President Bush’s historic amendment maintains fishing in marine protected areas

On September 26, President George W. Bush signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreational fishing. This historic amendment ensures that federal agencies must maintain recreational fishing on federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas. Once implemented, this policy will provide access to places where men, women and children can enjoy fishing now and in the future. The Executive Order revises Executive Order 12962 signed in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

Over the past two years, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the Center for Coastal Conservation and its members, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Shimano American Corporation worked together to secure recreational fishing and boating access. President Bush’s amendment recognizes the marine and freshwater conservation impact of recreational anglers by allowing responsible recreational fishing and boating in marine protected areas and federal lands.

“We applaud the President for taking this unprecedented step which recognizes that anglers and boaters play a significant and critical role in this country’s successful conservation model which is the envy of the world,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “As a recreational angler and boater himself, the President clearly understands that sportsmen and women are conservationists first and foremost and that recreational fishing is an essential component of the nation’s heritage.”

“The President’s action established a legacy for recreational fishing by securing access to fishing and boating, the lifeblood of the American model of fisheries management and conservation,” said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. “Every time American anglers buy fishing licenses or sportfishing equipment, an investment is made in fishing’s future. This highly successful user-pay system for fishery management depends on access to the resource.”

An August 25 Executive Memo signed by President Bush set the stage for today’s Executive Order. The memo directed the Secretaries of Defense, Interior and Commerce and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to sustain access to recreational fishing as part of their study of potential marine protected areas (MPA) in the central Pacific Ocean. ASA supported the president’s directive and his decision not to include the Gulf of Mexico and marine areas of the southeast United States as part of that MPA study.

Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing
Once the weather begins cooperating, anglers can experience a great introduction to the fall fishing season. The latest blow was the hallmark of dropping water temperatures, which means the summer favorites are lining up to exit the area, while the cool water species are taking up residence.

The fall red drum procession is gaining momentum, as good catches continue to come from lower bay and coastal waters. Big channel bass are tempting surf and pier anglers at the Little Island Fishing Pier when they can fish for them. But the oceanfront piers were recently closed due to unsafe weather. If you’re planning your day around drumming off the piers, be sure to call ahead if the weather looks questionable.

Puppy drum are the most reliable species lately, with pups providing good action within any inlet and along all the lower bay and ocean front shorelines. Several 30-inchers were landed by surf anglers fishing the Lesner Bridge in Lynnhaven Inlet this week using cut mullet.

Flounder will still be waiting for when the water clears. A few flatfish are taking drifted baits off Kiptopeke, where a 7-pound, 5-ounce fish fell for a squid and minnow combo this week. Anglers are working hard for the flatfish in the dirty water and wind, so the protected inlets are also a good choice for flatfish right now. Some fish to 4-pounds were landed off docks within Lynnhaven this week. Offshore and inshore wrecks will also produce keeper flounder along with big seabass.

The spot brigade is marching right along with lots of decent fish available.
Anglers are finding plenty of 12 to 14-ounce spot within the protected Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Spot thrive in a Northerly wind, which pushes fish against the southernmost shorelines of the bay. The folks at the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier report that pier anglers are catching good numbers of big spot on bloodworms and Fishbites, with the best bites occurring on the incoming tide. Lots of Taylor and snapper bluefish are also hitting in these same areas.

Horse croaker are still hanging on the Hampton Bar and the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel, where shrimp is the favored bait. The lower bay inlets are also holding some nice hardheads, where fish raging to over two-pounds were hooked near the Lesner Bridge this week on shrimp. Rudee Inlet has also given up scattered big croaker lately.

Speckled trout catches are still on the rise within the Eastern Shore bayside creeks, with Hungar’s Creek and Nassawadox Creek giving up the larger fish. Tracy Outten of Machipongo used a Mirrolure to trick her 7-pound speck this week while casting in Nassawadox Creek. The action in Lynnhaven Inlet is also improving with scattered fish averaging to 22-inches biting lately.

Although cobia are cruising out of the bay, anglers have a shot at intercepting their journey as these fish pause on buoys and form small pods along the ocean front on their way south. Sight casting with jigs and live bait will do the trick. Chummers are also still finding good luck with keeper-sized cobia on the lower bay shoals lately.

King mackerel are not cooperating right now, but they will still be a possibility trolling around the Chesapeake Light tower and down to False Cape in clean water. A few nice Spanish are still lingering in the same areas, and false albacore are available closer to shore and around the tower. Big barracuda are also circling the Tower right now, along with Jack Crevelle.

The next fall species will debut next week as the bay striped bass season opens on the 4th of October. Be sure to check the new regulations carefully.

Fall offshore action can be good once boats can get out. Chances for releases of white and blue marlin will materialize after the blow. Swordfish action will be on the upswing, and will continue to improve through the winter months. Catches of decent yellowfin tuna should continue to improve through October along with wahoo. Dolphin action should continue after the blow with plenty of hopeful weed lines to promote the catches.(The above photo is of TidalFish member Healthy Grin, see his full report here.)

Until next week, good luck fishing!

Julie
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative,

Wachapreague – According to staff at the Wachapreague Marina, numerous dolphin were found at the Norfolk Canyon along with a whopping 272-pound blue marlin. The dolphin ranged from 5 to 20 pounds. Most offshore fishing has been better past 40 fathoms. Inshore, staff reports that flounder fishing is fair.

At Captain Zed’s, anglers continued to catch flounder and croaker near Paramour and Cedar islands, which were hot spots for the season. A few spot and grey trout were landed, and there were reports of small red drum sightings. Offshore action in the canyons has been productive with dolphin and wahoo, and wreck fishing was doing really well with black sea bass.

Virginia’s Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: “Winds kept the fishing effort minimal except for river and creek fishing this week.  We did not register any citations. Spot are being caught in the Rappahannock up near the Norris Bridge.  Schools are started down the river and action can be hot and heavy then die out between schools.  Pan-sized grey trout have started biting in the Piankatank with some fish reaching 16″.  This week’s windy weather and dropping temps should start the fall runs.  Bluefish are everywhere and are often hitting spot as they are retrieved. Speckled trout are becoming more active as the fall run appears near.  Mobjack Bay had good action through the weekend. Light tackle fishermen fish shore structure are releasing good numbers of what will be keeper stripers when the season starts on October 4th.”