Article by Marty Gary
Radford Update
Will this be the week? For the past several issues, we’ve inched tantalizingly closer to the deployment date. As I type this, hurricane Emily looks to have pushed the deployment date back yet another week, with target dates of August 16, 17 or 18. Preparation of Ex-USS Radford, a 573 foot long Navy Destroyer, for its placement as the largest ship to be used as an artificial reef on the Atlantic coast has been completed. EPA inspections have finished, and the US Coast Guard has approved the tow and reefing exercises. The Radford is sitting on the go button, and just needs the right weather window in order to initiate the operation to tow and sink the vessel. We are very close to the sinking of the largest vessel to be used as an artificial reef on the east coast, and the second largest in North America next to the Ex-Oriskany, an over 800 foot long aircraft carrier reefed off Pensacola, FL. Check the Coastal Fisherman online for the latest information. We’ll break the news there when we get word. In the interim, the official website for the Radford project is: www.radfordreef.com
The White Marlin Open
As this edition comes out, the 38th Annual White Marlin Open is on day three, with participants able to fish 3 of the 5 days. It will be hard to top 2010’s event, which saw some tremendous sized whites, including the winning 97.5 lb. fish. If you’ve never made the trek down to the scales to watch the boats come in, make this the year to see the festivities.
One Month Left in the 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge
The 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge runs through midnight on Labor Day, September 5th. Anyone fishing legally in Maryland has the opportunity to catch and record an award-winning fish by landing any of more than 80 eligible species categories above a certain minimum size designated by species. If you catch a fish that meets or exceeds the official award size, simply submit your catch to any of the many official award centers (tackle shops) to receive your official entry ticket, which clears the way for you to receive your award certificate and your invitation to the Grand Celebration. The entry tickets are available at the award centers with online registration soon to come. Qualifying anglers will be limited to one chance per angler, regardless of the number of awards they receive. Prize winners will be randomly selected from the attendees at the celebration, which will be held during the 44th Annual Maryland Seafood Festival on September 10, 2011 at Sandy Point State Park. Catch & Release anglers may also participate by submitting an online Catch & Release entry form and by attending the Grand Celebration. Check your qualifying fish into one of the following award centers in the Ocean City area:
• Sea Hawk Sport Center
• Oyster Bay Tackle
• Ocean City Fishing Center
• Alltackle
• John Henry’s Bait & Tackle
• Sunset Provisions
• Bahia Marina
• Ake Marine
• Ocean City Fishing Pier
• Oceanic Pier
• Assateague Market
• Ocean Pines Marina
License Questions
Maryland DNR set up a special hotline for sportfish license inquiries. The number: 410-656-9526 has had high volume. Initially, we were getting questions on all kinds of license issues, but over the past few weeks, the dominant callers have been asking specifically about coastal issues. Some of the most common questions have been:
• Do I need a license to recreationally crab? A: No, but you do need to adhere to the regulations on size (5 inches), and limits (one bushel per person and up to two max per boat). *Note – peeler minimum is now 3.5 inches.
• Do I need a license to recreationally clam? A: No. Minimum size is 1 inch, limit is 250 per person per day.
• Do I need a Maryland fishing license if I’m fishing off the National Park shoreline on Assateague Island? A: Yes, if you are 16 years of age or older.
• Do I need a license if I rent a boat? A: Possibly. Some boat rental facilities have purchased special boat decals to cover their patrons who rent boats from them. If this is the case, you will not need a sport fishing license. If not, then you will. Be sure to check before you rent.
• Where can I buy a fishing license? A: Online at www.dnr.maryland.gov or at any of our authorized agents, including: Skip’s Bait & Tackle, Oyster Bay Bait & Tackle, Oceanic Pier, Captain Mac’s Bait and Tackle, Fenwick Bait and Tackle, Sunset Provisions, Ocean City Fishing Center, Alltackle, John Henry’s Bait & Tackle, Frontier Town, Buck’s Place, Assateague Store, Sharkey’s Market and Wal-Mart just to name a few.
Maryland DNR Summer Flounder Catch Rate Survey Underway
We are now past the halfway point in the new survey by MD DNR to compare catch rates of summer flounder being landed at public and private points of landing. The survey will be running through the end of August. Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) volunteers are distributing the simple, easy to fill out survey cards to anglers on the water during their fishing trips, capitalizing on the rapport between fellow anglers. Here is an example of the survey card that will be handed out to other boat fishermen on the water by the MSSA volunteers.
Participating anglers simply need to fill out their card upon completion of their trip, and drop it in the closest mailbox when they return to shore. Postage is prepaid. DNR Fisheries personnel will provide the survey design, collect and analyze the data sent in by the anglers upon completion of their trips. Ultimately, DNR will share the results with the NMFS staff that are working on the redesign of the federal recreational fishing survey (MRIP).
So if you are fishing on the water and a fellow fisherman approaches you with a card in hand, please consider taking a moment to listen to them, fill out the survey card at the end of your trip, and drop it in the mailbox.
Questions From Coastal Fisherman Readers?
I welcome any questions you may have on fisheries management, sport fishing licenses, or any other fisheries related questions. Please e mail:
[email protected]
