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Somerset County Recreation & Parks

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**Maryland Fisheries - Boating Home Pages**

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, April 23

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/default.aspx
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MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BOATING
https://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Pages/default.aspx

Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Boat License - $50
Non-Resident Chesapeake Bay and ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 26 May 2026 Winter Dredge Survey Brings Up Good Results

Website Adinistrator Wes Simpkins, May 27

Winter Dredge Survey Brings Up Good Tidings
By Joel McCord

https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/winter-dredge-survey-brings-up-good-tidings/

For once, there’s some good news about the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab stock.
This year’s winter dredge survey conducted by the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) and Virginia Institute of Marine Science, found sharp
increases in the numbers of ... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 26 May 2026, Claud W. Somers returns to her home berth following refit

Wes Simpkins Wes Simpkins, May 26

Rappahannock Record
by Tina McCloud

https://rrecord.com/claud-w-somers-returns-to-her-home-berth-following-refit/

Claud W. Somers returns to her home berth following refit
The Claud W. Somers is under sail Sunday, May 17, for her first cruise of the year. Photo by Tupper Hyde

REEDVILLE—The historic skipjack Claud W. Somers is back where she belongs—dockside on Cockrell Creek at the Reedville Fishermen’s ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 25 May 2026, Chesapeake Bay blue crab population rebounds, but concerns remain over female crabs

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 25

WUSA 9
Author: Jacqueline Quynh

https://www.wusa9.com/article/tech/science/environment/chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-count/65-41b19ce6-a405-4b6a-962c-64a5a1fc4fdd

Chesapeake Bay blue crab population rebounds, but concerns remain over female crabs
Scientists say the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is showing signs of recovery, but long-term sustainability questions remain.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. ... (Full Story & Photos)

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Faces; Updated 5.25.26 (Added Lots of Pictures)

Website Adinistrator Wes Simpkins, May 24

Faces is a project introduced to the community to honor the many individuals, past and present, who have lived throughout the greater Deal Island area and its surrounding townships.

A collection of photographs from the Skipjack Heritage archives has been compiled into a GIF presentation and added to our Photo Gallery under FACES. These images are collected in their original format—unedited and preserved ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 22 May 2026, Crisfield Softshell Festival

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 22

Date: 24 May 2026

Time: 12–5 PM

Location: City Dock; Crisfield Maryland

Free Admission

**See flyer for details**... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 20 May 2026, Smaller-Than-Average Dead Zone Expected in Chesapeake Bay This Summer

Website Adminstrator Wes Simpkins, May 20

Southern Maryland Chronicle
By David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor

https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2026/05/20/chesapeake-bay-dead-zone-forecast-smaller-than-average-for-summer-2026/

The annual dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay is expected to be smaller than average this summer, according to a forecast released by the Chesapeake Bay Program and scientific partners.

Low river flows and reduced ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 12 May 2026, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park in Maryland features the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac River (built 1836)

Website Adinistrator Wes Simpkins, May 20

Philip Tamorria
is with Destination Southern Maryland and 3 others at "Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park."

Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park in Maryland features the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac River (built 1836), a keeper’s quarters, and a maritime museum with historic boats, focusing on local watermen. The park offers a pier, kayak launch, and boardwalk, with admission ... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 16 May 2026, Chesapeake Bay Foundation opposes bill allowing commercial harvesting on reefs

Website Adinistrator Wes Simpkins, May 16

Chesapeake Bay Foundation opposes bill allowing commercial harvesting on reefs
By: Jane Alvarez-Wertz

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/chesapeake-bay-foundation-opposes-bill-allowing-commercial-harvesting-on-reefs/

CHESAPEAKE BAY (WAVY) – One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, making them vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is now raising ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 11 May 2036, Rigging the Dee of St Mary's

Member Wes Simpkins, May 14

Credit: Calvert Marine Museum

Video: Rigging the Dee of St Mary's

“Bending the mainsail” may sound unusual, but it’s an old sailing term for attaching a sail to the boat’s rigging. The Dee of St. Mary’s has reached another exciting restoration milestone and thanks to the Patuxent Small Craft Guild for their efforts! ... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 14 May 2026 Skipjack Claud W. Somers is back in the water

