Maryland Rod & Reef Slam
Angling for Oyster Restoration
September 12-October 3, 2026
Join us for a unique fishing tournament that celebrates restored oyster reefs and the difference they make for healthy, diverse populations of Chesapeake Bay reef fish.
Sponsored by CBF and Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, with funding from the National Fish Habitat Partnership.
The Maryland Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament is unlike any other. You don’t just win by catching the biggest fish. To celebrate the vast biodiversity oyster reefs support, prizes are also awarded for how many different species you catch (and release). Anglers of all skill levels fish on a multitude of restored reef locations throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and record their catches in the tournament app. See our map of restored oyster reefs in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.
Virtual Fishing Tournament
Saturday, September 12-Saturday October 3 at 12:00 p.m.
Registration closes October 2, 2026.
Divisions
- South River
- Maryland Bay and Tributaries
See the tournament registration page for times, boundaries, divisions, and more. Thanks to the National Fish Habitat Partnership, entry into this tournament is completely free.
NOTE: A Tournament Waiver must be completed for each angler, including youth participants, and submitted to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation prior to fishing. A link to complete the online waiver will be provided in your registration confirmation email. Any fish caught before the waiver is received will not be recognized and will therefore be ineligible to win prizes.
Youth Fishing Derby and Rod & Reef Slam Awards Ceremony
Saturday, October 3, 2026
12:00-6:00 p.m.
Oysters, Blues and Brews Festival
Port Covington Marina
321 E Cromwell Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
The Youth Fishing Derby will take place at the Oysters, Blues and Brews (OBB) festival at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore. The derby gives kids the chance to get on board a charter boat and fish at the oyster sanctuary at Fort Carroll or fish right from the dock!
Don’t fish? You don’t have to miss out. Tickets for OBB can be purchased without registering for the tournament (and kids get into OBB for free!). You can register right up until the day of the party. Join us for an afternoon of food, drinks, live music, and educational activities to celebrate oyster restoration.
