Saltwater Fishing News

2012 Atlantic Coast Black Sea Bass Regulations

2012-02-11T16:09:00.000-08:00

The ASFMC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board recently approved Addendum XXII to the Fishery Management Plan. The Addendum, which applies only to black sea bass, replaces coastwide recreational management measures for the second consecutive year and attempts to again mitigate potential disproportionate impacts to some Mid-Atlantic states whose landings have declined markedly in recent years.

In 2011, Addendum XXI established state-by-state measures, requiring states from Massachusetts to New Jersey, plus North Carolina to cut harvest by 37% to 43% to meet the coastwide recreational harvest target.

Addendum XXII establishes a regional management approach which allows the northern region states (Massachusetts to New Jersey) to collectively liberalize up to 57%.

The southern region states (Delaware to North Carolina) have committed to implementing measures consistent with those recommended for federal waters (the 25 fish, 12.5 inches TL minimum fish size, and an open season from May 19 to October 14 and November 1 to December 31).

Preliminary estimated harvest in 2011 was 0.99 million pounds, approximately 0.8 million pounds below the 2012 harvest target. While not required, states in the northern region will strive to implement similar recreational measures throughout that region. The regulations will be implemented for state waters only. Over the next two months, states will submit proposed recreational measures for Technical Committee review and Board approval.

source: ASFMC

Atlantic Sturgeon Listed as Endangered Species

2012-02-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

Several population segments of Atlantic sturgeon were recently listed under the Endangered Species Act. The Chesapeake Bay, New York Bight, Carolina, and South Atlantic populations of Atlantic sturgeon will be listed as endangered, while the Gulf of Maine population will be listed as threatened.

According to NOAA, the listing decisions will not have an immediate effect on fishing. It has been illegal to fish for, catch or keep Atlantic sturgeon for more than a decade.

source: NOAA FishNews

How to Catch Boston Mackerel

2012-02-05T03:40:00.000-08:00

Atlantic mackerel, also known as Boston mackerel, are famous for their spring runs along the Mid Atlantic coast. Although catches have decreased in many areas, they are still caught out of some Mid Atlantic and New England ports. Boston mackerel fishing is most often done on head boats, although some anglers prefer to go on charter boats or private trips.

Boston mackerel are caught by jigging; no bait is required. Most mackerel rigs are based on the same basic design which is often called a "mackerel tree". Basic mackerel rigs feature hooks that are covered with colored tubing. The lures are rigged in a sequence with a weight at the bottom. Mackerel rigs can be found in tackle shops or from online suppliers.

Several variations from the basic mackerel tree exist. Depending on preference, offset or non-offset hooks may be used. Some mackerel tube rigs are rigged on specially bent hooks, which impart a swirling action to the lures. Aside from shape, hooks can be dressed in several ways. For mackerel tube purists, red, orange, green, and yellow are the most common colors.

Other mackerel tubes go beyond the use of simple colored hose. Some models feature clear hose, with silver or gold tinsel inside. These small lures are durable and inexpensive, yet highly reflective. In addition to tube designs, some anglers prefer to make their own custom mackerel lures. These are created by tying strands of bucktail (deer hair), feathers, or synthetic materials to hooks.

Weights also vary according to angler preference or local tradition. Some anglers use inexpensive bank sinkers for mackerel fishing. Other fishermen attach a diamond jig or other style of metal jig on the leader. Metal jigs are thought to attract fish from greater distances due to their reflective properties.

Mackerel rigs are usually fished on medium-weight outfits which allow anglers to pull in multiple fish at once. Some anglers use lighter outfits and fewer lures per leader. On the other end of the spectrum are mackerel specialists that seek maximum harvests. These mackerel fishing fanatics sometimes connect multiple mackerel trees or rig their own custom leaders, bringing the total number of hooks per rod to 6 or 8.

To catch mackerel, anglers work the line by alternately jigging and letting line out. This action covers the entire water column from just below the surface to the ocean floor. When the bottom is felt, most anglers begin retrieving and jigging in order to work the water column from bottom to top. Once a bite is felt, anglers continue to jig in hopes of getting a multiple hookup. If the school of mackerel is large enough, a fish may be caught on every hook.

