BALTIMORE, MD—Nick Perez of Perryville, Maryland, has achieved the prestigious Master Angler Milestone Award from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program. He is the 15th angler to reach this milestone since the program began in 2019. Perez’s daughter, Lucy Moore, was the 10th Master Angler, making her the first youth and first female to receive the award.

Perez’s love for fishing began early. He started fishing in Maryland waters at the age of two and has since explored nearly every fishery in the state, pursuing a diverse range of species. His passion for fishing grew even stronger after his daughter started participating in the FishMaryland program.

“After watching her become the state’s youngest angler to receive the award, I figured it was time for dad to join her in the record books,” Perez said.

Perez’s impressive collection of trophy fish includes a 34-inch Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead, which has become his favorite species to target. He encountered his most challenging catch while pursuing the redear sunfish, requiring a trip to Frederick and Cunningham Falls, where he knew he could find a large specimen.

“I had to drive an hour and a half to Frederick and fish Cunningham Falls because I knew that was my best shot at a big one,” Perez said.

Perez’s qualifying catches, in order, were:

• Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) – 34 inches
• Redbreast sunfish – 8.5 inches
• White perch – 13.5 inches
• Largemouth bass – 21 inches
• Bluegill – 12 inches
• Chain pickerel – 24 inches
• Redear sunfish – 11 inches
• Rock bass – 10.5 inches
• Crappie – 16.5 inches
• Yellow perch – 14 inches

“(FishMaryland) is a great way to challenge yourself to become a better angler, and it might force you to get out of your comfort zone and target species you’ve never tried to catch before,” Perez said. “I think my long-term goal is to have every single citation for every freshwater fish in the state.”

The FishMaryland program encourages anglers of all levels to explore Maryland’s diverse fishing opportunities. The program is a fun and rewarding way to experience year-round recreational fishing while enjoying affordable, accessible, and high-quality fishing experiences. The Master Angler Milestone Award and the FishMaryland program provide more information on their website.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Nick Perez/DNR