Catch Card Census Report

State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Larry Hogan

Governor

Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio

Secretary

Fishing and Boating Services

580 Taylor Ave.

Annapolis, MD 21401

dnr.maryland.gov

Toll free in Maryland: 877-620-8305

Out of state call: 410-260-8305

TTY Users call via the MD Relay. This program receives Federal financial assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. 

If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more information,
please write to:

  

Office of Fair Practice

Department of Natural Resources

580 Taylor Ave., C 3

Annapolis MD 21401

Telephone: (410) 260-8058

Email: [email protected]

 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights Leadership

Mr. Ken Bailey - Deputy Director

Building SSMC4, Suite 7500

1305 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910

02/2022 DNR

United States

Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Highly Migratory Species Division

Final Report

Grantee:	Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Contract Number:	20-0105.5
Project Title:	Maryland Catch Card Census Reporting
Period Covered:	2021
Prepared By:
	Angel Willey, Coastal Fisheries Program Manager	Date
Approved By:
	Mike Luisi, Acting Director, Fishing and Boating Services	Date
Approved By:
	Matt Fleming, Acting Assistant Secretary, Aquatic Resources	Date

Introduction

Globally, tunas, billfishes and some sharks are governed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. In the United States, the Atlantic Tunas Convention and Magnuson Stevens acts provide the Highly Migratory Species Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service the authority to implement recommendations, such as minimum sizes and quotas.  

In the late 1990’s, the National Marine Fisheries Service required all recreational anglers to report bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) landings via a toll free phone number. In Maryland, that system was determined to be ineffective for accurately documenting recreational bluefin tuna landings. The Catch Card Census was implemented in 1999 as a solution to the recreational reporting problem, and the program has expanded to include billfishes (2002) and sharks (2013).  

Objectives

• Continue long-term monitoring of all recreationally landed bluefin tuna, billfishes, and sharks in Maryland and supply those data to the National Marine Fisheries Service for use in management of highly migratory species.

• Continue development of program awareness among anglers for high compliance rates.

Materials and Methods

Information pertaining to the Catch Card Census was available on the department’s website. Letters were emailed or mailed to highly migratory species permit holders (April) reminding them of the requirements and the ability to download catch cards which can speed up the dockside tagging process. A similar letter was emailed or mailed to tournament operators.

Eight businesses signed a cooperative reporting station participation agreement to cover all species in the census (Table 1 and Appendix A). Two additional tackle shops were reporting stations specifically for sharks and signed a species specific agreement (Appendix B). The contracts required reporting stations to distribute and collect catch cards, issue tags, and return leftover supplies to the department for inventory at the conclusion of the fishing season.

Each reporting station received catch cards and tags at the start of the season. Staff contacted reporting stations twice a week, from June 6 through September 30, to maintain adequate supplies and collect completed catch cards. After September 30, staff checked reporting stations weekly. Tags and unused catch cards were collected at the end of the season from select reporting stations. Returned tags were reconciled with what was distributed (Appendix C). One self-serve kiosk was also available to anglers (Appendix D).

Anglers were responsible for completing a catch card before removing the fish from the vessel (Appendix E and F). A tag was provided from the reporting station for each completed catch card to be placed around the tail of the fish. If fishing from shore, a catch card was completed before removing a shark from the point of landing. Anglers using a self-serve kiosk were expected to complete the catch card and retain the attached receipt in place of a tag. The catch card was to be deposited into a locked box that was fastened directly to the kiosk. Trailered boats could not be pulled from the water until the tag was in place or a receipt was in hand.

Throughout the season, reporting reminders were included in the department’s fishing reports, social media posts, a flyer targeted to swordfish anglers (Appendix G), and a shark poster for remote areas in Chincoteague Bay (Appendix H). Popular fishing newspapers and social media sites were monitored for catch card compliance. Fishermen were contacted to complete a catch card if a corresponding catch card was not received.

Catch card landings were entered into a Microsoft Access database. Updates and catch card data were provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service every two weeks during the season. Microsoft Excel was utilized for proofing and descriptive statistics.

Results and Discussion

Bluefin Tuna

In 2021, 650 bluefin tuna were reported through the Catch Card Census which was higher than the previous two years (Table 2 and Figure 1). Ninety seven percent of those landings (632 bluefin tuna) were classified as school (27 to <47 inches, Figure 2). In 2021, the mean curved fork length (all classes combined) was 35.9 inches. The peak landing period was mid-May to mid-June for the past three years (Figure 3).

