The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is looking for charter boat captains and fishing guides willing to get paid to fight an invasive species problem in the Chesapeake Bay. Through a new initiative called the Reel in the Blues Bonanza, qualified operators can earn up to $1,500 per trip by taking contest winners out on blue catfish fishing excursions during the summer and fall of 2026.
Captains and guides interested in taking part must complete an interest form no later than June 22. The program serves a dual purpose: reducing the population of blue catfish — an invasive species — in the Chesapeake Bay, while also providing a boost to the charter and guided fishing trip industry.
Starting June 24, 2026, the Maryland DNR will open a public giveaway where residents can enter to win free blue catfishing trips on the Chesapeake Bay. Details on how to enter will be shared on the DNR’s website, through email newsletters, and across social media platforms.
Those who win a trip will receive a list of participating captains and guides and can reach out directly to schedule their outing. The DNR will then reimburse the captain or guide up to $1,500 per trip within 30 days of completion. That amount may exceed the standard cost of a charter trip and is designed to also cover a tip for the boat’s mates.
To qualify for the program, captains and guides must hold a Maryland Waterman ID number, possess a valid U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license — known as a Merchant Mariner’s Credential — if serving as a captain, and submit harvest data electronically through the FACTS reporting system.
Blue catfish, known scientifically as Ictalurus furcatus, have become a serious concern in the region. Their aggressive feeding habits, lack of selectivity in what they eat, and rapid reproduction rate make them a threat to native fish species — some of which hold significant commercial and recreational value in Maryland.
This pilot program is one piece of a broader departmental strategy to curb the damage done by invasive catfish to native wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. Other efforts underway include offering incentives to charter captains who collect harvest data during catfish trips, backing invasive species fishing tournaments, and collaborating with various stakeholders and agencies to ramp up removal efforts. Anglers with a valid Maryland fishing license face no season restrictions or catch limits when it comes to recreational blue catfishing.
If funding allows and interest remains strong, the program could continue through 2027 and 2028. The department plans to evaluate the 2026 pilot by tracking participation rates, the number of blue catfish harvested, customer satisfaction, and feedback gathered from the captains and guides involved.
