| Top news
• ★ St. Mary’s County launches an interactive Oyster Trail. The new mobile trail maps restaurants, seafood markets, farmers’ markets and oyster events. Visitors can check in, learn about participating locations and qualify for oyster-themed prizes. Featured stops include Captain Leonard’s Seafood, Helen’s Café and the Ruddy Duck at Piney Point. Open the Oyster Trail Chesapeake Bay Magazine.
• Menhaden public-comment period closes amid growing pressure for restrictions. Comments closed October 9 on proposals that could reduce the Chesapeake Bay industrial reduction-fishery cap by as much as 50% and divide the quota among portions of the fishing season. Maryland lawmakers urged stronger protections, citing menhaden’s importance to osprey, striped bass and the Bay food web. A final decision remains pending before the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
• ★ Strong fall fishing reported around Tangier Sound and Southern Maryland. Maryland DNR’s October 7 report identified Tangier Sound, Point Lookout and the mouth of the Patuxent as some of the week’s best bottom-fishing areas. Lower Bay shorelines and tidal rivers are producing striped bass, speckled trout, slot-size red drum and small bluefish. October 7.
• Eastern Zone duck season opens. Maryland’s first regular-season split began October 10 and continues through October 17, bringing migrating waterfowl and hunters back to Eastern Shore marshes. Maryland DNR October news........
http://news.maryland.gov
Upcoming maritime and oyster events.
• ★ Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race — October 13–18, Baltimore to Norfolk. Public Baltimore activities run October 13–15; the fleet starts south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at noon October 15. The public can watch the Parade of Sail and follow the schooners online. Official race information.......
http://gcbsr.org
• Pearls & Pours — October 16, 6–9 p.m., Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Lexington Park. A 21-and-over kickoff for the U.S. Oyster Festival with oysters, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music. Advance tickets are required. Event and tickets......
http://www.usoysterfestival.org
• ★ Tilghman Island Day — October 17, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company, 5979 Tilghman Island Road. Workboats, watermen’s demonstrations, seafood, music and island maritime traditions. Tilghman Watermen’s Museum http://www.tilghmanmuseum.org
• ★ 60th U.S. Oyster Festival — October 17, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; October 18, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, 42455 Fairgrounds Road, Leonardtown. Oysters, seafood, music, vendors and the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 6–17 and free for children five and younger.
http://www.usoysterfestival.org
• Insects of Maryland family program — October 17, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Havre de Grace Maritime Museum Environmental Center, 100 Lafayette Street. Hands-on program about native insects; registration is $5. Museum events Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
http://www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org/upcoming-events
• ★ Skipjack Rosie Parks evening sail — October 21, 5–7 p.m., Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 North Talbot Street, St. Michaels. A two-hour Miles River sail aboard the 1955 oyster dredge boat. A second sail is scheduled for October 28. Sailing information Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
https://cbmm.org/events-calendar/tag/rosie-parks/
• Pirate story time — October 24, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Havre de Grace Maritime Museum. Free reading of What Is a Pirate, best suited for ages 3–10; no registration required. Event details Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
https://www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org/upcoming-events
• ★ Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum OysterFest — November 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., St. Michaels. Oysters, retriever demonstrations, live music and maritime interpretation. The special Rosie Parks OysterFest sails are already sold out. OysterFest details https://cbmm.org/organizer/cbmm/ |
Oct 17, 2026