Charter trips landed 56.6 percent (368 tuna) of the bluefin tuna during the 2021 season (Table 3). In 2021, the percentage of non-tournament bluefin tuna landings was 99.8 percent, which is higher than the previous two years. Compliance with completing the live and dead release (158 live, 17 dead) boxes was difficult to compare to 2020 due to low landings that year, however improvement was shown compared to 2019 (92 live, three dead releases). Two bluefin tuna were reported using the kiosk and zero were reported from the Automated Landings Reporting System.

Billfishes (Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish) and Swordfish

Ninety billfishes and swordfish were reported in 2021 through the Catch Card Census, which is lower than the previous two years (Table 4, Figure 4 and Appendix I). No undersized fish were reported in 2021. Sailfish have not been reported since the program was implemented in 1999.

Blue marlin landings reported in 2021 (14 blue marlin) were higher than 2020 (10 blue marlin; Figures 4 - 6). The 2021 blue marlin mean lower jaw fork length was 114.4 inches and the mean weight was 568.4 pounds (Table 4). Mean lower jaw fork length and mean weight were both higher than 2020. The majority of landings occurred in July and August for the past three years of which most were landed during tournaments: the HUK Big Fish Classic, the White Marlin Open, and the MidAtlantic (Table 5). Zero blue marlin catch cards were received in the kiosk or via the Automated Landings Reporting System.

White marlin landings reported in 2021 (19 white marlin) decreased from the previous year (70 white marlin; Table 4 and Figures 4 - 6). The 2021 mean lower jaw fork length (71 inches) and mean weight (73.5 pounds) was higher than the previous two years. The majority of landings occurred in August for the past three years, most of which were landed during tournaments (Table 5). Zero white marlin catch cards were received in the kiosk or via the Automated Landings Reporting System.

Roundscale spearfish landings in 2021 (21 roundscale spearfish) decreased from the previous year (66 roundscale spearfish; Table 4 and Figures 4 - 6). The 2021 mean lower jaw fork length (70.4 inches) was similar to the previous two years. The mean weight (63.2 pounds) was slightly lower than 2020 and 2019. All roundscale spearfish were landed during August fishing tournaments (Table 5). Zero roundscale spearfish catch cards were received in the kiosk or via the Automated Landings Reporting System.

Roundscale spearfish were considered eligible for white marlin rewards and were targeted the same as white marlin at tournaments. The 2021 combined landings for white marlin and roundscale spearfish were 40 fish compared to 136 for both species in 2020. This substantial decrease in white marlin and roundscale spearfish can be attributed to the proactive actions taken by tournaments that increased qualifying lengths to reduce landings.

Swordfish landings for 2021 (36 swordfish) were lower than the previous year (96 swordfish; Table 4 and Figures 7 - 8). The 2021 swordfish mean lower jaw fork length (63.9 inches) was lower than 2020, but similar to 2019. The 2021 mean weight (154.5 pounds) was higher than the previous two years. Swordfish were landed from June into December in 2021. Peak swordfish landings were similar for the past two years (September - October; Figure 8). Two swordfish catch cards were received in the kiosk and zero were submitted via the Automated Landings Reporting System.

Species-specific discards were requested but were only reported with landed fish. In 2021, anglers reported three blue marlin, 37 white marlin, one swordfish, and two longbill spearfish released alive. Dead discard reporting remained low in 2021 as no dead discards were reported for any billfishes or swordfish.

Sharks

Shark landings (28 sharks) were lower than the previous two years and consisted of seven species (Table 7 and Figures 9 - 10). Shortfin mako sharks comprised 32 percent (nine sharks) of the landings which is higher than the previous two years and related to the large decrease in Atlantic sharpnose landings (Table 8). The shark landings peaked from mid-May to mid-June, ahead of the 2020 and 2019 seasons (Figure 11). The majority of sharks were landed outside of tournaments and mostly on charters (23 sharks; Table 9). Discards were only reported with landed fish. One shark catch card was deposited in the kiosk.

Recommendations

• Continue the Catch Card Census for bluefin tuna, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks in Maryland.

• Consider adding an electronic reporting option.

