The Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS)  is a relatively newly installed trail guide and observing system being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) though out the Chesapeake Bay. It is a system of buoys placed along portions of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and it merges cell phone access and internet-based information sharing. You can pull out your cell phone and dial up the interpretive buoy closest to your destination - it reports real-time weather and environmental information like wind speed, temperature, and wave height.

The cool thing I have found is that you can call the buoys from your cell phone while you’re fishing to get real time conditions. The number is toll free: 1-877-BUOYBAY (877-286-9229) When you call you will recognize the voice on the prompts when you call as John Page Williams from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who does wade around these message boards on a regular basis.
If you have a internet enabled cell phone you can go to: CBIBS Mobile Page
This is the mobile site which I use on the boat. It’s a pretty fast site.

Currently there are four buoys in place: One at Sting Ray Point which is near Deltaville, Va, one off of Jamestown, Va, one off the mouth of the Potomac southwest of Point Lookout on the Maryland side, and one at the mouth of the Patapsco. The main site on the internet where you can learn more is here.

Help Needed
A few days ago the Patapsco buoy was shot, damaged and put of of commision by vandals who shot it with a 22 rifle. These buoys are good information for all of us and cost a heck of a lot of money to put up. If you have any information about who might have done this please email John Page Williams who is involved and helped get this whole system in place at JPWilliams@savethebay.cbf.org. If you want to remain anonymous you can simply leave a message on his voice mail at: 301-261-2350 ext 2041 Thanks in advance for any help.

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