Another young angler gets Maryland Master Angler status

Annapolis, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has recognized Jake Prior, of Perry Hall, Md., for catching 10 different species of trophy-size fish to reach the FishMaryland Master Angler milestone.

FishMaryland is Maryland’s recreational fishing award program promoting year-round recreational fishing and affordable, accessible, diverse and high-quality fishing opportunities.

Prior considers his home waters to be the Gunpowder Falls, Loch Raven Reservoir, and upper Chesapeake Bay. His favorite area to fish is Dundee Creek, where he targets Chesapeake channa (northern snakehead).

His favorite trophy catch was a 37-inch snakehead caught in the Dundee area this June. He likes using hollow-body frogs and weedless swimbaits to target the species.

“I like taking people out so they can enjoy the thrill of fishing as well,” said Prior. “I’ve gotten a bunch of people on their first snakeheads this year.”

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Prior’s fishing journey began at a young age, with his dad teaching him on camping trips. As he grew older, he developed a passion for riding his bike to Gunpowder Falls and going fishing with friends.

An employee at Dundee Creek Marina, Prior learned of the Master Angler and FishMaryland program through dockside chatter at the marina and made it his mission to achieve the milestone.

While most of his trophy fish are freshwater species, he wants to continue expanding his saltwater fishing skills. He hopes to catch trophy striped bass and blue catfish, two species that eluded him during his Master Angler quest.

Prior’s qualifying catches, in order, were: Chesapeake channa – 30 inches, yellow perch – 15 inches, hickory shad – 18 inches, blue crab – 8 inches, white catfish – 20 inches, carp – 30 inches, largemouth bass – 21 inches, sand tiger shark – 82 inches, chain pickerel – 24.5 inches and redbreast sunfish – 8.5 inches.