Although the scope of the recent major discovery of illegal fishing nets in the Chesapeake Bay continues to widen, Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials gave local commercial fishermen a respite by reopening fishing season for two days, Friday and Monday. DNR police found another illegal 400-yard-long anchor net Wednesday morning with up to several hundred pounds of caught rockfish, adding to the 10 tons of confiscated fish found earlier this month. The Maryland DNR closed fishing season on Feb. 4 in response to what many consider the latest major scandal to hit the area. more ›

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police officers are looking for rockfish poachers who snagged over 20,000 pounds of rockfish this week. Maryland officers discovered a 900-yard gill net with 6,000 pounds of fish near Bloody Point Lighthouse Tuesday, leading to the further uncovering of more sunken nets, bringing the total to over 10 tons. The legal limit for fishers is 300 pounds per day, making this the largest catch uncovered by a lone patrol in at least 25 years. Rockfish, also known as the striped bass and declared the Maryland state fish, and other seafood have made a recent resurgence due to re-population and sustainability efforts. "The people of Maryland have invested far too much time, effort and money into restoring striped bass, our state fish," said Secretary of Natural Resources John R. Griffin to the Washington Post. In light of the discovery, officials are tightening the quota system and methods for catching fish for the season. They are also offering $7,000 for information leading to an arrest of the poachers. more ›

Washingtonian reports today that chef Barton Seaver has left his post at Hook. more ›