List of Tables

Table 1.	List of the 2021 Maryland Catch Card Census reporting stations.
Table 2.	Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna summary statistics, 2019 to 2021.
Table 3.	Maryland bluefin tunas landings by trip type and tournament participation, 2019 to 2021.
Table 4.	Maryland Catch Card Census billfish and swordfish summary statistics, 2019 to 2021.
Table 5.	Maryland Catch Card Census tournament participation by billfish species, 2019 to 2021.
Table 6.	Maryland Catch Card Census billfish and swordfish landings by trip type, 2019 to 2021.
Table 7.	Summary of the 2021 shark landings reported through the Maryland Catch Card Census, n = 28.
Table 8.	Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2019 to 2021 shortfin mako landings, n = 28.
Table 9.	Maryland Catch Card Census shark landings by trip type and tournament participation, 2019 to 2021.

List of Figures

Figure 1.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly cumulative bluefin tuna landings, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 2.	Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna size class frequency comparison, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 3.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly landings of bluefin tuna, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 4.	Comparison of the frequency of billfishes and swordfish from the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 5.	Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative billfish landings, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 6.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly billfish landings, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 7.	Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative swordfish landings, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 8.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly swordfish landings, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 9.	Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative shark landings, 2019 to 20201
Figure 10.	Sharks reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2019 to 2021.
Figure 11.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly shark landings, 2019 to 2021.

List of Appendices

Appendix A.	Example of the 2021 Catch Card Census Reporting Station Agreement.
Appendix B.	Example of the 2021 Catch Card Census Shark Reporting Station Agreement.
Appendix C.	Maryland Catch Card Census 2021 Reporting Station Tag Summary.
Appendix D.	Photograph of the Maryland Catch Card Census Kiosk Located in Ocean City.
Appendix E.	Examples of the 5 x 7 Maryland Bluefin Tuna and Billfish Catch Cards and Tags.
Appendix F.	Example of the 5 x 7 Maryland Shark Catch Card and Tag.
Appendix G.	Maryland Catch Card Census Swordfish Flyer.
Appendix H.	Maryland Catch Card Census Shark Poster.
Appendix I.	List of the 2021 Billfishes and Swordfish Reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census.

Table 1. List of the 2021 Maryland Catch Card Census reporting stations.

Reporting Station	City /State	Phone Number	Species
Atlantic Tackle	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-0421	All
Bahia Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-7438	All
Fisherman’s Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-2478	All
Ocean City Fishing Center	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-1121	All
Talbot Street Pier & Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-9125	All
White Marlin Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-6470	All
Sunset Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-9600	All
Pines Point Provisions and Seafood	Ocean Pines, MD	(410) 641-2248	All
Buck’s	Berlin, MD	(443) 513-4661	Shark
Alltackle	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-2840	All
Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-1531	All

Table 2. Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna summary statistics, 2019 to 2021.

	2019				2020				2021
Size Class (in.)	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total
School (27 to <47)	373	37.3	34	72.1	4	37.8		40	632	35.7	40	97.2
Large School (47 to <59)	132	51.8	52	25.5	5	52.1		50	7	50.4	50	1.1
Small Medium (59 to <73)	9	62.4	60	1.7	1			10
Unknown	3			0.6					11			1.7
Total	517				10				650
* Curved fork length

Table 3. Maryland bluefin tunas landings by trip type and tournament participation, 2019 to 2021.

Trip Type	Private		Charter		Headboat		Unknown		Tournament Landings
Year	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Tournament	Non-Tournament
2019	272	52.6	232	44.9	12	2.3	1	0.2	39	478
2020	2	20	8	80					6	4
2021	261	40.2	368	56.6	12	1.8	9	1.4		649*
* One card had no information about tournament participation

Table 4. Maryland Catch Card Census billfish and swordfish summary statistics, 2019 to 2021.

Year	Count	Percent of Annual Billfish Total	Lower Jaw Fork Length (Inches)			Weight (Pounds)
			Mean	Mode	Range	Mean	Range
Blue Marlin
2019	11	6.5	111.3		105.3 - 121.8	465.2	345 - 630
2020	10	4.1	107.5		88.5 - 129.5	470	322 - 815
2021	14	15.6	114.4	104	99.8 - 136.5	568.4	355 - 1135
White Marlin
2019	31	18.5	68.1	68	62 - 73	64	53 - 81
2020	70	28.9	69.8	70	66 -77	68.3	54 - 97
2021	19	21.1	71.0	69	66 - 79	73.5	60.5 - 89
Roundscale Spearfish
2019	28	16.7	69.4	68	66.8 - 72	65.3	56 - 79
2020	66	27.3	69.6	69	66.5 - 75.5	65.4	55.5 - 83.5
2021	21	23.3	70.4	70	68.5 - 74	63.2	57 - 70
Swordfish
2019	98	58.3	63.5	54	48 - 101	150.9	50 - 437
2020	96	39.7	65.9	62	48 - 102.5	153.8	55 - 422.5
2021	36	40	63.9	50	48.5 - 87	154.5	60 - 318.5

Table 5. Maryland Catch Card Census tournament participation by billfish species, 2019 to 2021.

