Johnsfolly

That's a great haul! Looks like a fish fry in the making. Thanks for the report.

1) Well my milestone was to catch my 300th confirmed fish species on hook and line. I did that when I landed this blackchin tilapia in FL back in March. I did slow down a little and did a few more just for fun fishing trips in 2025. Still drove (figuratively and literally) for more lifers throughout the year. 2) There were only a few reports of exotics being caught this year. I did a couple of NJ trips for them but did not see or catch any. 3) I fished in TX, VA, and MD a few times for redfish and did not catch any. I fished in FL and TX for either northern or gulf kingfish. My wife caught this gulf kingfish in Tampa in March. I only caught pinfish, spot and southern kingfish. On one of my NJ trips for exotics I did finally manage to catch a couple of juvenile northern kingfish to finish this goal. Still want to catch an adult. 3 &4 ) Catch a couple of swamp lifers or a new bullhead/madtom. I fished for tadpole madtoms, swamp darters, and spotted gar. I never got a madtom interested in my baits. I lost what I believe to be a swamp darter after a 5 to 6 min wait for it to bite. In TX I couldn't get a clear cast to any of the gar that I saw on that trip. This/these goals will roll up into 2026. 5) I succeeded in catching a fish of a lifetime when I landed a 7-8 ft long sand tiger shark in Deleware! As I mentioned in 2025 I wanted to surpass 300 fish species, which I did. I also wanted to land 10 lifers. I ended the year with 21 lifers. I fished in 8 states to make that happen. Some of my favorite lifers from 2025. Pike Topminnow (Killifish) - FL Gulf Toadfish (redemption for those I lost in 2024 in Galveston) - FL Fathead minnow (a target for more than a couple of years) - NJ Bridle Shiner - NJ Ironcolor shiner - NJ American Halfbeak - VA - from one of the most memorable fishing trips Longnose Killifish - TX Ladyfish - TX (have not been able to catch one in all of our FL trips) Darter goby - TX Coastal Cutthroat trout - OR (may follow @BilletHead and try for all of the cutthroat subspecies in their native waters) also my second species of trout caught in OR Prickly sculpin - OR Cabezon (marine sculpin) - OR Striped surfperch - OR

Great Report Marty! I miss fishing the C&R season at Bennett's. Couple of photos from another 3 OAF member trip to Bennett's

Congrats on a great day! Couple of studs in the mix.

My 2026 list of goals/targets has some carryover from 2025 and prior. I have a few business trips planned that I will tack on days to fish. A March trip to SD is my most exciting scheduled trip. I based my lifer target based upon getting close to ten or more lifers on that trip alone. 1) NJ / NY Lifer Exotic - 2) Redfish / Conger Eel / Flounder 3) Lifer Bullhead / madtom - snail or spotted / tadpole - 4) Skate / Ray / Shark 5) 2 Darters / sculpin 6) 25 Lifers A couple of side quests😉 Catch PB Striper / Flounder / Blackfish Catch 75 Shad Catch a Trout from 6 new MD locations

@Devan S. Congrats on the MS trout! I will likely be in OK a couple of times early next year. I will be in Stillwater. At least one of those trips I will try for an OK stocker.

Congrats on what you have accomplished throughout the year. I feel that it is better to stretch and shoot high and miss than to succeed when the bar is set too low. Good luck in 2026😁

Jeff that has to be one of the wurst Star Trek puns so far🤣

Christmas dinner was pretty simple. Glazed ham with herbed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with pecans and shallots.

Thanks Rick and Daryl! Merry Christmas to Phil and his family and to all the OAF contributors that make this a great site!

Rhododendrons, mountain Laurel and highbush blueberries will be an issue throughout the Appalachians as you continue your quest northward. The MD wild brookie waters will be covered in a lot of spots. Same deal in Western and central PA. I remember making a deer drive in PA thru a blueberry swamp. I tripped and fell forward and never hit the ground🙄. Where will you head next?

I hate you using this term since the rod is not as old as I am😉😅

From Jigfest 2017 From Jigfest 2019

I prefer blue cats. I won't purposefully eat another channel cat. The white catfish out this way are also good eats.

I am so.aorry to hear this news. He and Rick were the first OAF folks that I've fished with at my first Jigfest. We had a great time. Michael and fished together a few more times at other events. He and I would talk about my favorite Asian market that I suggested he go to when he was in Columbia. That was the same market I would pick up the oyster mushrooms that we would fry for a few Jigfest meals. My wife remembers when I was fortunate enough to bring home one of Michael's smoked cheddar blocks. I will have to post a photo or two. You will be missed my friend😒.

We have only eaten a few. We don't target them too often. Last summer we gave away those that we caught night fishing. Those were the biggest ones that we have caught here in MD. I don't recall any change in flavor to those that we ate in the Midwest. We'll have to do another taste test next year. You think that eating those crabs may effect the flavor as well 😉.

For @BilletHead and @Mrs. BilletHead😉😁

What this article doesn't mention is that at least in England animal rights groups released thousands of mink from fur farms into the countryside. Experts enlist unexpected helpers in fight against harmful creatures: 'We must try new approaches' https://share.google/UuHrJhoo5NMa2iXgF

Here's another blue catfish article on how to deal with this successful invasive species in VA and MD. As with most invasive it's too late to put the cat back in the bag once you realize that there's already a problem. Time will tell. https://news.wm.edu/2025/12/18/can-virginia-stop-the-blue-catfish/

Stripers get pounded by surf fishermen and party boats all around Atlantic city. I don't see a fish this size being around that area anymore. I haven't fished the Vermont Ave jetty but fished the T-Jetty which is the next jetty north of Vermont and is right at the inlet. I wonder how many OAF folks know that the original US version of Monopoly most if not all the properties (minus railroads and utilities) are streets or locations in Atlantic City.

The new nonresident hunter regs seem like a great way to reduce those nonresident turkey permit fees that were increased to bring in more money to the state. MDC announces regulation changes for spring turkey hunting Nonresident hunters will only be allowed one bird, nonresident landowners will still have a harvest limit of two bearded birds, and youth hunters can harvest a second bird earlier. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces regulation changes to spring turkey hunting that will reduce the nonresident harvest limit from two bearded turkeys to one. Nonresident landowners will maintain a harvest limit of two bearded birds with only one allowed to be harvested during the first seven days of the season. Regulation changes will also now allow youth hunters who are successful during the youth season to harvest their second bird during the first week of the regular season. Currently youth turkey hunters who are successful during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until the second week of the regular season. The regulation changes were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its Dec. 12 open meeting in Jefferson City and will be effective for the 2026 spring turkey season. Public comments and other feedback to MDC on the topic showed that many resident turkey hunters value uncrowded places to hunt and have expressed concern over nonresident participation and overcrowding on some public areas. According to MDC, reducing the nonresident spring harvest limit should reduce the number of days that nonresident hunters spend hunting, thereby alleviating some of the crowding or pressure that resident hunters encounter. MDC will also be assessing non-resident participation in Missouri’s deer hunting season. The 2026 Spring Youth Portion will be April 11-12. The 2026 Regular Spring Turkey Season will be April 20 through May 10. Get more information on spring turkey hunting from the MDC 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available closer to the season and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

I don't know about a football but that guy can flat out throw a steak 😂

I would suggest to down size and microfish those same areas and see what other fish are there. Whe I first started microfishing that opened up so many new fishing spots and new fish from old ones. Any small creek could offer up some cool and overlooked species. I still enjoy catching trout and smallmouth, but am always looking for that next new species.

Got mine yesterday! Thanks Phil!

Congrats on a nice variety Dave! Looks like a great spillway to fish.