Chesapeake Bay News

In response to requests from the fishing community for hands-on participation in data collection, several states have implemented volunteer angler data collection programs to collect recreational data.

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, a one-day Volunteer Angler Data workshop will explore ways that these and future programs can be most effective.

This workshop, co-sponsored by the Council and the Marine Recreational Information Program (www.countmyfish.noaa.gov), will bring together the people who manage these state programs and other volunteer data collection programs to examine questions such as: “Which data needs are best filled by volunteer angler data?” and “How can programs establish and sustain angler enthusiasm and support?”

The meeting is open to the public and will be webcast. There will be opportunities for public participation from those attending in person as well as via webinar – webinar registration and additional information is available via the above link.

Details:

MAFMC Volunteer Angler Data Workshop

Thursday, February 2, 2012 – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Four-Points Sheraton, BWI Airport

7032 Elm Road, Baltimore, MD 21240

And via the Internet at:

http://www.mafmc.org/events/volunteerdata.htm

source: MAFMC

The 2012 Virginia Charter Boat Workshop will be held at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

The workshop will focus on charter business management with sessions on fisheries management, legal issues, insurance needs, marketing and finance tips and lessons learned from current charter operators. The workshop is open to all charter and head boat operators and marina professionals.

The registration form can be found online at: http://www.vims.edu/research/units/centerspartners/map/_docs/charterboat2012.pdf

Registration cost for the workshop is $15 and will cover lunch and resource materials. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, March 2, 2012. On-site registration will be limited and will increase to $30 the day of the workshop.

source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Croaker, sometimes known as hardhead, enter the Chesapeake Bay in early spring and are caught in most locations thru mid-fall. These popular bottom fish are sometimes found in large schools and can be caught with basic equipment.

Peeler crabs or soft shelled crabs the most popular croaker bait in the Chesapeake Bay. During peak periods of the crab molting season, using cut soft crabs or peeler crabs can provide anglers with coolers filled with croakers.

Squid is another widely available bait for catching croakers in the Chesapeake Bay. Anglers can purchase whole frozen squid (calamari) at grocery stores or seafood markets, or obtain higher quality squid from area saltwater fishing tackle shops. Squid that will be used for bait should be white, firm and not freezer burnt. This bait works best when cut into long strips which resemble a baitfish.

Bloodworms, although expensive, are excellent baits for catching Chesapeake Bay croakers. These strange worms are blood filled, which allows croakers to detect their presence in murky water. Anglers should be wary of the hidden mouth of bloodworms and remove it if possible while cutting up each worm.

Mummichogs (bull minnows) are sometimes used as bait for catching croakers. These saltwater minnows are native to the Chesapeake Bay and can be caught easily or bought from bait suppliers.

Fresh bait strips can be made from fillets of spot or other saltwater fish. These fresh baits often work well for catching croakers, seatrout and other top level fish. Leftover strips of fish can be coated with kosher salt and frozen for later use. If properly brined and frozen, strip baits retain their tough texture and fishy aroma for several months.

The most popular setup for catching croakers in the Chesapeake Bay is a basic 2 hook “top and bottom” rig. There are many variations of this rig, but most feature some combination of plain hooks, beads and a snap for connecting to the sinker..

The single hook rig is also popular in some areas of the bay. This rig typically includes a single long leader which is attached to a 3 way snap-swivel. Single hook rigs usually include beads, a bucktail hair teaser, and a spinner blade. Single hook rigs are frequently used when drifting along channel edges. They not only catch croaker, but also trout, flounder and other bottom species.

Jigs are useful for catching croakers in some areas. Some anglers prefer a bucktail jig dressed with a plastic lure body or morsel of crab while others may use all artificial jigs.

Rigs and lure setups come in several variations. Some anglers prefer the bare essentials, while others prefer rigs equipped with bucktail skirts, colored beads, spinner blades or other accessories

Popular 2 hook rigs are sometimes equipped with kahle style hooks. These light wire hooks straighten out when snagged, thereby saving the leader. Kahle hooks are inexpensive and offer good hookup ratios.

