About Us                                                                         Chapter Leadership                                                                                                  Chapter Brochure   Office   Name     Email   Telephone President Thomas Kemp   President   Vice President Charlie Hanko   Vice-President   Secretary Jerry Gaff     Treasurer Richard Mervine   Treasurer   Executive Committee   Martin Duby     Sam Stuber     Bruno Vasta     Gary Hennig     William Conway     Chapter Mailing Address:  MSSA-SMC   P.O. Box 1191, Solomons, MD  20688 Chapter Email Address:   SMC_MSSA@yahoo.com Chapter Website:  http://www.mssasmc.com Chapter Mission The MSSA works through its regional chapters to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions, and the future of recreational saltwater fishing, as well as the health of the Chesapeake Bay. PURPOSES The Southern Maryland Chapter, like its parent organization, serves four primary purposes: Provide services that cultivate interest in fishing, particularly among the youth who will become the fishermen of the future. Learn about the various factors that affect fish populations and the health of the Bay. Support public policies that optimize the fisheries and enhance the health of the Bay. Build relations and networks among members. MEMBERSHIP Membership is open to anyone interested in joining the MSSA in support of its mission and payment of the annual dues. The Southern Maryland Chapter has over 600 members and is among the largest in MSSA, which has over 6,000 members state wide. FINANCES As with other service organizations, the Southern Maryland Chapter of the MSSA raises funds to support its mission and various activities and events. Funding comes from three primary sources: annual dues, its sponsorship of the Solomons Fishing Fair, and the chapter raffle. MAJOR ACTIVITIES Cultivate interest in fishing: SCHOLARSHIP: The MSSA Scholarship Foundation provides grants to qualified college students interested in careers related to the marine environment. CHILDREN’S CASTING ACTIVITY: The chapter provides a casting event for children each year at the Bay Country Boat Show in Hollywood, Maryland. SOLOMONS FISHING FAIR: This annual event offers individuals the opportunity to shop for rods, reels, lures, supplies and boats exhibited by a wide variety of vendors. This is the Chapter’s major fund-raiser to support its service activities through out the year. Usually held the last weekend in March the event attracts over 1,500 persons. GREENWELL PROGRAM: Each July, members of the chapter provide fishing and boating experience for children attending summer camp sponsored by the Greenwell Foundation at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, Maryland. The Greenwell summer camps are for children of various ages and provide activities that are inclusive and universally accessible to all children. The children, along with their counselors, join members on their boats for this outing on the Patuxent River. “HOOKED ON FISHING”: This annual event provides children attending the summer camps of the St. Mary’s County, Department of Recreation and Parks the opportunity to learn about fishing and be exposed to the Chesapeake Bay. With the cooperation of Point Lookout State Park, the chapter provides each camper with a rod and reel. They spend the morning doing catch and release bottom fishing from the park’s pier, learning to identify various species. FISHING FOR KIDS: Using the Solomons fishing pier the chapter gives the children attending the Noah’s Ark Learning Center the opportunity to learn about the bottom fish that inhabit the mouth of the Patuxent River. The chapter provides each child with a rod and reel and instruction. This is also a catch and release activity designed to expose the children to recreational fishing.  VETERANS FISHING: Each fall the chapter has made a fishing outing available to the veterans residing at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Veterans come to the Point Lookout State Park Fishing Pier for a day of fishing and social interaction. Learning about fish and the Bay: SCIENTIST SPEAKERS: Periodically scientists and fisheries experts speak about the condition of the bay, pollution, grasses and conservation strategies at Chapter meetings. NEWSLETTER: The MSSA office publishes a bimonthly newsletter, “Tidelines”, containing reports such a surveys of spawning successes, results of recent research studies, and techniques for safely releasing undersize fish. MEMBERS EXPERTISE: Many members have professional expertise and are knowledgeable about conditions in the Bay, which contributes to informed discussions and helps set an agenda for further studies and policy positions. Develop public polices: COLLABORATIONS: The enactment of public polices requires concerted action among multiple organizations. Partner organizations include the Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Solomons Charter Captains Association, the Costal Conservation Association, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Environmental Defense, and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation. REPRESENTATION: MSSA represents members in public hearings and advisory boards of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. LOBBYING: The MSSA lobbies the legislature on issues concerning fishing and the Bay. Examples include regulation of menhaden; development of artificial reefs as habitat that attract and hold game fish; and a Freedom to Fish law that forbids efforts to designate certain areas as off-limits to fishing. Build relationships and networks: MONTHLY MEETINGS: Meetings are held at the Solomons Firehouse on the third Thursday, January through November, with invited guest speakers, including charter captains, boating experts, scientists, and officials for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Meeting usually include lure making, sale of fishing supplies, and door prizes.  LOCAL NEWSLETTER: Three times a year the chapter mails out a newsletter to the membership. On other months “Fish Tales” is posted on this website with up to date chapter news. TOURNAMENTS: Members participate in the MSSA sponsored Bay-wide spring and fall tournaments. FISHING ACTIVITIES: members, family, and friends get involved in local fishing activities in both small and larger groups. ANGLER OF THE YEAR: Each year the chapter sponsors the “Angler of the Year” contest for those members who sign-up. The winner is rewarded with a plaque and a monetary award. SOCIAL EVENTS: Each fall the chapter holds a picnic featuring crabs and a fish fry. In December the chapter hosts a Holiday Party for members and their families to celebrate the achievements of the year and the holiday season. Communications     Fishing Reports     Fishing Partners    Chapter Supporters     Home      About Us     Topic  Areas      Photos       Links