Chesapeake Bay Magazine

07/17/2026

Bird Friendly Yards Of The Bay: North Beach, MD - The Ellisons

🐦 Glenn and Misty Ellison maintain a year-round bird haven in their yard in North Beach, Maryland, just up from the Bay. They focus on maintaining native plants and not using herbicides and pesticides to keep the birds happy. 🪺

https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/bird-friendly-yards-of-the-bay/

Photo by The Ellisons

07/16/2026

Murky Waters....

On a clear spring day at low tide, a barge carrying construction aggregate—sand, gravel, and crushed stone—plows through the bottom mud of the Tred Avon, stirring up a murky brown plume nearly five miles long as it heads to a dock in Easton. When that plume settles, it blankets underwater grasses and oyster reefs, smothering them and other vital aquatic habitats.

By Joel McCord On a clear spring day at low tide, a barge carrying construction aggregate—sand, gravel, and crushed stone—plows through the bottom mud of

07/13/2026

🚣 Paddlers Support Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Bay Paddle, a celebration of paddle sports and Chesapeake Bay conservation, is hosting a day of racing and community engagement. The event features stand-up paddleboard, kayak, canoe, outrigger canoe and other paddlecraft races, followed by a post-race festival. 🥳

WHEN:
Saturday, July 25, 2026 7:30a

WHERE:
Kent Island Yacht Club
117 Yacht Club Dr
Chester, MD 21619

Photo courtesy of BayPaddle.org

07/09/2026

New National Database Helps Track Abandoned Vessels

Every year, the threat from abandoned boats in the Chesapeake increases. Abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) crush seagrass and coral habitats, leak fuel and pollutants, block navigational channels and put other boaters at risk.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water created the first national abandoned vessel database and urges boaters and coastal residents to report ADVs online. The database is expected to greatly assisting efforts to reduce environmental and safety threats to waterways.

By Krista Pfunder Every year, the threat from abandoned boats in the Chesapeake increases.  Abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) crush seagrass

07/08/2026

Reel in the Blues Bonanza

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding a
free Chesapeake Bay blue catfish charter or guided fishing trip giveaway for
summer and fall chartered fishing trips in 2026. The trips will be guided trips
to harvest blue catfish, an invasive fish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Mates
operating on winning trips may offer filleting services, but you will need
to inquire when arranging for the charter.

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older can enter the
giveaway between June 24th and July 13th. The DNR will draw 100 winners
randomly from all entries. Only one entry per person. DNR employees are not eligible to enter. A winner may bring up to
the number of guests allowed by the capacity of their chosen charter. The free
trip includes fees for charter and mate tips.

After their trip, winners will be asked to send photos and/or
videos of their charter boat fishing experiences to [email protected].
An on-line customer satisfaction survey will also be sent by DNR following the
trip to learn how DNR can improve the experience in the future.

For questions, please send an email to [email protected].

07/08/2026

What To Do About Blue Catfish? Enjoy ‘Em!

Like ‘em or not, blue catfish are here to stay in the Chesapeake. Long adapted to our country’s big Midwestern rivers, they were stocked in Virginia’s large tidal rivers in the 1970s for recreational anglers, at a time when other fisheries were depressed. Unfortunately, the blue cats have “succeeded” too well in the Bay system in the ensuing fifty years, becoming the dominant species in multiple rivers and crowding desirable natives such as rockfish, white perch, and American shad.

By John Page Williams Like ‘em or not, blue catfish are here to stay in the Chesapeake. Long adapted to our country’s big Midwestern rivers, they were

07/03/2026

https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/by-sea-or-by-land-series-st-michaels/

Cruise the Miles River on a narrated tour on The Patriot. Photo courtesy of Patriot Cruises By Krista Pfunder When looking for a quick getaway with

07/01/2026

Maryland and Virginia Celebrate 250 Years of America

Nearly every county in Maryland and Virginia is hosting a special 250th Anniversary celebration this week. But most towns continue the festivities well past July 4. Find where, what and when:

https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/maryland-and-virginia-celebrate-250-years-of-america/

06/29/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXnQSIfEl1c

Anguilla is the kind of Caribbean destination that feels made to ex...

06/24/2026

A reader spotted this tall ship in the Bay this afternoon. She is heading to Sail250 Maryland in Baltimore. Anyone recognize her? Hint: There's an online arrival schedule for the event.

Thank you to Brad Wagner for the submission