In some areas, Atlantic herring occur together with mackerel. Although smaller in size, these fish can also be a challenge for anglers. When herring are encountered, some anglers target them by using slightly smaller sized lures.

2011 Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Annual Report

2012-01-30T15:45:00.000-08:00

NOAA Fisheries has released its 2011 Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Report to Congress.

Under the PCSRF, NOAA supports tribal and state projects throughout the the Pacific Coast region; Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Alaska.

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established by Congress in FY 2000 to protect, restore, and conserve Pacific salmon and steelhead populations and their habitats.

source: NOAA press release

Improved NOAA Saltwater Recreational Fishing Catch Estimates

2012-01-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

In January 2011, NOAA announced it has begun to use an improved method to estimate the amount of fish caught by saltwater anglers. According to the agency, the improved method should produce more accurate catch estimates which are used to draft fishing regulations.

Beginning this year, NOAA will use the new method to calculate estimates for the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico for use in fishery management and stock assessment by NOAA, regional fishery management councils and states.

The method is part of an overall effort to improve the accuracy of recreational catch data collected by the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). The improved estimation method was developed by a team of NOAA scientists and outside experts.

NOAA also released recalculated estimates going back to 2004 using the new method. The revised data will be used by the regional fishery management councils, the states, and other stakeholders in their fisheries science and management programs.

The improved methodology addresses a key issue identified in the 2006 report by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, commissioned by NOAA, identified a series of untested assumptions the agency was using to generate estimates based on information gathered from anglers.

The questionable assumptions included the average amount of fish anglers were catching at different locations and the amount of fishing anglers were doing during different times of day.

An essential component of the Marine Recreational Information Program is the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Thru the program, NOAA expects to improve the accuracy of fishing effort estimates by increasing the proportion of fishing households that are surveyed.

Additional improvements that will increase the accuracy of the estimates are being developed, including revised dockside survey methods, testing of approaches to improving data timeliness, and use of electronic logbooks in the for-hire vessel sector.

To learn more about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov

source: NOAA press release

How To Catch Grunion

2012-01-30T15:23:00.000-08:00

Grunion are caught by hand at night along beaches in southern California. Grunion leave the water at night to spawn on beaches during the spring and summer months.

These unique events occur for four consecutive nights, beginning on the nights of the full and new moons. Spawning occurs after high tides and continues for several hours.

Most spawning runs occur from March through August, with activity usually peaking from late March to early June.

The California Department of Fish and Game publishes a schedule of predicted spawning runs for California grunion. For more information about California grunion fishing, see:

www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp and www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp

Fishermen should review fishing regulations before planning a fishing trip.

Source: California Department of Fish and Game

MAFMC Volunteer Angler Data Workshop

2012-01-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

In response to requests from the fishing community for hands-on participation in data collection, several states have implemented volunteer angler data collection programs to collect recreational data.

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, a one-day Volunteer Angler Data workshop will explore ways that these and future programs can be most effective.

This workshop, co-sponsored by the Council and the Marine Recreational Information Program (www.countmyfish.noaa.gov), will bring together the people who manage these state programs and other volunteer data collection programs to examine questions such as: "Which data needs are best filled by volunteer angler data?" and "How can programs establish and sustain angler enthusiasm and support?"

The meeting is open to the public and will be webcast. There will be opportunities for public participation from those attending in person as well as via webinar - webinar registration and additional information is available via the above link.

Details:

MAFMC Volunteer Angler Data Workshop

Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Four-Points Sheraton, BWI Airport

7032 Elm Road, Baltimore, MD 21240

And via the Internet at:

http://www.mafmc.org/events/volunteerdata.htm

source: MAFMC

Maryland State Record Tautog

2012-01-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

Charles Donohue of Philadelphia caught a 23-pound tautog on January 11, 2012, setting a new State record. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the catch, naming Donohue as the the new record holder. The outstanding catch breaks the previous record of 20-pounds, 11-ounces set by Sam Beauchamp in 2007.

Donohue caught his record 33-inch fish aboard Captain Monty Hawkins’ boat, Morning Star, over an artificial reef about 12 miles east of Ocean City. He was using a whole green crab as bait. Captain Hawkins said he felt the fish was a new record. The other anglers and crew agreed they should return to shore to get the fish weighed on a certified scale at AKE Marine. DNR biologist Steve Doctor met the crew at the dock to witness and certify the weight and species.

