Fisheries Commission Proposes Menhaden Changes

     Arlington, VA -- The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Menhaden Management Board has initiated a draft addendum proposing an interim biological reference point of 15% maximum spawning potential (MSP) with the goal of increasing abundance, spawning stock biomass, and menhaden availability as a forage species. The MSP approach identifies the fishing mortality rate necessary to maintain a given level of stock fecundity (number of mature ova) relative to the potential maximum stock fecundity under unfished conditions. In this case, a 15% MSP would equate to a fishing mortality rate threshold required to maintain approximately 15% of virgin stock fecundity. The current MSP level is 9%. The draft addendum will also include a suite of management measures to achieve 15% MSP.
     At the same time, the Board placed a high priority on continuing work on developing ecosystem reference points using a multispecies modeling approach (MSVPA). Ecosystem reference points are expected to address the forage needs of menhaden’s predator species such as striped bass, weakfish, and bluefish. This work is anticipated to take a few years.
     The Board received an update on the revised 2009 Atlantic menhaden stock assessment, which finds the stock is not overfished but is experiencing overfishing in 2008. The Board will review and consider approval of the the draft addendum for public comment at the Commission’s Summer Meeting in August. If approved, the draft addendum will be released for public comment in late summer, with state public hearings occurring throughout early fall. Final Board approval of the addendum could happen in November at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
     For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior FMP Coordinator, at tkerns@asmfc.org or 703/842-0740.

Fisheries Commission Announces Striped Bass Conservation Plans

     Alexandria, VA  --  The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Striped Bass Management Board has initiated development of Draft Addendum III with the goals of reducing striped bass fishing mortality (F) up to 40% and further protecting spawning stock when it is concentrated and vulnerable. The addendum was initiated in order to allow managers to promptly respond to the results of the stock assessment update in the fall if necessary.
     Provisions of the addendum, if passed, could be implemented prior to the start of the 2012 fishing year. The Board’s action responds to recent trends in the fishery and resource, including a 66% decline in estimated recreational catch from 2006 to 2009; a 25% decline in estimated striped bass abundance from
2004 to 2008; and lowered recruitment in recent years. Additionally, states in the northern extent of the
fishery have expressed concern over decreased availability of striped bass as a result of the diminished
water quality in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer months that may also contribute to increased
prevalence of mycobacteriosis in striped bass.
     Draft Addendum III will propose a range of fishing management measures including, but not limited to,
adjustments to commercial and recreational minimum size (for jurisdictions outside Chesapeake Bay and
Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), reductions in annual coastal commercial allocation, reductions in
recreational bag limits, revisions to the target F rate (for Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke
River), and reductions on fishing for striped bass in known spawning areas during the spawning season by
at least 50% (for jurisdictions bordering the Hudson River, Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay and
Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River).
     The commercial and recreational fishery is currently managed through Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass
Fishery Management Plan. The Amendment, passed in 2003, allocates the coastal commercial quota and
set a two-fish bag limit and a 28 inch size minimum for the recreational fishery, with the exception of the
Chesapeake Bay fisheries, Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River fisheries, and states with approved alternative
regulations.
     The Draft Addendum will be developed for preliminary review by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management
Board in August. For more information, contact Kate Taylor, Fishery Management Plan
Coordinator, at ktaylor@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

