The 2009 International Coastal Clean Up sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy THE OCEAN CONSERVANCY that will occur on the banks of the Choptank River on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9am to Noon.  Rain date is the following Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009  9am to Noon.

Volunteers should meet at Sailwinds Park-Visitor’s Center.  All volunteers receive a free 2009 Coastal Clean Up T-Shirt thanks to The Ocean Conservancy and Delmarva Power.  If you register with the Maryland Coordinator, you give me a tally for shirt order.  Go here. Please help me get the word out to your friends, family, co-workers, customers, patrons, etc.

This is a wonderful experience for young minds too!  Our youth sees the true meaning of “litterbug” and makes a life long choice to not be one.  Also, to pick up any trash or debris they see in the future; even if it is not their own.  So bring the children in your life…you’re giving them an amazing gift.

In addition, the kids can log onto The Ocean Conservancy website and follow the national and international debris collection data.  As well as, follow the rate of global ocean clean up. (Click picture to the left for a full size version. It will open in a new window)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region today announced the launch of a web site dedicated to the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – a major initiative to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and local
waters.. The web site allows the public to stay tuned to key developments, draft work products, schedules of public meetings and events, and have questions answered about the process.

The TMDL, essentially a “pollution diet,” will define the needed reductions in the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus as well as sediments that are harming the Bay and local waters. The Bay TMDL will be backed by state-devised implementation plans and a series of measures to assure accountability in meeting cleanup commitments.
To access the site, visit this link. 

The tag.
Florescent green circular tags are pinned through the anterior dorsal region of the fish (see graphic). The “button” portion of the tag bears a serial number and a contact phone number. A select number of fish will also have acoustic tracking tags attached. We encourage the release of any tagged fish with the tag still attached, especially sub-legal sized fish, so that further data can be collected from subsequent recaptures. Any fish with tracking tags should be retained since the tags are reusable.

Whom to contact?
Fishermen encountering these tags are requested to report recapture information to Paul Caruso at the following addresses or phone number:

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
1213 Purchase St- 3rd Floor
New Bedford, MA 02740
E-mail: paul.caruso@state.ma.us
Phone number 508-990-2860 x 107

What to report?
The serial number, location of recapture, date captured, length of the fish, and your name, address, and telephone number should all be reported. Responders will receive a reward, and randomly selected responders will receive a $100 gift certificate, good for the purchase of fishing equipment or supplies.

Why are summer flounder being tagged?
Summer flounder are being tagged in Massachusetts’s waters to determine movement patterns and if the same fish return to local waters in subsequent years. Results of this study could allow the evaluation of alternative management strategies in the future that could benefit local fisheries.

This is simply unacceptable. I say hit the keyboard and comment that they should have no extension, how many do they need?????

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The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board has approved for public comment Draft Addendum IV to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The Draft Addendum proposes extending the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery harvest cap, established through Addendum III, for an additional three years (2011 – 2013). Under the proposed Addendum, the Board would annually review measures to determine if they are appropriate given the most recent information available about the stock and fishery.

The Board’s action was requested by the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to accommodate its legislative process as well as ensure that the current management program is extended while menhaden research efforts continue. Virginia’s legislature, which meets January through March each year, is responsible for regulating the menhaden reduction fishery in state waters. With a new Addendum in place this year, Virginia state administrators can work with the legislature in early 2010 to amend Virginia law to extend the harvest cap without the current cap expiring.

Addendum III established the current annual cap of 109,020 metric tons on reduction fishery harvests in Chesapeake Bay as a precautionary measure while research was conducted to address the question of menhaden abundance in the Bay. The cap has been in place since 2006 and will extend through 2010. Harvest for reduction purposes is prohibited in the Chesapeake Bay when 100% of the cap is landed. Over-harvest in any given year would be deducted from the next year’s quota. Addendum III also includes a provision allowing under-harvest in one year to be credited only to the following year’s cap, not to exceed 122,740 metric tons. Since Addendum III was implemented, reduction landings of menhaden from Chesapeake Bay has not exceeded the cap.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum IV, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments (a subsequent press release on scheduled public hearings will be released once the hearings have been finalized).  Copies of Draft Addendum IV can be obtained by contacting the Commission at Continue Reading »

At the end of the day this appears to not change the effect of the overall population, but it might be setting a bad precedent.
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The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has approved for public comment Draft Addendum II to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. The Draft Addendum proposes to allow unused coastal commercial quota of striped bass to be rolled over from one year to the next. Options include state eligibility and the amount of unused quota that may be carried over. The Draft Addendum also outlines procedures for implementing and monitoring quota roll over. Under the Draft Addendum, roll over would be prohibited if the fishing mortality rate exceeds the Plan’s target or if the spawning stock biomass is below the Plan’s target.

The existing management program addresses coastal commercial quota overages, requiring payback of an overage in the subsequent year, yet it is silent on coastal commercial quota underages. Since the implementation of Amendment 6, coastal commercial quota underages have been more common than overages. While avoiding a quota overage signifies managerial success, a quota underage represents lost opportunity to commercial harvesters. Quota underages may result from changes in fish abundance or Continue Reading »

ASMFC Weakfish Board Initiates Addendum to Address Stock Decline

In its report to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Weakfish Management Board, an independent panel of scientists endorsed the 2009 weakfish stock assessment for management use. The Review Panel confirmed that stocks are at an all time low and current fishery removals are unsustainable under existing stock conditions. It agreed with the stock assessment’s conclusions that weakfish abundance has declined markedly, total mortality is high, non-fishing mortality has recently increased, and the stock is currently in a depleted state. Given these findings, the Board initiated the development of Draft Addendum IV which will propose a range of options to reduce fishing mortality, including complete harvest moratoria and limited bycatch only fisheries.