"It was a beautiful fish," said Captain Hawkins. "The whole crew limited-out by 9:30, showing that the habitat work and reef building efforts have taken this fishery to new heights."

source: MD DNR

Southern California Steelhead Trout Recovery Plan

2012-01-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

NOAA Fisheries has issued a final Recovery Plan designed to stabilize and eventually restore steelhead trout numbers in coastal streams from the Santa Maria River in Santa Barbara County south to the United States and Mexico border.

According to biologists, the Southern California distinct population segment of steelhead once numbered over 45,000 but has since declined to less than 500. Southern California steelhead were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1997. The ESA requires a Recovery Plan be developed when a species is listed under the statute as either threatened or endangered.

source: NOAA FishNews

NOAA Regional Saltwater Recreational Fishing Plans

2011-12-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

NOAA recently released a series of regional saltwater recreational fishing action plans for the nation’s six coastal regions and for the angling community that fishes for tunas and other highly migratory species. The plans are based on goals and objectives identified by participants at the 2010 Saltwater Recreational Fishing Summit.

In 2010, saltwater recreational fishing contributed $50 billion in sales to the U.S. economy and supported 326,000 jobs in fishing and across the broader economy. Roughly 11 million saltwater anglers took approximately 73 million fishing trips in 2010.

Examples of regional projects include:

- Hawaii and the Pacific Islands: A project to increase the number of fish available in the future by improving the survival of fish caught and released by anglers

- Alaska: A project to identify and restore important fish spawning habitat by opening up fish passages on rivers and streams and removing marine debris.

- Northwest: A project to develop and evaluate a new, more flexible management approach for Chinook salmon that may allow for increased recreational fishing.

- Southwest: Multiple cooperative scientific research projects with anglers to improve survival of fish caught and released by anglers and improve information on recreational catch and effort.

- Northeast: A project to work with the regional fishery management councils to ensure that Atlantic herring, mackerel, squid and butterfish populations are maintained at healthy levels. This project would also focus on reducing the unintended catch of forage fish such as river herring, which are important food for striped bass and other fish prized by saltwater anglers.

- Southeast: A project to investigate more flexible management strategies to provide greater fishing opportunities to the charter boats and other recreational “for-hire” boats.

According to NOAA, the regional action agendas include projects to address the five national recreational fishing action goals which are:

- Improving recreational fishing opportunities

- Improving recreational catch, effort and stock status data

- Improving social and economic data on recreational fisheries

- Improving communications

- Improving institutional orientation to promote greater understanding of saltwater angling issues.

The new action agendas include ongoing projects or projects expected to be completed in the next 12 to 24 months. To read the regional saltwater angler action agendas go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/12/recfish.html or http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sportfish/.

Spotted Seatrout T Shirts

2011-09-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout are popular on t shirts, sweatshirts, hats, stickers, coffee mugs, and other items.

These colorful members of the drum-croaker family are caught from the Mid Atlantic to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Seatrout are caught by live baiting, casting lures, and other techniques. They are favored by fly fishermen, tournament anglers, and others.

Spotted seatrout t shirts make suitable gifts for inshore saltwater specialists, surf fishermen and pier fishermen.

Spotted Seatrout (titled) by fish_fishing_seafood

2011 North Carolina Fall Striped Bass Commercial Fishing Regulations

2011-09-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted on striped bass (rockfish) and other issues at its meeting in Raleigh last week.

Among actions, the commission adopted a proposal for a limited entry system for the commercial Atlantic Ocean striped bass fishery, possibly for the 2012-2013 fishing season. The proposal adds hook-and-line as an allowable commercial gear in the fishery.

Approval of this proposal effectively directs the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to develop a limited entry system for the fishery. The division will bring specifics of a proposal before commission for final approval in the coming months.

