The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service now requires qualifying black bass tournament directors to obtain free permits and report catch information.
The regulation went into effect for both tidal and non-tidal waters on October 28. The requirement only applies to tournaments that have at least 10 boats, offer any reward for winning, and feature staged weigh-ins.
According to DNR, the regulation has been established to increase communication between tournament directors and fisheries managers, and improve data reporting.
source: MD DNR