While Melody Holmes first learned to fish as a child, it wasn’t until later in life that she really took up the hobby in earnest. She began volunteering with the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland (CCA), and last year was named the president of CCA’s Baltimore chapter. We recently caught up with Melody to learn more about her passion for fishing and her work with CCA.
Did you grow up boating and fishing?
My mother taught me to fish as a child. We would fish on camping trips or at local spots like Centennial Lake. Her father (my grandfather) was a fisherman, but I never knew him. I never even knew that about him, so when I began fishing as an adult it really blew her mind. Fishing came into my adult life when I dated a fisherman. He was an amazing teacher and when things didn’t work out with him, I decided to pursue fishing on my own. I had a broken heart and a fishing rod, and I’m so grateful for that time in my life. I not only learned to fish, but it also taught me a whole new way to live. Spending time in nature has become a top priority. It has healed my heart and fueled my soul. Fishing is so much more than just catching fish.
When did you first get involved with CCA?
I first connected with the CCA through my friend Kayla. She invited me to their annual banquet, and it was there that I first learned of the amazing work CCA does for the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding communities. I learned about reef balls and Noah’s Reef. I wanted to jump onboard and decided to become a life member in April of 2024. They reached out to me a couple of months later to see if I’d like to join the Baltimore chapter’s leadership team. I was excited to get involved, and volunteering at CCA events became a top priority for me. After seeing my hard work and dedication, I was honored when they asked me to become chapter president in September of 2024.
Tell us about some of your work with CCA.
Volunteering with the CCA has been life changing. It’s so nice to work together with really great people to make a difference in the community and for our Bay. I’m always talking about the CCA everywhere I go. I also use my social media to help spread the word about CCA’s mission and upcoming events. I was really excited when I was able to connect with FOX45 and go on the morning show to promote CCA Baltimore’s Celebration of Conservation, our annual fundraising banquet. I’m grateful I’m able to offer these valuable connections to CCA Maryland in order to inform others of our mission and possibly gain more volunteers and members to join our cause.
Right now, I’m looking forward to warmer weather and getting outside with the community. At our outdoor events anyone can come and learn how to fish and take a fishing rod home. My favorite is when they try to give the rod back and I tell them that they can keep it. Their smile and excitement are everything! At our Oyster Blues and Brews Festival last year we gave away almost 100 fishing rods! And I was working at the bait station, whew! It really was the best time and it’s one of my favorite ways to connect with the community.
What’s your primary mode of fishing?
When I don’t have a lot of time to fish, I will stop by one of my shore spots just so I can get a line in. I’m a Patapsco girl, so it’s not unlikely for me to run down to a snakehead spot for 20 minutes to hopefully get a bite! You can also find me fishing from one of my friend’s boats in the creeks or out in the Bay.
I fish a variety of ways, but my primary mode of fishing is by kayak. This is my absolute favorite way to fish! When I’m alone out on my kayak I feel so connected to the water and nature. There’s a peace that it brings that’s indescribable. That, paired with the thrill of chasing and catching fish, it’s all I want to do! And I want to do it on my own. I’m not very keen on asking others to take me to catch fish or asking for fishing spots. Doing it all on my own is what brings me real satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
I am daring and I brave the salty waters alone, but I’m always prepared with safety gear which is a must. I always wear my PFD and have a whistle and GPS. Our Bay is beautiful, but it can turn scary in an instant—especially when you’re on a kayak. It’s very important to check the weather and tides and never go further than what you’re comfortable with or than you know you can handle. My kayak is a sit-on-top and very stable. I can easily stand and fish on it. For the past four years I have fished out of my HooDoo Sports Impulse 105. Man, do I love that purple boat! I’ve caught hundreds of fish on that thing. When I bought it, I had no idea what I was doing. But I was determined to figure it out.