For the interim, the commission approved a short-term strategy to manage the commercial ocean striped bass fishery with seasons and trip limits under the same gear permit system used in previous years.

source: North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission

Four Million Cubic Yards of Dredge Rock Being Added at New Jersey Artificial Reefs

2011-09-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Four million cubic yards of rock generated from New York District, Army Corps of Engineers dredging operations is being deployed on nine New Jersey reefs over the next three years as part of the Artificial Reef Program.

The dredge rock, consisting of shale, sandstone and granite ranges in size from baseball-sized pieces to boulders. The rock is being transported from areas along the Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill and Newark Bay via tugboats and deployed by hopper scows at predetermined locations.

Adding rock to the ocean floor provides much needed hard-structure habitat for fish, lobster and other marine life. The rocky ridges and rock piles will become attachment surfaces for invertebrate marine life, such as mussels, barnacles, sponges and anemones, and will provide hiding places for bottom-dwelling species like sea bass, blackfish, crab and lobster.

The following nine reefs will be receiving dredge rock:

Shark River, Axel Carlson, Garden State North, Atlantic City, Great Egg, Townsend Inlet, Wildwood, Deepwater and Cape May.

Rock deployments will commence on August 20, 2011 at the Great Egg, Atlantic City, Garden State North Reef and Axel Carlson reefs. Rock deployments will commence on the remaining five reefs in 2012. The deployment schedule is subject to weather and sea conditions.

source: NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife

Hurricane Irene Washes Tires Ashore Along Atlantic Beach

2011-08-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

Following Hurricane Irene, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries workers had to remove tires which washed ashore on North Carolina beaches.

Division staff report that less than 1,000 tires washed ashore between Fort Macon and Indian Beach. Staff members, working with a small inmate crew teamed up to remove the tires from the beach. The tires will be removed and taken to a staging area where a contractor who recycles tires will pick them up.

As part of its artificial reef program, in the 1970s the Division of Marine Fisheries constructed artificial reefs made of tires for fish habitat and to produce attractive fishing grounds. The practice of using tires for artificial reefs has been discontinued for many years.

However, tires from these old reefs are sometimes loosened during storms and wash ashore. DMF staff believe that the tires that washed up during Hurricane Irene came from the Atlantic Beach reef and the Onslow Bay Saltwater Fishing Club reef.

Source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

2011 Florida Marine Flea Market

2011-08-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Florida Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival will be held at the South Florida Fair Grounds in West Palm Beach, FL on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 16-18, 2011.

Over 100 boat repossessions, short sales, dealer trades, and private liquidations will be up for sale.

The auction boat preview is all day Saturday September 17 and the sale starts at 11:00 am Sunday September 18, 2011. As many as 10,000 boat enthusiasts have attended past editions of the two-day event. To pre register to sell or buy a boat go to http://www.FieldsAuction.net or call (561) 844-0440.

At the event, boaters, fishermen and divers will find maritime items at bargain prices. Vendors will offer a wide variety of items including fishing rods, reels, lures and lines, antique collectibles and maps, teak furniture, tournament gear, nautical art, crafts and jewelry, marine artifacts, boating apparel, taxidermy and fish reproductions, diving equipment, marine accessories and parts and floating docks. Several boat dealers will also be displaying and selling new and used boats.

The event also features healthy delicious seafood, nautical and maritime vendor booths and two days of live, continuous music.

The South Florida Fairgrounds is located at 9067 Southern Blvd West Palm Beach, FL with easy access from the I-75 and the Florida Turnpike. There is plenty of free parking.

For more information, visit http://www.FLNauticalFleaMarket.com

Louisiana Yellowfin Tuna Tagging Program

2011-08-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

During the fall of 2011, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) plans to launch a Yellowfin Tuna Tagging Program for the Gulf of Mexico.

The program will promote a culture of catch, tag and release in the recreational fishing community while contributing to the scientific data necessary to further understand the behaviors of yellowfin tuna.

Tagging tuna can provide information about their movements, migrations, stock structure, growth, population size, mortality, schooling behavior and physiology.

According to data from NOAA, the size and number of yellowfin caught are decreasing, and the downward trend has been happening since 1999.

"The new tuna tagging program will provide baseline information for the population models used to assess the health of the stock of this valuable fishery," said LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina.

"It will also help clarify the evidence that yellowfin migratory patterns have been altered by the presence of offshore oil platforms."