Year	Count	Tournament	Non-Tournament
Blue Marlin
2019	11	9	2
2020	10	5	5
2021	14	13	1
White Marlin
2019	31	28	3
2020	70	62	8
2021	19	12	7
Roundscale Spearfish
2019	28	27	1
2020	66	66
2021	21	21
Swordfish
2019	98	8	90
2020	96	31	65
2021	36	13	23

Table 6. Maryland Catch Card Census billfish and swordfish landings by trip type, 2019 to 2021.

	Private		Charter		Unknown		Headboat
Year	Count	Percent of Total Landings	Count	Percent of Total Landings	Count	Percent of Total Landings	Count	Percent of Total Landings
2019	126	75	41	24.4			1	0.6
2020	111	45.9	40	16.5	91	37.6
2021	60	68.9	26	28.9	1	1.1	1	1.1

Table 7. Summary of the 2021 shark landings reported through the Maryland Catch Card Census n = 28.

Species	Count	Sex			Mean Length (Inches)	Mode (Inches)	Length Range (Inches)	Weight Range (Pounds)
		M	F	U
Atlantic Sharpnose	7	7			30.1	32	24 - 32
Blacktip	1		1				70	100
Common Thresher	5	3	2		81.3	81	80 - 84.5	267 - 542
Scalloped Hammerhead	1		1				96	185
Shortfin Mako	9	9			79.1	*	71 - 93	120 - 314
Smooth Dogfish	4	2	2		18.8	15	15 - 27
Tiger	1	1					70	132.5
Total	28
*No mode as all lengths are different.

Table 8. Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2019 to 2021 shortfin mako landings, n = 28.

Year	Species	Count	Sex			Mean Length (Inches)	Mode (Inches)	Length Range (Inches)	Weight Range (Pounds)
			M	F	U
2019	Shortfin Mako	13	8	5		82	74	72 - 106	133 - 487
2020	Shortfin Mako	6	4	2		80	84	72 - 88	130 - 330
2021	Shortfin Mako	9	9			79.1	*	71 - 93	120 - 314
	Total	28	13	9
*No mode as all lengths are different.

Table 9. Maryland Catch Card Census shark landings by trip type and tournament participation, 2019 to 2021.

Trip Type	Private		Charter		Unknown		Tournament Landings
Year	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Tournament	Non-Tournament
2019	18	18	81	82			1	98
2020	2	3	75	97				77
2021	8	29	20	71			5	23

Figure 1. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly cumulative bluefin tuna landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 2. Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna size class frequency comparison, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 3. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly landings of bluefin tuna, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 4. Comparison of the frequency of billfishes and swordfish from the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 5. Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative billfish landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 6. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly billfish landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 7. Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative swordfish landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 8. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly swordfish landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 9. Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative shark landings, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 10. Sharks reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2019 to 2021.

Figure 11. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly shark landings, 2019 to 2021.

Appendix A. Example of the 2021 Catch Card Census Reporting Station Agreement.

2021 Cooperative Agreement to Act as a

Recreational Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Billfish/Swordfish and Shark Reporting Station

Between

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources

&

__________________________________________________

The signatory operates this facility as a place of business open to the public with regular posted operating hours and will act as a reporting station for recreationally harvested Atlantic bluefin tuna and billfish (white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish), swordfish, and sharks landed in the State of Maryland in accordance with the following conditions. *

On a Daily Basis:

1. From bluefin tuna anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland bluefin tuna catch cards and issue a uniquely numbered bluefin tuna tag to the angler. Tags issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED catch card. Bluefin tuna cannot be removed from a vessel before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate tuna.

2. From billfish/swordfish anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland billfish catch cards and issue a uniquely numbered billfish/swordfish tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED catch card. The billfish/swordfish cannot be removed from a vessel before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate billfish/swordfish.

3. From shark anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland shark catch cards and issue a uniquely numbered shark tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED catch card. The shark cannot be removed from a vessel before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate shark.

4. The signatory, representing the reporting station, must account for all tags.

5. The reporting station will allow personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect completed catch cards and inventory remaining tuna, billfish/swordfish and shark tags. All tags must be kept in a secure location.

