Saturday.” “Well,” Steve said, shaking his head, “that flat wrecks this day all to pieces.” “Hey,” said Dud, “it’s a pretty day. You have all day long to enjoy it.” “But don’t you see?” Steve said, in real pain. “I was planning to spend all day Friday getting ready for Saturday and now I can’t.” “Now that sounds kinda dumb,” Dud said, “and I realize that, but Steve does have a point. I mean, we think in terms of time …” Doc groaned. “ … yea, verily … time and space and the continuum thereof, henceforth and forevermore. That’s why, when our friend Steve here thought about Saturday, it was as though Saturday lay in the future, where things are to happen that we, as mere mortals,... Read more →

by Slim Randles When old Joe Gilliam began digging that hold in his front yard, out there close to the street, neighbors watched and wondered. When he got his grandson to help him carry the shade tree sapling from his pickup to the hole, people nodded. Mystery solved. Old Joe’s planting a tree. After removing the root mass from the five-gallon pot, the grandson disappeared and Old Joe was left to care for the baby tree. He carefully spread the tiny feeder roots out and tucked them in with soil. Then he packed more dirt around the tree’s base and soaked it well with the hose. No one else saw anything odd in Joe planting that tree, either, but Joe’s been retired now going on 20 years. He’s old and getting more frail each year. By the time that sapling gets large enough to give homes to squirrels and birds and shade to neighbors and a resting place for dogs, Joe will have been long gone. Planting a tree is an affirmation of faith in the future. It is a gift to those yet unborn. It is a legacy of goodness, an old man’s prayer. ----- For a good start... Read more →

​ Many parents, mentors, and young anglers braved the cold rain for Maryland’s first youth trout fishing day. Our young anglers, despite cold fingers and wet weather, had a great time, and it is sure to be a day everyone involved will long remember. You can check out our online collection of photos of smiling young anglers on Youth Trout Fishing Day. On Saturday, March 30, the fun and excitement starts all over again with Maryland’s traditional opening day of trout season. Anglers young and old will be fishing for put and take waters generously stocked with trout by the trout hatchery program and biologists. Fishing starts at 6:30 a.m. Luke Bradford’s smile says it all about his first youth trout fishing day. Photo by Jason Bradford​ Forecast Summary: March 27 - April 2: As the days grow longer and increasingly warmer, Chesapeake Bay waters will continue to slowly warm up for gamefish activity, like the ongoing white perch spawning run, and the upcoming shad run in Maryland’s lower salinity waters. Main Bay surface water temperatures have risen to the upper 40s, although smaller streams and downwind areas will warm faster on a sunny day and can hold temperatures in... Read more →

BY Slim Randles You have to hand it to Windy. When Alphonse “Windy” Wilson chooses to speak, it is a bombastic sampling of creativity. Windy has yet to find a word he can’t make better through his own unique methods. Well, what got him fired up the other day was a meeting of the ladies of the garden club down at the nursery. Windy’s been helping Dewey with his manure business on the one day a week he spends helping others. Today wasn’t a helper day, but he couldn’t pass up the audience. They hadn’t gotten through old business when Windy stood, smiled, and spoke. “Dear ladies,” he said, “what an opera-tune moment this is, finding you all coagulated here in an effort to beatify the yards of our fair town. And what, you may ask, brings me to this conflagration? It’s the latest thing in gardening. Our chairman of the board refers to it as ‘cow pasture tea’ and it nutritionalizes plants right down to bedrock. As Dewey says, the only way to improve on cow manure is to liquidize it. Well, he hasn’t said it yet, but he will. “Now what exactly is cow pasture tea you’re undoubtedly... Read more →

By Slim Randles Life in a small town means everybody knows what’s going on, good or bad. Just take what happened to Dud the other day. It was trash day, and the trash barrels were on the street waiting to be emptied into the weekly truck. Dudley Campbell was no different from his neighbors, having his cans at the curbside ready for a trip to the dump. His wife, Anita, had driven to the city to do some shopping, so Dud was home alone. And probably that’s why he felt secure in going through his own garbage. First, he spread a tarp out on the ground next to the cans and then dove in. He resembled a badger trying to dig up a squirrel as he went lower and lower in the garbage can and the pile on the tarp grew larger. Mrs. Miller lived just across the street from Dud, and was watching the whole operation. She made a horrified phone call across town to Mamie Dilworth, who then passed it along to Windy Wilson. Windy, she knew, was a man of action. He’d know what to do. And he did. The bags of groceries were put on Dud’s... Read more →