LDWF plans to kick off the program with a tag-and-release tournament at Venice Marina on Saturday, September 24.

With the success of the 2011 redfish tournaments, the department added a Yellowfin Tuna Fall Shootout to their Louisiana Saltwater Series.

By encouraging live tag and release, the series has focused attention on the conservation of our marine resources.

This is the first tournament of its kind in the Gulf of Mexico, and there is a 100 percent payout for first, second and third place finishers. Payout is determined based upon the total number of boats entered. A $5,000 prize is up for grabs to the chartered boat with the most tagged yellowfin.

There is also a kill fish division, and the team with the largest tuna weighed will win an offshore tackle package valued at $3,000.

There is a $500 entry fee per boat for the tournament, with a maximum of eight anglers total on each team.

Additional information, including rules, regulations and entry forms will soon be available at www.lasaltwaterseries.com

2011 Ocean City Md White Marlin Open

2011-08-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

The 2011 White Marlin Open is expected to be competitive this year as Offshore fishing has been good off Ocean City, MD this season.

"The marlin season in Ocean City started with an early bang when the first white was caught on May 29, breaking the old record of June 1," said White Marlin Open founder Jim Motsko. "Fishing has only gotten better with large numbers of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, and gaffer dolphin being caught."

The 2011 White Marlin Open is expected to draw over 300 boats and $2.25 million in prize money. This year's event takes place the week of August 8th running through August 12th, and boats may enter through Sunday, August 7th.

The White Marlin Open billfish tournament was voted by readers of In The Bite magazine as the tournament they would most like to fish. A portion of 2011 tournament proceeds will go to help benefit the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).

For more information, log on to www.whitemarlinopen.com or call 410-289-9229.

source: RFA

NOAA Halibut Catch Share Plan

2011-08-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

NOAA's Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a draft rule, called a catch sharing plan, designed to sustainably manage the halibut stock in southeast Alaska and the central Gulf of Alaska.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended the rule to establish a clear allocation between the commercial and charter sectors that fish in these areas.

Currently, the commercial and charter halibut fisheries are managed under different programs. The commercial halibut fishery has been managed under a catch limit program since 1995. The charter halibut sector has been managed under a different harvest guideline since 2003, which gives charter fishermen a number of fish they can catch per guided angler per day, but does not ensure the overall catch stays within a definitive catch limit.

The proposed catch sharing plan, which is scheduled to be in place by 2012, is designed to foster a sustainable fishery by preventing overharvesting of halibut and would introduce provisions that provide flexibility for charter and commercial fishermen.

Under this draft rule:

The total commercial and charter catch limit for each management area would be allocated between the commercial and charter sectors.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission, through which the United States and Canada jointly manage the halibut resource from California to the Bering Sea, would determine total commercial and charter catch limits for southeast Alaska and the central Gulf of Alaska each year before the fishing season.

Upon acceptance of the International Pacific Halibut Commission catch limits by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, NOAA's Fisheries Service would publish a rule implementing the catch limits as part of its annual management measures for the halibut fishery.

Allocations to the charter and commercial sectors would vary with changes in the number of halibut available for harvest as determined by the best available science.

Charter harvest limits would be determined before the beginning of the charter fishing season, which generally runs from February 1 to December 31, to enable charter business operators and anglers to plan for the upcoming season.

The catch sharing plan would authorize transfers of commercial halibut individual fishing quota to charter halibut permit holders for harvest by anglers in the charter halibut fishery.

Those transfers would offer charter vessel anglers in southeastern Alaska and the central Gulf of Alaska an opportunity to catch additional halibut, up to specified limits.

The proposed rule filed with the Federal Register on July 21, 2011. The 45-day public comment period runs until September 6.

For more information, visit: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/halibut/sport.htm

source: NOAA

Northern Area Bluefin Angling Category Fishery Closing

2011-07-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that a closure of the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (“trophy”) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) will occur on July 29 and continue for the remainder of 2011.

Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) north of 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ,) is prohibited effective 11:30 p.m., local time, on July 29, 2011.

Limited catch and release is permissible according to NMFS.