Now, here I am in 2025, so grateful to have just received a brand new Hobie Mirage Lynx, the kayak I’ve been dreaming of since I started fishing! It’s very lightweight and quick on the water. The Lynx came from OC KAYAK, the ultimate kayak shop located in Ocean City, MD. They have invited me to join their pro-staff fishing team as their first-ever lady member. I’m so honored and grateful for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to representing OC KAYAK on the water with my new Hobie!
Do you have a favorite species to target?
I consider myself a multi-species angler. I would get so bored just catching the same fish over and over. I want to be immersed in every nook and cranny that nature has to offer. I want to fish every landscape, climate, body of water, you name it! If it exists, I want to experience it. And I want to catch all the fish that inhabit these places. It’s a dream of mine to travel and fish all over the world. I feel so grateful to be from Maryland where the Chesapeake Bay is the heart of our home. We have one of the best fisheries in the world right here in our backyard. The Bay is literally my playground. I’m just a big kid, running around playing outside and being as free as can be.
Here at home on the Chesapeake, my favorite species to catch has become red drum. They are so much fun to chase and fight! I like to fish all year round, so the species I’m catching depends on the season. I fish fresh and saltwater. I love to fish for striped bass in the winter, spring, and fall. I don’t target them during very hot weather because that leads to higher mortality rates. In the summertime I’ll target red drum, speckled trout, Flounder, snakeheads, and smallmouth bass. Spring and fall are the best for all species and one of my favorites—walleye! Winter is great for stripers, pickerel, and even catfish. Catfish get a bad rap but they’re a lot of fun, especially on the kayak. My goal this year is to catch bull reds from the kayak!
Could you tell us about your ladies fishing team?
We are a group of close girlfriends who all love to fish. We all met in various ways, but the Hawgfin company ultimately brought us together. Last year we fished the Tiki Lees Rockfish Open as the first ever all-ladies team. We gave ourselves the name Brackish Babes. It’s myself, Kayla Haile, Carly Watkins, Jaime Buffington, and Rachel Nichols. Salty and fresh, we do it best! It’s really special to have this group of women who all share the same fishing passion. I love these ladies so much!
What do you love most about the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay offers us many amazing things like seafood and recreation, but what I love the most about the Bay is the community that surrounds it. Being involved with this community of fishermen and watermen has led me to meet and develop relationships with some of the most amazing people; people who are real. There’s just something really special about the fishing and boating community here in Maryland and I’m grateful to be a part of it. Our love for fishing and the Bay unites us in a way that transcends the physical aspects that it offers.
What would be your quick pitch to try and get an angler to join CCA?
If you live in Maryland then you should absolutely consider becoming a member of CCA MD. Almost everyone in our state enjoys eating crabs and rockfish, fishing, boating, and swimming. But besides all of that, the Chesapeake Bay is the heart of our home here in Maryland and its health affects each and every one of us in some way. CCA works hard to maintain the health of our waters and the species that thrive in it. We want to protect what we have and also maintain our access to these things that we love to enjoy. You can do your part simply by becoming a CCA MD member today!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Outside of fishing I am a very busy lady. I am a mother to two amazing humans. My daughter is turning 21 this year and is currently studying Psychology at GCU in Phoenix, AZ. She is accomplishing amazing things, and I couldn’t be more proud. My son is 12 and we homeschool. He loves aviation and dreams of joining the Air Force when he grows older. He’s my best buddy and I love it when he joins me in my volunteer work. Our pets are Max the pit bull and two cats, Guinevere and Loki. I also have two tarantulas! I love spiders.
I am a very creative person; I crochet and sew and do other various forms of art. I am a Licensed Esthetician, and I run my own wax studio. Owning my own business allows me to be in complete control of my schedule. I’m able to fit my fishing and volunteer work in wherever I please. That and the fact that I homeschool my son allows us to take trips whenever we’d like. I am also not married or in a relationship, so I’m not obligated to another person when it comes to dividing my time between activities. Being single and living this life that I’ve created, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I don’t care for romance; I’m married to the fishing life!