Although local meteorologists say that January 2012 and the beginning of February aren't even close when it comes to warm winter month records, every fisherman in the Washington area wouldn't mind if things stayed that way at least until April arrives.
Every New Year's Day, come sun, fog, rain, snow or ice, we go fishing. We've done it for more than a quarter century, but compared to years gone by when ice occasionally had to be broken before we found the water, the first day of 2012 could not have been more accommodating.
For thousands of area saltwater anglers, only one thing matters this Saturday: the opening day of the Maryland spring trophy season for striped bass. The official state fish of Maryland also is known as rockfish, striper and, whenever a 30-pounder breaks off five feet from the boat's transom, a few names not suited for a family newspaper.
