Article by Larry Jock
OP Anglers Club hosting “Teach A Kid to Fish” event
The Ocean Pines Anglers Club will host their popular Teach A Kid To Fish event on Saturday, June 25th near the Sports Core Pool in Ocean Pines from 9 to 11 am. Kids of all ages will be taught fishing skills and techniques as well as wonders of the sport. Anglers are asked to bring their own rod and reel. Beverages and bait will be provided for those who would stay after and practice their new skills. There will be a free rod and reel drawing and a demonstration by the Worcester County Sheriffs Department K9 team. For more information call Walt Boge at 410-208-2855.
States schedule hearings on draft omnibus amendment for spot, spotted sea trout and Spanish mackerel
Maryland and Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Omnibus Amendment for Spot, Spotted Sea Trout and Spanish Mackerel. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service Friday, June 24, 2011; 6 PM Tawes State Office Building, C-1 Conference Room 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, Maryland Contact: Sarah Widman at 410.260.8300
Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Wednesday, June 22, 2011; 6 PM, 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor Newport News, Virginia Contact: Jack Travelstead at 757.247.2247
In March, the Commission’s South Atlantic State-Federal Fisheries Management Board voted to take the next step in updating the fishery management plans (FMPs) for three important South Atlantic species -- spot, spotted sea trout, and Spanish mackerel. With a combined coastwide commercial catch of 12.6 million pounds and a recreational harvest of 14.3 million fish, the three species represent a large draw for all fishermen.
The three FMPs had been adopted prior to passage of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act and adoption of the Interstate Fisheries Management Program Charter in 1995. The Board has been working since August 2009 to develop this amendment and update the plans in order to provide for more efficient and effective management.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was formed by the 15 Atlantic coastal states in 1942 for the promotion and protection of coastal fishery resources. The Commission serves as a deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating the conservation and management of nearshore fishery resources, including marine, shell and anadromous species.
Spanish mackerel is jointly managed by both the Commission and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Due to data limitations, the most recent stock assessment was not successful in establishing specific values for reference points. The original interstate FMP included a process to review and maintain consistency with federal management, which is essential in maintaining good conservation measures. Over the years, however, both federal and state regulations have changed, while the interstate FMP has remained unchanged. To address this consistency issue, the Draft Omnibus Amendment currently includes both adaptive management measures as well as a process for Board review and action in response to changes in the federal regulations, which will allow for greater uniformity across the jurisdictions. Currently, the federal FMP has a proposed Amendment 18, which is scheduled for a final vote by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at its June meeting. The proposed Amendment 18 changes are included in the current Draft Omnibus Amendment for public comment.
The original Spot and the Spotted Sea Trout FMPs included no requirements for either management or monitoring. The current Draft Omnibus Amendment includes a management trigger for spot, which will help the Board in monitoring the status of the stock until a full coastwide stock assessment can be completed. High levels of spot bycatch present a challenge for managers, in terms of both yearly management and overall assessment of the stock health. For spotted sea trout, the Draft Omnibus Amendment includes measures to protect the spawning stock as well as a coastwide minimum size. These measures will be essential as increased coastal development presents management challenges to this very localized species. Coupled with adaptive management measures, the Draft Omnibus Amendment will provide options for both species to efficiently implement management measures should the Board determine that such measures are needed in the future.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Omnibus Amendment either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Amendment can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 20, 2011 and should be forwarded to Danielle Brzezinski, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at [email protected] (Subject line: Draft Omnibus Amendment).
Angler catches VA state record snowy grouper
Roger Burnley of Virginia Beach, VA has established a new state record for snowy grouper with a 70-pound, 7-ounce fish caught May 22, 2011. The record fish was weighed and certified on an Ohaus digital scale at the office of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, located in Newport News. The digital scale registered 70.48 pounds but the weight was converted and listed as 70 pounds and 7-ounces as the state record. The record-setting grouper bested the existing state record, set by Jere Humphrey of Norfolk, Virginia, on August 17, 2008, by nearly 2-1/2 pounds. Burnley is filing an application with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for acceptance of his catch as the IGFA All-Tackle Record for snowy grouper. Humphrey’s 68-pound snowy grouper currently holds the IGFA All-Tackle Record.
Burnley caught his grouper “deep-dropping” near the Norfolk Canyon in 98 fathoms of water while fishing aboard the private boat Healthy Grin, skippered by Ken Neill, III, of Seaford. The fish had a length of 48 inches and a girth of 37 inches. The record fish was caught on a Shimano Trevala rod, mated with a Daiwa Saltist LD40 reel and spooled with 70-pound test Daiwa Saltiga Boat braided line. The record-setting grouper hit a custom made two hook bottom rig baited with squid and cut fish.