Member Wes Simpkins, May 14

Credit: The Last Skipjacks Project

Claud W. Somers is back in the water today at Jennings Boatyard in Reedville, Virginia. She’ll spend the night in the slings while her planks swell. Crew will launch and hook up the yawl boat on Friday, then head back home to Reedville Fisherman’s Museum on Saturday, 5/16.... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 13 May 2026, Beaches, Bays, Water Ways - Beach to Bay Heritage Area

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 13

History & Hymns will be taking place in just 2 days! The Beach to Bay Heritage Area is proud to present History & Hymns: An Evening of Gospel on the Shore Featuring Dr. John Wesley Wright, Annabelle Midley, and American Idol Finalist Jay Copeland! We'd like to give a shoutout to Lee Whaley for helping make this event possible and taking an active role in bringing it to life!
The program will explore ... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 10 May 2026, Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 10

What a nice day on the Nathan using her pushboat with Capt Scott Todd at the helm! Thanks to Irene Barnes for the video.
I Love Dorchester Heritage

Click video below to view... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 6 May 2026, Chesapeake blue crab population drops 50%. The question is: Why?

Website Adinstrator Wes Simpkins, May 07

Bay Journal
By Timothy B. Wheeler & Jeremy Cox

https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fisheries/chesapeake-blue-crab-population-drops-50-the-question-is-why/article_215220ad-4538-4511-9f63-2ba03019ce9a.html

The Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population has declined by about 50% since 2010, a new study estimates, and while invasive blue catfish are responsible for some of that worrisome decline, the main cause ... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 5 May 2026, Amid oyster bounty, Chesapeake Bay watermen suffer dismal harvest

Website Adinistrator Wes Simpkins, May 06

Bay Journal
Timothy B. Wheeler & Jeremy Cox

https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fisheries/amid-oyster-bounty-chesapeake-bay-watermen-suffer-dismal-harvest/article_7119996a-3b03-4d0a-82dc-9c3678ea0b93.html

It’s the best of times in recent memory for Chesapeake Bay oysters. It’s just the opposite, though, for the Maryland and Virginia watermen who make a living harvesting them.

The Bay’s oysters have ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 4 May 2026, Chesapeake Oyster Wars- Spooky Solomons

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 04

Written by Adam Tremper

Click file attachment below for a larger image to see and read

Great article!!... (Full Story & Photos)

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Updated: Skipjack Heritage Day- 9 May 2026

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, May 02

HERITAGE DAY coming soon................May 9th!

**PREMIERE showing of our documentary "Voices of the Skipjack" during the day!

**Scrapple for breakfast 7:00 to 10:00 -- --11:00 to 2:00 Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Chicken strips & drinks!

Craftsmen Bill Suavely- Trailboard Carver & Peter Gorelick- Knot tying expert, will be with us most of the day.

Peter will also explain all the tools used by ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 26 April 2026, Chesapeake Bay Week 2026

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, April 26

Celebrate the culture, history, and environmental importance of the nation's largest estuary... (Full Story & Photos)

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News: 24 April 2026, The Chesapeake Cowboys "extreme boat docking" circuit in the region/1st Event 6 June 2026 @ Reedville, VA

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, April 24

The Chesapeake Cowboys "extreme boat docking" circuit is the primary competitive docking series in the region, featuring watermen racing deadrise workboats into tight slips at high speeds. Known as the "Watermen's Rodeo," these events attract thousands of fans and feature cash prizes typically ranging from $3,000 to $4,000

https://www.xtremeboatdocking.com/

The first event is at Reedville, VA. on ... (Full Story & Photos)

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No Caption News: 21 April 2026, Grants will allow ShoreRivers to expand free expeditions

Website Administrator Wes Simpkins, April 21

The Star Democrat
21 April 2026

https://www.stardem.com/life/grants-will-allow-shorerivers-to-expand-free-expeditions/article_9cca3f92-cc25-4aba-837d-a6410b48526d.html

EASTON — ShoreRivers has been awarded grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the National Park Service through its Chesapeake Gateways Program to expand and fully fund its Watershed Discovery Expeditions program.

The awards will ... (Full Story & Photos)

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