Physical location address: ________________________________________________________

Business mailing address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _____________________________________________________________

Hours of operation: _____________________________________________________________

Owner/Manager name: __________________________________________________________

Contact person: ________________________________________________________________

Person(s) responsible for checking catch cards & issuing tags: __________________________________________

* The Department reserves the right to terminate reporting station status for any reason including but not limited to failure to maintain inventory of bluefin tuna, billfish/swordfish and shark tags and collect completed catch cards and/or failure to cooperate with Department personnel in retrieval of said items.

Authorized signature:_____________________________ Date:_____________________

Title:______________________________________________

Appendix B. Example of the 2021 Catch Card Census Shark Reporting Station Agreement.

2021 Cooperative Agreement to Act as a

Recreational Shark Reporting Station

Between

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources

&

__________________________________________________

The signatory operates this facility as a place of business open to the public with regular posted operating hours

and will act as a reporting station for recreationally harvested sharks landed in the State of Maryland in accordance with the following conditions. *

On a Daily Basis:

1. From shark anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland Shark Landing Cards and issue a uniquely

numbered shark tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED landing

card. The shark cannot be removed from the point of landing before the angler attaches the tag to

the appropriate shark.

2. The signatory, representing the reporting station, must account for all tags.

3. The reporting station will allow personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to

collect completed landing cards and inventory remaining shark tags. All tags must be kept in a

secure location.

Physical location address: ________________________________________________________

Business mailing address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _____________________________________________________________

Hours of operation: _____________________________________________________________

Owner/Manager name: __________________________________________________________

Contact person: ________________________________________________________________

Person(s) responsible for checking catch cards & issuing tags: __________________________________________

* The Department reserves the right to terminate reporting station status for any reason including but

not limited to failure to maintain inventory of shark tags and collect completed catch cards and/or failure to cooperate with Department personnel in retrieval of said items.

Authorized signature:________________________________ Date: _____________________

Title:______________________________

Figure 5. Example of the 2013 Maryland ABT/Billfish/Shark Catch Card and Tagging Program contract between MDNR and tackle shops to act as a recreational reporting station for sharks.

Appendix C. Maryland Catch Card Census 2021 Reporting Station Tag Summary.

	Bluefin					Billfish					Sharks
Station	Issued	Used	Returned	No Tag Number	Unsettled	Issued	Used	Returned	No Tag Number	Unsettled	Issued	Used	Returned	No Tag Number	Unsettled
Atlantic Tackle	172	59	95	18		10		10			10		10
Bahia Marina	50	16	33	1		10	1	9			10	3	7
Fisherman’s Marina	111	39	70	2		10	6	4			10	2	8
O.C. Fishing Center	366	199	144	23		19	6	13			30	18	12
Talbot Street Pier & Marina	87	51	36			27	17	10			20		20
Sunset Marina a	359	187	159	13		56	20	36			18	0	18
Pines Point Provisions and Seafood	21	7	14			8		8			10		10
White Marlin Marina	53	28	25			6	1	5			11	2	9
Buck’s	N/A	N/A	N/A			N/A	N/A	N/A			10		10
Alltackle	19		19			11	1	10			10		10
Huk Big Fish Classic	10		10			40	1b	39			10		10
White Marlin Open	10		10			64	17d	47			10	2	8
MidAtlantic	10		10			47	18	29			N/A	N/A	N/A
O.C. Marlin Club	N/A	N/A	N/A			25		25			N/A	N/A	N/A
Kiosk (receipt)	N/A	N/A	N/A	2					2					1
Unreportedc	N/A	N/A	N/A	5
Totals	1268	586	625	64		333	88	245	2		159	27	132
a One bluefin tag used for billfish. The marina did not have the HMS permit holder’s number. Could not find vessel contact information in permit list. b Dockhands began using tags issued to the marina instead of tags issued to the tournament. c The department completed catch cards for unreported landings discovered online. The fishermen and or HMS permit holders were comtacted for these fish. d Two billfish were tagged at other marinas instead of the tournament.

Appendix D. Photograph of the Maryland Catch Card Census Kiosk Located in Ocean City.

Appendix E. Examples of the 5 x 7 Maryland Bluefin Tuna and Billfish Catch Cards and Tags.

Appendix F. Example of the 5 x 7 Maryland Shark Catch Card and Tag.

Appendix G. Maryland Catch Card Census Swordfish Flyer.

Appendix H. Maryland Catch Card Census Shark Poster.

Appendix I. List of the 2021 Billfishes and Swordfish Reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census.

