Baltimore County Angler Earns FishMaryland Master Angler Award
Rashan Hunt is the sixth angler to be recognized as a Master Angler
Maryland Master Angler Rashan Hunt holds the chain pickerel he caught at Loch Raven Reservoir. Photo courtesy of Rashan Hunt, used with permission of the Maryland DNR
Rashan Hunt of Sparrows Point, Baltimore County, earned the Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland Program.
The award recognizes recreational anglers who have caught ten different species of fish in Maryland in trophy length. Hunt is the sixth Master Angler since the program began, and earned the award with the tenth confirmed catch, a 24-inch chain pickerel caught on February 26 at Loch Raven Reservoir.
“The chain pickerel for some reason has been one of the hardest fish for me,” Hunt said. “I have spent countless miles and hours kayaking and fishing from shore in many locations throughout Maryland’s waterways. I caught a lot of fish that were missed, but in five casts (at Loch Raven on Feb. 26) I caught my tenth official award fish.
The FishMaryland Program covers dozens of species from both salt and freshwater. All ten catches that earned the Hunt the Master Angler award are listed below and on the individual certificates sent to the angler before the DNR presents the Master Angler award certificate and the gift card prize from Bass Pro Shops in Arundel Mills. Hunt is the third Master Angler confirmed by the DNR within the past year.
Hunt’s qualifying catches were:
- Northern snakehead, 34.5 inches
- Blue catfish, 50.5 inches
- Largemouth bass, 21.5 inches
- Common blush, 32.5 inches
- Channel catfish, 30.5 inches
- Striped bass, 45 inches
- Yellow perch, 14 inches
- Hickory shad, 18 inches
- Crappie, 15 inches
- Chain pickerel, 24 inches
Hunt is originally from East Orange, NJ and moved to Maryland in 2011. He retired from 23 years of military service in 2021 and currently works for the Department of the Army. He is a member of the Legion of Anglers, a group that holds catch-and-release tournaments and organizes trash cleanups.
“I’ve fished all over the world catching many different species,” Hunt said. “Fishing is my therapy and good for mental health and well-being.”
FishMaryland is Maryland’s recreational fishing award program and is a fun way to explore year-round recreational fishing and enjoy affordable, accessible, diverse, and high-quality fishing opportunities. More information on the Master Angler Milestone Award and the FishMaryland program is available at DNR website.