Giant bluefin tuna have been the subject of intense controversy over the last decade. 2011 Bluefin tuna quotas were published earlier this year. NOAA also denied ESA listing for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

source: NMFS

2010 Status of U.S. Fisheries

2011-07-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

21 U.S. fisheries have been rebuilt since 2000, according to a 2011 report to Congress from NOAA’s Fisheries Service.

According to NOAA scientists, in 2010, 84 percent of the stocks examined for fishing activity (213 of 253 stocks) were free from overfishing, or not fished at too high a level, and 77 percent of the stocks with known population levels (159 of 207 stocks) were above the overfished level (too low to provide the maximum sustainable yield).

A handful of other stocks were moved onto the overfishing and overfished lists this year: Although it is often assumed that a stock has a low population due to too much fishing, other factors influence the health and abundance of fish stocks, including environmental changes, disease, and habitat degradation. Scientists believe that one of the stocks added to the overfished list, the Tanner crab in Alaska, may have been affected by environmental factors.

The report, which has been issued annually since 1997, summarizes the best available science for the 528 federally-managed fish stocks. Since not all stocks are targeted by commercial and recreational fishermen, NOAA prioritizes collecting information on the commercially and recreationally important species that constitute most of the domestic fishing activity in the country.

To complete the annual report, NOAA examines a variety of sources, including landings data and log books, and conducts its own surveys. The 2010 Status of U.S. Fisheries, which contains data and analysis nationally and by region, is available online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/07/docs/report.pdf.

source: NOAA

North Carolina State Record Queen Triggerfish Caught

2011-07-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

In May, 2011, a North Carolina angler caught in a state record queen triggerfish during a recent fishing trip off Wrightsville Beach. William Timothy Cox of Greensboro caught the 10-pound, 5-ounce fish May 22 at Same Ole Hole, located about 40 miles off Wrightsville Beach.

The fish measured 30 inches from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail and had a 23-inch girth. The huge fish establishes a new state record queen triggerfish; no prior state record existed.

To establish a new state record, the fish must be within reasonable range of the world record and exceptionally large for North Carolina, as determined by N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries staff and a N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament Advisory Board.

The world record queen triggerfish was 14-pounds, 3 ounces, caught off Cancun, Mexico in 2009.

source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

Maine Saltwater Angler Registry

2011-07-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

In July, 2011, Maine Governor Paul LePage signed into law LD 210, "An Act Regarding the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry," which simplifies the requirements for both resident and non-resident anglers who wish to fish in the state's coastal waters.

The new registry, effective immediately, replaces Maine's fee-based license program that was implemented on January 1st. The Maine registry meets the standards established by the federal government to exempt anglers from the federal registry.

The bill, sponsored by state Senator David Trahan (R-20), contains several unique provisions. One allows owners of private docks and piers (such as waterfront hotels and restaurants) to obtain a free "umbrella" operator's license that will cover all anglers wishing to fish from that property. Charter and party boat operators, as well as smelt camp owners, can get a similar free permit. Another provision allows anyone who purchases a Maine freshwater fishing license to sign up for the saltwater registry at the same time at no additional charge.

Maine residents can fish in salt water on Memorial Day weekend, July 4th, and Labor Day weekend without registering, and non-residents who are licensed to fish in salt water in any other state, or with the federal registry, will not need to register in Maine.

Pete Moumouras of Saco Bay Tackle in Saco, the state's largest saltwater bait and tackle shop, felt the new registry would be good for his business. "It's a huge relief to get rid of that $15 non-resident fee," he explained. "All that did was discourage visitors from going fishing. Now we can advertise that Maine saltwater fishing is virtually free through the registry, and for folks who are licensed elsewhere. It's a big pull for the state."

Although the $5 resident and $15 non-resident fees to target striped bass and other anadromous fish associated with the previous license program have been eliminated, as have the $50 charter/party operator and smelt camp fees, the minimal $1 or $2 agent fees (depending on how anglers register) must by law remain in effect.

Anglers can register online at: www.maine.gov/saltwater

Registration will also be available through electronic agents of Maine's Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife as well as tackle shops and town offices.

source: RFA

New South Carolina State Records Set for Scamp, Queen Triggerfish

2011-07-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

Two additions were added recently the South Carolina Saltwater Game Fish State Record list.