Another option for croaker fishing is the circle hook. Several variations are popular, including offset and non-offset styles. Circle hooks require a slightly higher skill lever to use, but have several important advantages. Circle hooks pierce most fish in the corner of the jaw, which helps to reduce mortality of throwbacks. These odd looking hooks seldom pull when hooked in the fish’s jaw.

MarylandNatural Resources Police (NRP) have confiscated more than 10 tons of illegally caught rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay near Bloody Point and Eastern Bay.

“The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association is disheartened and outraged over the 10 tons of illegally caught rockfish in our own Chesapeake Bay”, MSSA’s President Vince Ringgold said.

Additional illegal nets have been found in the mouth of the Choptank but have revealed very few fish as they were captured not too long after being set.  The NRP is investigating all leads and will continue its efforts to find these illegal nets and the people responsible.

The Chesapeake Bay is the spawning ground and nursery for 75 percent of the migratory striped bass stock on the coast.  Maryland is under continued pressure from the Atlantic states to protect the spawning grounds of this coveted fish and to ensure a sustainable fishery. The rockfish, also known as striped bass, is Maryland’s state fish.

NOAA has announced that the annual fee for registering with the National Saltwater Angler Registry will be $15.00 as of Jan. 1, 2011.

Virginia’s saltwater anglers, however, will not have to pay the fee or sign up with the national registry. Virginia has been exempted through the efforts of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

In order to maintain that exemption, the VMRC will collect contact information when anglers buy an annual saltwater fishing license as of Jan. 1.

Anglers who do not need to buy a license under state law must register with the new Virginia Fisherman Identification Program FOR FREE and supply their contact information before they fish every year.

The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program will begin Jan. 1, 2011. Anglers may register annually by going to www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP or by calling toll-free 800-723-2728. Registration will be quick, easy, and without charge.

The intent is to create a Virginia-wide “phone book” of saltwater anglers, which will be given to NOAA in order to improve fishing effort surveys and to exempt Virginia anglers from having to sign up directly with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and pay the annual $15 federal registration fee.

Anglers with a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license, or a Potomac River Fisheries Sport Fishing License, do not have to register with the state FIP. Their contact information will be collected when they buy a license. Anglers under the age of 16 also are exempt from registering.

Virginia anglers who must register each year with the Fisherman Identification Program: Those who fish legally without a license (such as on a boat licensed to cover all anglers; from a commercial pier or private property; who are age 65 and older) or who fish in tidal freshwater for anadromous species such as striped bass or other marine species. They will be issued an identification number to keep with them while fishing to prove they have registered.

In effect, as of Jan. 1, 2011, all Virginia adult saltwater anglers will need either a valid saltwater fishing license or to register with the Fisherman Identification Program every year.
Virginia is one of 22 of the nation’s 24 coastal states that now have saltwater angler registries or licenses and have been exempted from the federal requirement because they are providing registry information to the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry is an important tool that enables NOAA to better estimate the health of marine fisheries so that more effective regulations can be established to preserve recreational fishing for the anglers, fishing businesses, coastal communities and millions of Americans whose lives and livelihoods are connected to saltwater fishing. Congress created the registry, a national phone book of anglers, through the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act of 2006 to improve surveys of fishermen used to assess the health of fish stocks and the economic contributions of anglers.

The law authorized NOAA’s Fisheries Service to charge a fee for the annual registration beginning in 2011.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry is part of a major initiative to improve how NOAA’s Fisheries Service gathers, analyzes and reports recreational fishing data. The goal of the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP, is to ensure that the data scientists, managers, stock assessors and others need to effectively conserve our nation’s ocean resources is available, accessible, held to the most exacting scientific standards, and broadly trusted by our partners and stakeholders in the fishing community and others. For more information or to register, visit www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov or call toll-free (888) MRIP-411.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission manages Virginia’s saltwater fisheries, both recreational and commercial, and is based in Newport News, Va. The Fisherman Identification Program is authorized by state law, and annual registration of non-licensed saltwater anglers is required.

source: VMRC

On September 19, 2009 approximately $70,000 in prizes and merchandise were presented to lucky anglers at the 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge closing ceremony. Approximately 2,000 people, including sponsors, anglers and their guests attended the sixth annual closing ceremony held at Sandy Point State Park.

