Hi folks, new to the site!

[Guitarzan]

Hey everyone, Guitarzan here, AKA Ben! Im new to the site but very salty in the yak. I grew up in Rockville and fished all over mostly from shore, moved to CA in '91 where I discovered kayak fishing right after 2000 while living in San Fransisco, soon after met up with NCKA-Nor Cal Kayak Anglers and have been engulfed in the madness since, Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Rock cod, Lingcod, Thresher, lots of whale and a few White Shark encounters....But Ive always missed my beloved swamps and backwaters of MD. I have yet to catch a snakehead.
I was diagnosed with rectal cancer, stage 3, just before Thanksgiving while living in the boonies a half hour west of Eugene OR, I had no support system there and it took about a second for my sister to talk me into moving to Annaplolis for treatment, 15 minutes away from one of the best cancer centers in the world. Yesterday was my last day of chemo and radiation and have a month and a half before surgery. The doctors are confident of a 100 percent cure which would be nice. I would rather have it that way but will take it however it comes, I have no worries of death, we all face it every day and am somewhat curious as to what happens. Ive bled out a thousand fish and it never hurt them. Enough of that...
Anyway Im looking forward to much fishing and swamping soon with all of you!. And participating in HOW, one of the most rewarding things Ive done for sure, NCKA and I have been involved with them for years. I brought my hobie revo 16 and all my gear. Lots of cold water gear, wetsuits, divesuit, rods and tackle. And hunting/shooting gear, would be great to get some hunting in tho I don't shoot birds after falling in love with my sweet and crazy little parrot.
My first yak trip will probably be in the Severn for Pickerel tho I don't know the launches yet. Im right by the water in Bay Ridge. Thanx for reading and tight lines to all! Guiatrzan

[Mark]

Ben,

Welcome back to Maryland and to the forum. And continued success to you with your medical treatments. Marylanders are fortunate to have outstanding medical care within our borders. Indeed, people travel from all over the world to be treated by medical specialists here.

Your kayak fishing experiences are extensive. Our local catches may seem somewhat tame to you but fun nevertheless.

Your return to the state also coincides with the return of pickerel in our tidal waters. For reasons unknown, they were scarce for several years prior but have reappeared this past fall.

To pursue pickerel locally, you may want to consider launching into Weems Creek, a tributary of the Severn, at Tucker Street in Annapolis:

https://naturalatlas.com/boat-launch...street-2116357

I would be glad to join you if our schedules coincide.

Finally, I noted your interest in HOW. You'll find local opportunities to participate in those events also. If you want to learn more about them, please note my post here of yesterday where HOW will be the topic of discussion at next week's Free State Fly Fishers meeting, Wednesday, 4 March in nearby Davidsonville, MD.

http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...ishers-Meeting

Again, welcome home.

[DanMarino]

Welcome Guitarzan. I wish you well also with your health situation.
Hope you can post some of your fishing trip reports on here. If possible, post some photos too.
I'm more near the Columbia, MD area and Potomac River smallmouth bass are my love.
If you are looking for something new, I suggest giving fly fishing a try. It's challenging and fun for sure.

[Guitarzan]

Thanx Mark! Ill try to make it to the HOW meeting, some days I just can't get off the bathroom floor still so we'll have to see. I did make it to the Snakehead seminar at Anglers last Sat., very informative.... The fishing here might be a bit tame compared to CA but has many great fishing opportunities nevertheless, I know folks back in CA that would be freaked out by a swamp, but wouldn't blink an eye from a White shark drive-by. I will miss the halibut tho, easy 3 fish limit with fish going past 40 lbs. It will take a bit to get used to Flounder sizes but it will be fun regardless.They don't have Snakehead, Pickerel, Pike and much others. I miss the diversity of species here- CA has one species of turtle only, MD has to have well over a dozen, with many more other reptiles as well and other animals. Thanx again Mark and hope to fish with you soon! Ben/Guitarzan

[Memory Maker]

Welcome Aboard brother ......... good luck with the surgery.

[moc]

Welcome Guitarzan, to a place where everyone shares your H20 addiction. I too wish you well also with your health situation. I had a health problem many years, back in 2009/2010, and it was the nice people that were members on his site, that helped me get back on the water and participate in many memorable kayaking or kayak fishing related adventures.

[CHOC]

Welcome and good for you for your soon to be victory!