SOLOMONS - -The striped bass known as Diamond Jim and worth five figures continues to elude Maryland anglers as this year's annual fishing contest enters its final month.
John Sparrow, a Waldorf fisherman, opened an envelope Thursday morning at Calvert Marina to see whether the tagged striped bass he caught earlier this month off Calvert County was worth $20,000 or an impostor worth $500.
"It's an impostor," said Sparrow, as cameras clicked and TV cameras rolled. "Diamond Jim is still out there. ... He's still swimming."
Anglers have until midnight today to catch July's Diamond Jim, worth $20,000.
An additional 50 fish - one Diamond Jim and 49 impostors - were released off Solomons Thursday morning. If the July fish is not caught, one of the August striped bass is worth $25,000.
The 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge will continue until Sept. 7. Anyone who catches a citation-sized fish from more than 60 freshwater, tidal and saltwater species is eligible for the grand-prize drawing. The top prize is a boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops.
