BALTIMORE, MD—Two anglers have been named the newest Master Anglers by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, recognizing their success in catching 10 different species of trophy-sized fish.
Jesse Black of Kingwood, West Virginia, and Canden Michalski of North East, Maryland are the 24th and 25th recipients of the FishMaryland Master Angler award since the program began six years ago.
A Decade of Recovery Leads to Award
Jesse Black is the 24th Master Angler and the first to earn the award exclusively through shore fishing. He used spinning reels to land all 10 of his qualifying catches from the banks of various rivers, streams, and Deep Creek Lake.
Black’s journey to this award is deeply personal. “Fishing has been a lifelong hobby, though it was temporarily lost due to my addiction,” Black said. “For the last decade, as a person in recovery, I have revived and grown that passion. Nature, the outdoors, being on the water is my higher power.”
He set a goal in September 2024 to catch all 10 qualifying fish within one year, exclusively in Garrett County. His final catch, a rock bass, came as a surprise when he was targeting smallmouth bass, allowing him to meet his goal just in time.
One of his most memorable catches, though not part of his award list, was a 47-inch muskellunge he hooked while fishing for catfish on the Potomac River. The fish hit a line that was baited with a sucker he had just caught.
Black encourages others to “keep casting,” sharing his philosophy: “All I know is, the only time you cannot catch fish is if your line is not wet.”
Father-Son Anglers Reach Milestone
Fifteen-year-old Canden Michalski is the youngest of the two new awardees and the 25th Master Angler. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Jason Michalski, who earned the same honor in March 2024.
Michalski, a resident of Cecil County, considers the Susquehanna River his favorite fishing spot. It’s where he caught his most impressive fish: a 47-inch blue catfish. The fish, hooked on a cut bluegill, pulled his kayak around for 15 minutes before he was able to land it.
The young angler is the second person in the program’s history to earn awards for all three of the invasive species categories: Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead), blue catfish, and flathead catfish.
Michalski’s passion for fishing started at a young age, with his father taking him on fishing adventures since he was 2 years old. They continue to fish together, and Michalski plans to continue pursuing trophy-sized catches.
“Remember, it’s fun!” Michalski advises other anglers.
The FishMaryland Program
The FishMaryland program promotes year-round recreational fishing and highlights the diverse fishing opportunities available in the state. More information is available on the DNR website.
Fishing licenses, along with purchases of tackle, boats, and marine fuel, help fund the DNR’s fish conservation efforts. Licenses can be purchased online or in person at various license agent locations.
