Westminster, MD, Thursday, December 17, 2020 - Each year, Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks holds a 9-month long Piney Run Park Big Fish Contest, where the largest catch of the year wins $1,000.  This year’s winner is an avid fisherman from Washington state, John Brashear. While visiting friends in Maryland, John joined his buddy and last year’s Big Fish Contest winner, Travis Hankins, at Piney Run Park on November 29, 2020 where he and reeled in a 41¼”, striped bass, weighing 27lbs 9oz.

Piney Run Park’s reservoir is home to many species of fish eligible for the $1,000 prize, including largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, yellow perch, striped bass, catfish, and trout. The fish must be caught at Piney Run Park during open season and open hours, March 1-November 30, legal in size and in-season, alive, and measured in and recorded with staff at Piney Run Park.

John was presented with a plaque and the $1,000 Big Fish Check on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Piney Run Park by Jeff Degitz, Director of Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks, and Deb Rottman, Park Superintendent of Piney Run Park.

On March 1, 2021, Recreation and Parks will kick off the fishing season with the 2021 Piney Run Park Big Fish Contest. The biggest catch for the 2021 fishing season, March 1-November 30, 2021, will take home $1,000! If the winner beats the largest recorded catch at Piney Run Park, they will take home an additional $500! The current record for the largest recorded catch at Piney Run Park is a 45” Striped Bass, 36.6lbs, caught on October 8, 2014 by Richard Neuwiller.

For more information about recreational programs and parks, please visit ccrecpark.org or call 410-386-2103.