More than 1,900 anglers from as far away as California qualified to participate in the grand prize drawing. As an added youth component, children participating in various fishing rodeos across the State qualified for a unique category for the chance to win guided fishing trips.

Walking away with the grand prize was 13 year-old Garret Boylan of Finksburg, Md. Boylan caught a white perch, nearly 15 inches long, in the Liberty reservoir in Baltimore County on June 10, which qualified him for the boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats.

“I’m speechless,” said Maurice Boylan, the winner’s father. “It was a shot in the dark. We drove an hour and a half (to attend the finale), and now my little boy won a boat!”

Additional winners included James Vogel III of Conowingo, Md., Howard James of Georgetown, Del. and Paul Gilbert of Unionville, Pa. who won thousands of dollars in prizes from Bill’s Outdoor Center. Kurt Hofschild of Pasadena, Md. won an all expenses paid fishing trip to the Island of Tobago provided by the World Fishing Network.

In addition, during this year’s contest, five lucky anglers also caught specially tagged rockfish.  Devin Singer, of Bethesda, Md.; Billy Beale of Jarrettsville, Md.; Leo James Jr. of Annapolis, Md.; and Tristen Blake of Federalsburg, Md received checks for $500 each for their catches, which were confirmed as Diamond Jim imposters. Bill Heisterhagan of Easton , Md. who caught the only possible Diamond Jim tagged striped bass in the challenge learned at the event that he too had caught a $500 Diamond Jim imposter.

Lucky young anglers from across the State were awarded guided fishing trips:

* Michale Nutter of LaPlata, Md. and Tyler Bishell of Earleville, Md. will receive a trip from the Mid-Atlantic Council of Trout Unlimited.

* Taylor Mae Edwards of Essex, Md. and Ben Shiner of Nittingham, Md. will receive a trip from the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association.

* Adam Szarko of Catonsville, Md. will receive a trip from the Maryland Charter Boat Association

* Austin Bible of Cumberland, Md.; Bradley McDowell of Rising Sun, Md.; Jacob Gambrill of Whitemarsh, Md.; and Cody Wheeler of Bel Air, Md. will receive trips from Bass Federation Nation.

* Cheyenne Sawyer of Greensboro, Md. and Bryan Brochu of Rising Sun, Md. will receive a trip from the Legislative Sportsman’s Foundation.

* John Duarte of Baltimore, Md. and Micaela Rogers of Elkton, Md. will receive a trip from the Coastal Conservation Association.

* Omar Peay of Silver Spring, Md. and Austin Shires of New Cumberland, Pa. will receive a trip from Bill’s Outdoor Center.

* Jason Mukendi of Landover Hills, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Richie Gaines

* Nadirah Offord of Baltimore, Md. will receive a trip from Skip Zinck.

* Eryk Vincent of Stevensville, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Tom Hughes.

* Timmy Patschorke of Ballwin, Mo. will receive a trip from Captain Mike Benjamin.

* Nayel Camper of Salisbury, Md. will receive a trip from Captain Monty Hawkins.

Created to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire natural resources stewardship, the 2010 Maryland Fishing Challenge started June 1 and ran through Labor Day, September 6, 2010.

At the finale, The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation presented Natural Resources Police (NRP) with a $5,000 check, the proceeds from the sale of Maryland’s first lifetime hunting license.

Three batches of nearly 200 specially tagged striped bass (one genuine Diamond Jim and 199 imposters) were released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries this summer. Diamond Jim’s value increased each month: $10,000 if caught in June, $20,000 if caught in July and $25,000 if caught in August, and nearly 599 Diamond Jim imposters are worth $500 each for the duration of the contest.

Through the citation component, more than 60 species of fish, including large and smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, musky and panfish in the freshwaters of Maryland; rockfish (striped bass), bluefish, drum, sea trout and perch in the Chesapeake Bay; and tuna, marlin, flounder, kingfish and sea bass caught in Maryland waters off the Atlantic Coast, were eligible for the grand prizes.