Date	Common Name	Length (Inches)	Weight (Pounds)	Trip Type	Tournament
7/23/2021	Blue Marlin	104.5	436	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/2/2021	Blue Marlin	116.5	559.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Blue Marlin	128	775	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Blue Marlin	115.5	511.8	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Blue Marlin	109	450	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/16/2021	Blue Marlin	122	681	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Blue Marlin	112.5	487	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Blue Marlin	135	958	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Blue Marlin	104	383	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Blue Marlin	104	355	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Blue Marlin	108	382	Private	MidAtlantic
8/20/2021	Blue Marlin	107	472	Charter	MidAtlantic
8/21/2021	Blue Marlin	136.5	1135	Private	MidAtlantic
9/7/2021	Blue Marlin	99.75	372	Private	N/A
7/24/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	71.5	59.5	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70	59	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/2/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	72.5	66	Private	White Marlin Open
8/3/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70.5	68	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/3/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70	59	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/3/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	69.5	Unknown	Unknown	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	69	Unknown	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	71	65	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	73	66	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	74	70	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	71	57	Private	White Marlin Open
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	68.75	Unknown	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	71.25	68	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	68.5	Unknown	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	69.5	59	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70.5	66	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70.75	68	Private	MidAtlantic
8/17/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	69	60	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	68.5	Unknown	Private	MidAtlantic
8/18/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	69.25	58	Private	MidAtlantic
8/20/2021	Roundscale Spearfish	70.25	63	Private	MidAtlantic
6/7/2021	Swordfish	60	176	Charter	N/A
6/10/2021	Swordfish	54	Unknown	Charter	N/A
6/14/2021	Swordfish	86	291	Private	N/A
6/14/2021	Swordfish	0	195	Private	N/A
6/17/2021	Swordfish	72	141	Headboat	N/A
7/23/2021	Swordfish	68.5	159	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/23/2021	Swordfish	69	184	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	64	123.5	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	59	90.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	68	159.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	71	167.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	66.8	142.5	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	85.5	239.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	Swordfish	83	301	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/6/2021	Swordfish	87	318.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/25/2021	Swordfish	0	150	Private	N/A
8/27/2021	Swordfish	51	Unknown	Charter	N/A
8/29/2021	Swordfish	48.5	Unknown	Private	N/A
9/4/2021	Swordfish	57	90	Private	N/A
9/4/2021	Swordfish	50	Unknown	Private	N/A
9/5/2021	Swordfish	80	250	Private	N/A
9/7/2021	Swordfish	50	Unknown	Private	N/A
9/19/2021	Swordfish	80	Unknown	Charter	N/A
9/20/2021	Swordfish	50	62	Charter	N/A
9/27/2021	Swordfish	53	66	Charter	N/A
9/27/2021	Swordfish	68	Unknown	Private	N/A
10/15/2021	Swordfish	59	102	Charter	Bishop Broadbill Bash
10/15/2021	Swordfish	78	218	Charter	Bishop Broadbill Bash
10/15/2021	Swordfish	58	102	Charter	Bishop Broadbill Bash
11/2/2021	Swordfish	52	60	Private	N/A
11/2/2021	Swordfish	55	70	Private	N/A
11/2/2021	Swordfish	70	Unknown	Charter	N/A
11/3/2021	Swordfish	51.5	67	Private	N/A
11/3/2021	Swordfish	61	91	Private	N/A
12/14/2021	Swordfish	50	Unknown	Private	N/A
12/14/2021	Swordfish	56	Unknown	Private	N/A
7/12/2021	White Marlin	67	65	Charter	N/A
7/14/2021	White Marlin	66	Unknown	Charter	N/A
7/19/2021	White Marlin	76	75	Charter	N/A
7/23/2021	White Marlin	69	63	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	White Marlin	68	72	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/24/2021	White Marlin	69	62	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/2/2021	White Marlin	72.5	82.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	White Marlin	76	85.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	White Marlin	75	77	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	White Marlin	70	60.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2021	White Marlin	71	78.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/11/2021	White Marlin	67	65	Private	N/A
8/15/2021	White Marlin	79	89	Private	N/A
8/15/2021	White Marlin	69	68	Private	N/A
8/16/2021	White Marlin	69.5	69	Private	MidAtlantic
8/16/2021	White Marlin	74	80	Private	MidAtlantic
8/17/2021	White Marlin	69	75	Charter	MidAtlantic
8/17/2021	White Marlin	71	82	Private	MidAtlantic
9/7/2021	White Marlin	71	Unknown	Charter	N/A