Article by Larry Jock
Billfish Foundation honors OC Light Tackle Club
The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the world’s leading sportfishing conservation organization for marlin, sailfish, spearfish and associated highly migratory fish, announces this year’s winners of its prestigious Club of Excellence Awards. The Club Award is in recognition of big game fishing clubs that have contributed to advancing the conservation and management of billfish and other species, responsible sportfishing fishing and support of TBF.
This years winner, the 71-year old Ocean City (MD) Light Tackle Club was established by a group of men, who had fished together for a decade, including Alan M. Ferguson.
In 1940, Ferguson landed a 114.5-pound white marlin on 6/9 threat, setting a world record and placing Ocean City, MD on the sportfishing map. Soon after the Club was established members adopted light tackle as the appropriate gear for white marlin. Two Club members went further and pioneered the practice of catch and release of white marlin.
Award presentations will be made during TBF’s annual gala on Friday, November 2, 2017 at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Maryland sets 2018 black sea bass regulations
The secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in response to the action taken for black sea bass by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, pursuant to the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.02.05.21A and F, announces the season, catch limit, and minimum size for the recreational black sea bass fishery for the remainder of 2018.
The season is open effective 12:01 AM on May 15, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Anglers may keep up to 15 black sea bass per person per day. The minimum size is 12.5 inches.
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife accepting entries for annual photo contest
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Contol - Division of Fish & Wildlife announced the start of their annual Delaware Fishing Photo Contest. The winning photograph will be featured on the cover of the 2019 Delaware Fishing Guide, with the top five photographs presented inside the guide.
The contest is open to all Delaware residents, with a maximum of three entries per person. Photographs should be submitted digitally at the Fish & Wildlife photo contest page located at, http://de.gov/fwphotos. Entries are being accepted now through Wednesday, Oct. 31.
A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for technically-suitable, well composed photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “‘Reel’ Good Time.” To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware and depict persons involved in lawful fishing activities.
Complete contest rules and information, entry forms and instructions for uploading entries can be found at the Fish & Wildlife photo contest webpage. For more information, please contact Jennifer Childears at 302-739-9910, or email [email protected]
Resilient Blue Crab Stock Weathers Harsh Winter Conditions
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) released the results from the 2018 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey that show the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab stock remains healthy and able to support quality commercial and recreational harvests.
Colder than average temperatures in January and March resulted in higher than normal mortality for adult crabs this past winter. Those environmental conditions combined with very low juvenile abundance last year resulted in lower adult male and female abundance estimates for 2018. The recent survey estimates a total adult male and female crab abundance of 206 million. Although this estimated abundance is 38 percent lower than in 2017, it remains above the 29-year average of 196 million.
Abundance of female crabs that will spawn in late May or mid-summer of 2018 was estimated as 147 million and that is above the 1990 – 2018 average of 124 million. This 2018 abundance of potential female spawning crabs is less than 2017, which was the highest ever recorded for spawning crabs.
This year’s survey results include an increase in the juvenile crab abundance. These crabs measure 2.4 inches or less in width and their abundance increased by nearly 34 percent from last year to 168 million. These young crabs will grow large enough for harvest by commercial and recreational fisheries late in the season and represent the 2019 spawning potential.
The combined abundance of all sizes of blue crab in the Chesapeake Bay in 2018 was above 371 million crabs and ranks 16th within the nearly 30 years the Bay-wide Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey has been conducted. Successful commercial and recreational harvest within the Chesapeake Bay depends on all sizes of blue crab, at one time or another during the season, and those benefits will be supported by this year’s overall crab abundance.
The 2017 Bay-wide commercial harvest decreased by 9 percent from the previous year, down from 60 million pounds in 2016 to 54 million pounds. However, the 2017 harvest was 54 percent higher than in 2014 which was the lowest annual harvest in nearly three decades. The 2017 Virginia commercial crab harvest was 23.5 million pounds, comparable to the ten-year average (2008 – 2017) of 24 million pounds. Virginia commercial crab harvests are moderated by blue crab abundance, as well as marketing and processing constraints.
"We are fortunate that a shift to more responsible management of blue crabs in the past decade, including the closure of the winter dredge fishery, is allowing for sustainable harvests even in years with challenging environmental conditions,” said Secretary of Natural Resources, Matthew J. Strickler. “Continuing to manage for higher spawning female abundance will ensure we have enough blue crabs to support both commercial and recreational harvests and the Bay ecosystem."
The December to March Bay-wide Winter Dredge Survey is the primary census of the Bay’s blue crab standing stock. Since the winter of 1989 – 1990 the survey has been conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. The survey employs crab dredges that sample blue crabs at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Sampling during the winter, when blue crabs are usually buried in the mud and stationary, allows scientists to develop, with good precision, estimates of the number of crabs present in the Bay.
Maryland Offers License-Free Fishing Days in June and July
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites new or experienced anglers to enjoy Maryland’s License Free Fishing Days June 2nd, 9th and July 4th.
This is a unique opportunity for Marylanders to test their fishing skills without the need to obtain a fishing license, trout stamp or registration.
All anglers must follow current size and catch limits. An online guide is available and a printed version can be picked up at many service centers or local bait-and-tackle shops. The department also has dozens of other resources to help new or experienced anglers, including angler access maps, Click Before You Cast and fish identification charts.
Anglers who decide to get or renew their license can do so online, by phone or at a licensing and registration service center.