A new state record Scamp was caught on June 14 by angler Ross Holmquist of Beaufort, SC, and a tie for state record Queen Triggerfish was caught on June 15 by angler James Hunter Woodberry of Lake City, SC.

Twenty-three year old Holmquist was fishing aboard "No Worries," a 26-foot Glacier Bay, with captain and owner Mike Sackman of Beaufort, SC, when he caught the record breaking Scamp.

The catch was weighed and certified the following day by weigh-master and S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist Lindsay Roberg.

The previous state record scamp weighed 25 pounds 8.8 ounces and was caught by Edward M. Lowe, Jr of Upper Marlboro, MD, in September 2007.

The record Queen Triggerfish was caught aboard "First Choice," a 29-foot Fountain, by 12-year-old Hunter Woodbury. The fish was certified by DNR biologist Kris Reynolds the next afternoon.

The 9 pound 7 ounce triggerfish beat the 5-year-old record by 1.88 ounces, but fell short of the 4 ounces required to overtake a historic record. This standing Queen Triggerfish record was held by Marc Heiden of Florence, SC, weighed 9 pounds 5.12 ounces, and was caught in January 2006.

source: South Carolina DNR

North Carolina Declares Summer Flounder Stocks Viable

2011-07-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has classified summer flounder stocks as “viable” in its 2011 Stock Status Report.

Summer flounder had been listed as “recovering” since 2009, and according to the latest assessment by the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Science Center the stock is no longer overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Fishing mortality has steadily decreased and the stock has generally increased since the early 1990s.

Summer flounder is managed under a joint Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council fishery management plan. Management measures include commercial quotas, minimum mesh sizes for trawls, minimum fish size limits, recreational bag limits and a moratorium on new entrants into the commercial fishery.

The division annually grades the status of marine finfish, shellfish, shrimp and crabs as either viable, recovering, concern, depleted or unknown. The grades serve as a barometer of the overall health of the state’s fishery resources, and they are used to prioritize development of fishery management plans.

A stock is considered “viable” when it exhibits stable or increasing trends in a number of biological factors associated with healthy populations, such as a normal distribution of sizes, ages and spawning-age females or when it has met biological targets for sustainable harvest.

source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

USA Bluefin Tuna Fishing Quotas

2011-06-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

In June, NOAA announced quotas and other measures for American bluefin tuna fisheries. The allocations divide the available 2011 U.S. bluefin tuna quota of 957 metric tons among commercial and recreational fishing sectors for the fishing season that began on June 1.

In addition, NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced it would begin a review of domestic bluefin tuna management to address allocation issues, discards of dead bluefin tuna and the best ways to reduce unintended catch of bluefin tuna.

The total U.S. quota was set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in November, the international body made up of 47 nations and the European Union that manages this highly migratory species.

The General category, which includes commercial fishermen who use rod and reel, will receive 435 metric tons, nearly half the 2011 U.S. quota. Allocations for the other categories are as follows: Angling category (which includes recreational fishermen), 182 metric tons; purse seine fishermen, 171.8 metric tons; longline fishermen, 61 metric tons; harpoon fishermen, 36 metric tons; trap fishermen, 0.9 metric tons; and a reserve of 70.6 metric tons. The reserve is set aside for scientific research and to account for landings and dead discards.

The allocations account for potential discards of unintentionally caught bluefin tuna. Bluefin tuna are primarily discarded by longline fishermen who are targeting swordfish and other tunas. Although fishermen attempt to release fish alive, many discarded fish do not survive. The longline fishery was the only sector to receive reductions in its base quota to account for dead discards in advance of them actually being caught. Data from the 2010 fishing season was used to estimate the discard amount.

After extensive scientific review, NOAA announced on May 27 that the Atlantic bluefin tuna currently do not warrant species protection under the Endangered Species Act. NOAA also committed to revisit the decision by early 2013, when more scientific information will be available. NOAA has also formally designated Atlantic bluefin tuna as a “species of concern” under the Endangered Species Act, placing the species on a watchlist for concerns about its status and threats to the species.

For more information on bluefin tuna go to:http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/05/bluefin_tuna.html

source: NOAA press release