Just in from Captain Eric Wallace. Our full Northeast Fishing Reports will be back in action the end of this coming week. Also, if you are a fly fishing or light tackle angler up in Maine check out the details at the end of the report on the Fly Fishing Film Tour
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Capt Eric reports: Things are starting to move along in southern Maine,, area’s in Casco Bay are holding a few fish, but the best fishing in Maine this past week was on the Piscataqua where reports of 25-30 inch stripers are being taken on white Storm shads and grocery style deceivers to the north near Portland the Shad fishing has turned on as well Stripers are being taken . Things are looking a little better than last year north of Cape Cod, this week on the Joppa flats area we killed it, where last year was slow.

But once again where are the micro’s. as well The Fly Fishing Film Tour, Hosted by Flies and fins sponsored by The Drake magazine, Sage Fly Rods, Later Line, Scientific Anglers Patagonia among others, is touring the country this spring and early summer, showcasing some of the most cutting edge fly fishing films to date. The festival is playing in Portland, Maine at the Asylum on Thursday, June 4, at 7pm. There will also be a pre- and post-show party with appetizers, beer from local brewing companies and some outstanding shorts from 406 Productions, World Angling and Flies and Fins, 7pm to midnight.

2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge Features Cash and Prizes, Celebrates Journalist Bill Burton

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff and special guest Bill Burton today kicked off the 2009 Maryland Fishing Challenge, The Search for Diamond Jim, by releasing specially tagged striped bass into the Chesapeake Bay off of Chesapeake Beach.   The 5th annual challenge – which also includes a citation component — celebrates the life and career of the legendary outdoor writer and angler, who was inducted into the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association Hall of Fame in April.

“Whether experienced anglers or first-timers, our annual fishing challenge offers Maryland families and visitors the chance to win prizes while enjoying our exceptional waterways and recreational fishing opportunities.” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “We are especially pleased that this great Maryland tradition this year celebrates another of our State’s great resources, Bill Burton.”

This week 50 specially tagged striped bass – one genuine Diamond Jim and 49 imposters — were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Continue Reading »

This is a picture of Randy with his Uncle and the 39 inch rockfish Randy caught at the mouth of the Choptank River (Chesapeake Bay) while trolling recently.  For those reading this not from the Chesapeake Bay area, we get a spring run of these trophy stripers every year. The season usually opens in the middle of April and it’s game on in search of these beautiful monsters. While some light tackle and fly fishing anglers chase them, the most effective method is trolling umbrella rigs, bucktails and spoons.

The Lateral Line hat Randy has on is cool, but it pales in comparison to that trophy striper. Way to go Randy! (click on pic for larger version)

OK, I think we would all agree, in general, herbicides are not good for the Chesapeake Bay in large quantities. In that case I doubt that it is good for the state roads to be pouring this stuff (see the picture that I am not exaggerating when I say “pouring” ) this on to the road side so they do not have to weed eat around telephone poles. It drove me so crazy when I saw this I had to turn around and follow them and take some pictures. Not only can you see the gully/drainage ditch this will run into, but it is not that far from the second most polluted river in the state of Maryland, the Choptank River. Also provided is an aerial shot looking south/east where you can see the river is not that far from rt 50. (You can click on the pictures which will bring them up in another window in high resolution)

The picture was taken on RT 50 heading north between Cambridge and Easton on Maryland’s Eastern Shore on May 8,2009 around 10:30am. The picture is geo-coded from the GPS that I have on my camera if anyone needs/wants to verify the location.
The aerial shot was taken by me just a little north of where these shots were taken, but you get the idea how close the Choptank river is, how what they are spraying probably went into the drainage ditch that then went in the river which then went into bay.

I would ask that no one gets upset with the workers doing this, they are doing what they are told. This is a Maryland State Roads issue and I hate to think how many tanks like this are sprayed all over the state to find their way into our water systems.

Hurricane season is not too far away, so in preparation here are a few tips for the season to secure your boat when that monster storm heads your way.

Pull your boat out of the water if you can. It’s a pain in the neck, but your boat is a lot less likley to get damaged on land. Just do not park under a tree.

If you are going to leave your boat in the water, reverse your dock lines and place the loops on the pilings and the end tag on your boat cleat. This way if the tides surge, and the lines become tight from a rising tide, you can loosen your lines and adjust for a rising tide.

Add extra bumpers and place a few at different heights.

If your boat is in the water, check your bilge pump and make sure it works.

If you have electric on your pier, shut it off before the storm hits.

Stay out of the water after a hurricane…it will be loaded with sewage from septic systems malfunctioning. Be careful taking your boat out after a hurricane…tons of crap that can ruin an outdrive or prop floating in the water. Also, if you put your boat under a boat house, be careful. We saw 3-4 boats that were raised up through the roof of their boat houses

I was reading this article that a friend sent me today about Europe looking to totally change the way they manage fisheries because of the decline that has happened over the years. The article says,  “The EU’s executive, the European Commission, says more than 80% of Europe’s fish stocks are now overfished. The global average is 28%.” Now, we have our problems with fisheries in the US that is for sure, but 80% of the species overfished in Europe, WOW! (you can click on the graph on the left for a bigger version.

Caught the below in email today, thought it was interesting.

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Whether fishing for trout in a coldwater mountain stream, casting a line for largemouth bass in a neighborhood pond, or surf fishing for red drum, the 1.3 million anglers who fish in North Carolina spend more than $1.1 billion annually in pursuit of their favorite fish with a total statewide economic impact of more than $1.9 billion.

According to the 2006 Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Recreation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the majority of angler-spending dollars were trip-related expenditures, which include food, lodging, transportation and other trip expenses. Equipment, such as rods, reels, tackle, etc., constituted the second largest category of expenses, while the purchase of supplementary items, such as magazines, licenses and permits, accounted for the remaining dollars.

Expenditures by freshwater anglers 16 years of age and older in North Carolina averaged $717 per year, while saltwater anglers averaged Continue Reading »

I saw the below in Chumlines of the PSSFA fishing club located in the Virginia Tidewater Area. It reminded me that I also saw a press release from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and I forgot to write something about it. Good news is the new blue crabbing regulations put into place last year by Maryland and Virginia are working, but we still have a ways to go. At least we are on the road to recovery

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The results of the most recent Bay-wide winter dredge survey, which is conducted annually, estimates that the total number of crabs over-wintering in the Chesapeake Bay increased from 280 million pounds in 2007-08 to just over 400 million pounds during 2008-09. That’s only about half the number of the early 1990s, but the survey clearly indicates that the restrictions imposed by the VMRC have had the desired effect. The increase in abundance is due primarily to the increase in the number of adult female crabs. Approximately double last year’s abundance. The new assessment is slightly above the minimal levels set by the Crab Stock Assessment committee in early 2008.

Despite the adult population increase, the abundance of young-of-the-year crabs (less than two inches across the carapace) did not change measurably from last year, and remains below Continue Reading »