“Catch a fish” is one of the Maryland Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, issued by Governor Martin O’Malley in April 2009. The Bill is part of the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, an initiative to ensure all Maryland young people have the opportunity to connect with their natural world and grow to become informed and responsible stewards.

source: MD DNR

The Wye Landing public boat ramp in Talbot County was reopened on August 26th with a ribbon cutting ceremony following major reconstruction and expansion to improve public access to the waterway and incorporate sustainable solar and wind power devices. Funding for the $428,000 project was provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Waterway Improvement Fund, Talbot County, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The project included replacing a two-lane boat ramp with a new four-lane, concrete ramp, adding two fixed piers and a floating, ADA-accessible dock, and creating four slips along the existing loading/unloading dock. Solar down-lighting was installed on the pilings at the end of the docks and a hybrid solar/wind powered light pole was installed to light the wharf and ramp area.

Wye Landing is one of the Eastern Shore’s most heavily-used boat ramps. The additional lane and boarding piers will allow for more efficient launching and reduce wait times and congestion. In addition to the new ADA-accessible floating dock, ADA parking spaces were also designated.

Of the $428,000 total project cost, DNR’s Waterway Improvement Fund provided $96,649. The Waterway Improvement Fund is funded by the 5 percent excise tax that boaters pay when they register a boat in Maryland. Remaining costs were funded by Talbot County and a $288,317 Sportfish Restoration Program grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

source: DNR

The second Diamond Jim imposter of the 2010 Maryland Fishing challenge has been caught by Leo James Jr. of Annapolis, Md. James was fishing with his father-in-law at the Bay Bridges August 17 at 1 p.m. when he hooked the 24-inch striped bass, tagged on June 29. The Diamond Jim imposter, worth $500 in prize money, was one of nearly 600 rockfish tagged so far this summer.

Over the summer, three batches of specially tagged striped bass  have been released into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  The real Diamond Jim,  which was released July 29,  is worth $25,000. Also still on the loose are as many as 599 imposters worth $500 each.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has launched the new DNR Angler’s Log on its Fisheries Service website.

“We have been testing a new concept in sharing fishing information with a DNR-managed online angler’s log, featuring content provided by trusted anglers and our own fisheries staff,” said DNR Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell.

The DNR Angler’s Log expands upon the popular weekly fishing report by DNR biologist Keith Lockwood, with real-time reports from avid anglers from all parts of Maryland. The posts are reviewed and edited to ensure useful, family-friendly content before going live on the fisheries site. Additionally, Fisheries Service staff biologists regularly weigh in with backup information from the streams, lakes, rivers, bays and the ocean.

In the first 30 days the log generated more than 48,000 visitors and exciting fishing news flowed in, including advice about where the fish were biting and how they were caught.

The log is designed to be a place where anglers of all ages can go to find trustworthy information and features an easy search function so visitors may narrow the reports down to species, places of interest, or a specific contributor.

It also pairs up with the new DNR Hot Spot Map which identifies where fishing is particularly good.

The Angler’s Log is located at http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/log

This information is provided as a public service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. www.dnr.maryland.gov

Steven G. Bowman, head of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, has declared that weekend of June 4-6, 2010 to be free saltwater fishing days, as permitted by state law.

“This is a terrific chance to discover the joy of fishing and boating,” said Bowman. “Fishing produces memories that can last a lifetime and can foster a deeper appreciation for our natural environment. We should all strive to be stewards of our natural resources.”

No fishing license of any kind will be required for recreational saltwater rod and reel fishing during free fishing days. All fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits and gear restrictions, will remain in effect.

A Virginia saltwater fishing license costs only $12.50 a year for state residents. It’s a bargain, and the money supports valuable fisheries work across the state.

“We’re proud of the work we do to protect our natural resources, and we hope everyone takes advantage of free fishing days so that they may learn the joys of fishing in Virginia,” said Bowman, Commissioner of the agency that manages the state’s saltwater fisheries. “That is what our conservation efforts are all about.”