Last year we got an email from Capt. Andy Parker telling us that he was coming out with a DVD. He explained that was an Alaskan fishing documentary about the time he and some friends spent guiding and fishing in Alaska chasing salmon. Andy inquired about becoming part of our 2% for the Fish program and at the time we really did not even expect anyone to want to join; it was just something we wanted to do for Lateral Line. But, after talking with Andy we realized that there might a chance to open up the 2% for the Fish to others and gain some traction with it. At the end of the day it’s about the fish and the fish win with the more people that get on board. So, we came up with some guidelines and Andy and his company, Spotted Tail Productions, became the first member of the 2% for the Fish Foundation.

Months passed and we did not hear from Andy, but one day an email came across and that said he had finished his DVD and it was out for sale. We sent him some loot to cover his costs and a few days later the DVD showed up in our mail box. Andy and his team did a really nice job on it and if you are  interested in fishing Alaska or just love Alaska fly fishing then this is a the DVD you need to see! It has some great footage and will get you jacked up to pack your fly rod, get a plane ticket and head out for a Alaska fly fishing adventure.

You can catch the trailer here and you can purchase it for the low price of $19.00 here

Revenues from the N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing License will pay nearly $2 million in the coming year toward projects to help provide coastal fishing access and fisheries and habitat research.The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced today the approval of 11 grants totaling $1.99 million from the N.C. Marine Resources Fund. This is the first set of grants awarded from CRFL revenues, other than in-house projects of the Division of Marine Fisheries or the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“I feel we are off to a good start putting saltwater license money to work,” said Mac Currin, Marine Fisheries Commission chairman. “There is a good balance of new and improved angler access, research needed for better management and habitat enhancement.”

Wes Seegars is chairman of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the Marine Fisheries Commission staffs collaborated to review and recommend authorized projects funded from the sale of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses,” Seegars said. “There is a tremendous need for public access to coastal waters, and three of these projects increase boating and fishing access.”

Grants were sorted into three focus areas: People, $947,500; Fish, $619,096 and Habitat, $422,970.
“These were the areas where we felt there was Continue Reading »

On May 16th, Captain Kayak will be sponsoring the Sixth Annual Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Fundraising Tournament (www.kayakfish4conservation.com). Hundreds of contestants will be attending the multi-day event in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge – all within the shadow of the Manhattan skyline.

The event is not only a kayak fishing competition but a gathering to bring like minded anglers together to camp, kayak and explore the beauty of Jamaica Bay.  Each participant is granted launching access and camping privileges to Floyd Bennett Field Park from May 14th through May 17th. In addition to catching fish and having fun, the primary focus of the tournament is to raise funds for a worthwhile non-profit group. Casting for Recovery provides no-cost fly fishing retreats at locations around the United States, specifically designed for women who have or have had breast cancer. This group provides an opportunity for women, whose lives have been profoundly affected by the disease, to gather in beautiful, natural settings and learn fly-fishing, “a sport for life.” Just as importantly, this tournament offers an opportunity to meet new friends and have fun. Casting for Recovery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies solely on donations to provide fly-fishing retreats to hundreds of breast cancer survivors every year. Your contribution is tax-deductible as permitted by law, and will help us expand our capacity to meet the ever-growing demand for our services.

Over $10,000 in prizes will be donated and there are several ways to win these prizes at the event. Catching the largest fish with any method, the largest fish caught with a fly rod, or Continue Reading »

First Guilty Pleas in Largest Ever Investigation into Illegal Commercial Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River
A fish wholesaler, its owner and an employee have all pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for the illegal purchase and sale of striped bass from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River from 2003 through 2007, the Justice Department announced today.

Cannon Seafood Inc., its owner and president Robert Moore Sr. of Falls Church, Va., and Robert Moore Jr. of Ashburn, Va., each pleaded guilty to one felony violation of the Lacey Act. The Act prohibits individuals or corporations from creating false records for fish, and from transporting, selling, or buying fish harvested illegally.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Cannon Seafood has agreed to pay a fine of $80,000 and pay $28,000 in restitution to the congressionally established National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Moore Sr. has agreed to pay a $40,000 fine and pay $15,000 in restitution to the NFWF and Moore Jr. has agreed to pay a $30,000 fine and pay $10,000 in restitution to the same foundation. The court set a sentencing date of May 8, 2009, at 9:30 A.M.