“While the Board has been aware of the decline in weakfish landings over the past ten years, conflicting signals in the stock assessment models employed in the past confounded decision making. This peer review panel found the methodology acceptable and agreed that the stock is in dire condition,” stated Board Chair Roy Miller. “Given the condition of the stock, the Board has decided to accelerate its management process and prepare a draft addendum for public comment in early fall. Upon considering public comment and final action on the addendum, the Board will have the option to implement the addendum’s measures through emergency action this November.”

The weakfish stock is depleted at an all-time low of 2.9 million pounds (1,333 metric tons), far below the proposed biomass threshold of 22.4 million pounds (10,179 metric tons). At this stock size, recent fishery removals (landings and dead discards combined), estimated at 1.9 and 1.8 million pounds in 2007 and 2008, respectively, represent a significant proportion of the remaining biomass. While the decline in the stock primarily results from a change in the natural mortality of weakfish in recent years, it is further exacerbated by continued removals by the commercial and recreational Continue Reading »

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Shad and River Herring Management Board has approved for public comment Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Shad and River Herring. The Draft Amendment proposes a suite of monitoring and management measures to protect, enhance, and restore American shad stocks to sustainable levels.

The Draft Amendment was developed in response to the findings of the 2007 benchmark stock assessment for American shad, which indicates that American shad stocks are currently at all-time lows and do not appear to be recovering. It identified the primary causes for the continued stock declines as a combination of excessive total mortality, habitat loss and degradation, and migration and habitat access impediments. Although improvement has been seen in a few stocks, many remain severely depressed compared to historic levels.

The Draft Amendment proposes modification to current coastwide Continue Reading »

Northeast reports are a little thin this week, but we did get some guides checking in. The big news is that the Bones arrived in and around Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The Albies should not be too far behind. Oh yea, bluefin have been landed on the fly. The picture says it all on that front. Even with the elevated water temperatures there are still plenty of striped bass around if you are willing to spend the time looking. When you hit then you can hit the jackpot. Also around in good numbers are decent blues to give you a good pull on your fly rod or light tackle. (Pictured is is a nice bluefin tuna caught on the fly. The picture was sent in from Capt. Chris Hessert from Manhattan Fly Charters fishing in and around the New York City Area. NICE FISH MAN!)

Northeast Saltwater Fishing Reports
*note the northeast fishing reports work their way up the coast from south to north starting with New Jersey.

New Jersey Saltwater Fishing Reports
The Beach Haven Charter Boat Association reported in from Beach Haven:

Some of the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are reporting very good action in the ocean on fluke and sea bass. For the most party the fish are biting very well, but the keeper fluke are still tough to come by.

Captain Frank Camarda on the headboat “Miss Beach Haven” reports the fluke fishing has been pretty good in the ocean for the past week with a good mix of keepers and shorts. The water temperature is currently right around 73-degrees. Captain Frank adds that the bay fishing has also been decent as the fluke are making their way to the ocean. He has also seen a few cocktail sized bluefish and some croakers around.

Captain George Finck of “Sparetime Charters had Phil McNeil out last week with son Carter and daughter Sidney for a day of bottom fishing. He reports the kids especially enjoyed the nice weather along with a nice catch of both sea bass and fluke. Another day he had Kevin Kernan and son Jack out for a nice catch of sea bass and short fluke. Captain George reports keeper fluke are hard to come by some days.

Over the weekend he had the McCauley’s and Smiths out for bottom fishing. The fishing was great despite a lack of keeper fluke, but they were happy to put a mix of sea bass, fluke, and bluefish in the fish box.

Captain Dave Wittenborn had Sarah Brown and family out last Friday on the “Compass Rose” celebrating Dad’s 60th. The conditions were excellent in the ocean, and the fish cooperated with practically non-stop action for some five hours. The happy party returned to the dock with six nice keeper fluke, several sea bass, and released at least 20 shorts.
Captain Dave had even better action on Saturday for Dave Nyre and his crew. He said he did not even have time to eat lunch the fishing was so constant. Besides well over 50 throwbacks, they had 16 keeper fluke. He went through extra bait he had brought and was cutting up strips of sea robin and fluke bellies which produced well.

New York Saltwater Fishing Reports
Capt. John McMurray from one More Cast Fishing Charters did not report in, he must be busy with his twins.

Capt. Chris Hessert from Manhattan Fly Charters fishing in and around the New York City Area:
Did not check in, but he had a great picture of a fish that I was not able to get in last weeks report because I did to get it the first try. I think the picture at the top of the reports about sums up the fly fishing action.

Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Reports
Capt. Sandy Noyes from Rum Runner Guide Service reported in from in and around Stonington:
Bonito! We just came back from a mid summer vacation. The fishing was so bad it wasn’t even worth me going out for fun. Gail and I went out yesterday on reliable reports of bonito. We found some but as usual Continue Reading »