Garrett County angler catches Maryland state record fallfish
In an extraordinary occurrence, the state record for fallfish has been shattered once again, marking the second time within a month.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially acknowledged Bryson Meyers of Oakland as the latest record holder for fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) in the nontidal division of the state.
Meyers accomplished this feat on June 16 while fishing in the North Branch of the Potomac River, near the Westernport area. Engaged in a fly-fishing float trip focused on trout, Meyers unexpectedly found himself entangled with a remarkable fallfish that tipped the scales at 3.01 pounds and stretched over 20 inches in length.
Describing the encounter, Meyers recounted, “At first, we believed I had hooked a sizable brown trout, as it displayed the typical stubborn resistance near the riverbed. However, as the fish emerged near the water’s surface and displayed its distinct swirling movements, my fishing companion immediately realized that I might have landed a new state record fallfish.”
To officially document the achievement, the impressive fish underwent weighing on a certified scale at Farm 2 Table meat processor in Oakland. Department of Natural Resources biologist Matt Sell verified the species as a fallfish, confirming the record.
Fallfish, scientifically known as Semotilus corporalis, are members of the chub family (Cyprinidae) and represent the largest native minnow species in eastern North America and the mid-Atlantic region. Due to their ability to grow beyond 19 inches in length, put up a fierce fight, and execute acrobatic jumps upon being hooked, fallfish have gained popularity among sport anglers in Maryland and other mid-Atlantic states.
This remarkable achievement by Meyers surpasses the previous record of 2.27 pounds, set by youth angler Crosby Abe of Cumberland on May 29.
The Department of Natural Resources diligently maintains state records for sport fish across four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive. Anglers who believe they have captured a potential record-breaking catch are advised to download and complete a state record application. They can then contact 443-569-1398 to report their potential record catch. To ensure accurate measurement, confirmation, and certification, it is recommended to immerse the fish in ice water, preserving its weight until it can be examined by the department.
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Jay Ferguson
Who I Am
My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service!
Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well.
I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’.
Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I
have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you.
Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about!
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