According to the plea agreement, from April 2003 until June 30, 2007, Moore Sr., Cannon’s majority owner and president and Moore Jr. bought striped bass from Continue Reading »

On February 5th, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) selected NCMC president Ken Hinman to represent the conservation community on a new Menhaden Research Guidance Group. The Guidance Group was established in response to concerns raised by NCMC and others about progress on the menhaden research agenda set out by ASMFC in 2006 when the catch in Chesapeake Bay was capped for 5-years; namely, whether or not it will answer questions about localized depletion in the bay, the status of menhaden’s role as forage, and other ecological issues.The group consists of the marine fisheries directors from Maryland and Virginia, the executive directors of the ASMFC and Potomac River Fisheries Commission, the director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, and a representative from Continue Reading »

The only way to restore oysters in the Chesapeake Bay is to put a total moratorium on all harvesting while restoring the oysters. It’s mentioned below, but it seems to be somewhat downplayed. Crazy how we are at about 1% of historical levels and they are downplaying a total moratorium. What is the rationale on that thinking? I know what the commerical community will say, you need to clean the bars because of the silt. Fine, clean the bars and leave the oysters in the water! I think it costs something like $120 to restore a bushel of oysters and then we let the commerical anglers harvest them and sell them for something like $50/bushel or even less some of the time. Sounds less like restoration and more like stakeholder fisheries “management”. Its a joke.

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In its 2008 Legislative Report released this week, the Maryland Oyster Advisory Commission (OAC) offered a multi-faceted strategy for restoring the Chesapeake’s native oyster population and revitalizing the State’s beleaguered oyster industry.

“We are grateful to the commission members for providing us with an exceptional framework for oyster restoration,” said Governor Martin O’Malley.   “Now it is our turn to translate their hard work into the definitive actions that will return a healthy native oyster population to Maryland waters.”

The recommendations, developed in concert with state fisheries managers and stakeholders, include:

·         Pursuing option 8A of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement currently being finalized, which favors using only the native Eastern oyster for both ecological restoration and aquaculture in Maryland. Although option 8A also mentions a baywide moratorium on oyster harvesting, the OAC is currently recommending an expanded oyster sanctuary and a more restrictive fishery.

·         Focusing restoration on larger scale, interconnected sanctuary areas, maximizing opportunity for survival in the face of disease and other stressors.

·         Developing a new fisheries management plan that, like other fisheries, would cap the percentage of the existing oysters that could be removed by fishermen each year.

·         Putting an end to illegal oyster harvesting, especially in protected, prohibited and leased areas.

·         Growing Maryland’s oyster industry through emphasis on aquaculture and providing permit streamlining, training and startup resources for watermen.

·         Reversing habitat degradation and the impacts of land-based activities on water quality.

·         Expanding sources of disease-free oyster seed and substrate to support habitat restoration efforts.

“This report lays out a clear strategy for restoring large scale populations of native oysters in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay,” said OAC Chairman Bill Eichbaum.  “We also set forth Continue Reading »

I received the below today from the President of Stripers Forever, Brad Burns, looks like concerned anglers in Connecticut stopped the potential opening of commercial fishing for striped bass in Connecticut waters.

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Stripers Forever CT – give yourself a pat on the back for the success of your efforts to protect striped bass.  Representative Richard Roy listened to the comments, absorbed the important information supplied by SF members, including many of the state’s guides, tackle dealers and leading conservationists, and did the right thing.  Representative Roy told his committee that the striped bass commercial fishing legislation will not be scheduled for public hearing, and that effectively kills the bill.

It is important that each of us thank Representative Roy for his open mind to our arguments, and his wise decision.  Stripers Forever board member Ed Mitchell visited Representative Roy in person, and was positively impressed with the man. Ed drafted the note that appears at the end of this e-mail.  You might copy and paste it into your own e-mail to Representative Roy.    Now we can get back to concentrating on MA and the other states where we are working to make striped bass a game fish.  Thank you for your efforts.
Brad Burns  SF

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Continue Reading »

How about this birthday cake, the perfect cake for any angler! Eric got the below for his 30th birthday. You can read his full report and check out more pictures on the community fishing site that we operate called TidalFish.com. Tidal Fish has over 52,500 anglers talking fishing every day on the message boards. You can find fishing reports, how to fishing answers and discussion and a lot more. Check out out today if you have not already here.