Maryland Fishing Report by DNR Staffer Keith Lockwood

     Annapolis, MD -- Welcome to the first full week of spring; the changes in air temperatures and nature holds a lot of anticipation for everyone and especially so for fishermen. Many young and older fishermen will have a hard time sleeping this Friday as the opening day of trout season approaches. Fishermen have been busy getting equipment together and for many there will be a spot somewhere in the backyard that is dug up from the search for worms. Others will just unscrew the lid of a jar of Power baits and still others will place their faith in spinners or a carefully tended nymph fly. Be it soggy sneakers, mud stained blue jeans and a spinning rod or the newest pair of waders and a fly rod; we are all brothers of a tribe.
     In our daily travels or perhaps our ventures out on the states waters many are seeing the results of a lot of runoff coming down the tidal rivers and its effect on the bay. The flows at the Conowingo Dam are very high and there is a lot of floating debris and discolored water in the bay. Check out this link to Eyes on the Bay and check out the recent satellite images. http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/eyesonthebay/documents/HeavySpringShowersBringFloodsToChesapeakeBay.pdf
     Although the weather has been teasing us with some beautiful days, the waters of the lakes, rivers, streams and of course the bay and ocean are much slower to react to the warm embrace of a spring time sun. It is official now, spring has sprung and fishermen have been enjoying some wonderful fishing opportunities throughout the state. Fisheries biologists and volunteers have been busy stocking trout in many of the various trout management waters and this coming Saturday March 26th is the grand opening for most trout fishermen. Most streams are in great shape and baring another deluge between today and Saturday; fishermen should see near perfect conditions.
     If anyone has been reading the DNR Angler’s Logs you will see that I have been on the road a lot in recent weeks and in my travels I’ve come across a lot of fishermen fishing for white perch in the upper reaches of the bay’s tidal rivers. Although high water has been a problem at times, generally speaking it has been a very good season so far for catching white perch. Many of the traditional spawning run intercept locations such as Gray’s Run at the head of the Bush River, Allen’s Fresh on the Wicomico and Wayson’s Corner on the Patuxent have all lived up to their reputations. Fishermen can still find white perch in these areas but some of the better opportunities will now occur in channel areas farther down the tidal rivers and creeks. Bloodworms and grass shrimp on a bottom rig is perhaps one of the most popular ways to fish for white perch when the water is cold and deep.

Maryland DNR Bans Felt Soles to Prevent Spread of Didymo

Didymo is a common name for Didymosphenia geminata, a freshwater diatom species that can form extensive mats on stream beds. The thick mats can smother native algae and aquatic insects, and make fishing very difficult.

     Annapolis, MD -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is banning felt soles in Maryland waters beginning March 22 to protect and preserve native wildlife and habitats.
     “Felt is porous and can remain damp for weeks, keeping harmful microscopic organisms alive and making it virtually impossible to disinfect,” said Jonathan McKnight, head of DNR’s invasive species team. “After reviewing the science, and spending a year on outreach, public meetings and citizen response, we concluded that the only responsible action was to ban this material to halt the spread of harmful invasive organisms. The ‘do nothing’ response just would not cut it when the health and beauty of our rivers is at stake.”
     The prime culprit in this call to action is didymo, an invasive alga known to anglers as rock snot, which thrives in cold flowing waters such as trout streams. Once didymo takes hold, it can bloom into infestations of enormous numbers resulting in a yellow-brown mass that may dominate sections of a river. Over time, dramatic changes in stream biology are probable, and the thick mats of algae make fishing virtually impossible.
     New rubber soled materials offering excellent traction are readily available from various manufacturers at most outdoor retailers. DNR field biologists have had great success using the new rubber-soled boots.
     DNR biologists found didymo in Gunpowder Falls in 2008 and responded with educational efforts, adding wader wash stations at popular access points on the river. In 2011, a rock snot bloom turned up in the Savage River. Didymo is not a human health risk, but the dense mats of algae may negatively impact bottom dwellers such as crayfish, mayflies and stoneflies.
     Anglers have the most vital role to play in protecting the rivers they treasure by knowing that felt is not the only method for transporting harmful species. DNR strongly encourages all anglers and stream lovers to remove all debris and water from their boats, clothes and gear before leaving a stream. All anglers should take advantage of the wader wash stations to clean their boots and gear in the saltwater solution provided by DNR before heading to another body of water.
     In enforcing this new regulation, Natural Resources Police (NRP) understand that, in spite of extensive outreach and educational efforts, some anglers will be unaware of the new felt sole ban. Therefore, NRP officers intend initially to issue a warning and an information card to anyone wearing felt-soled boots or waders.
     For additional information on didymo, the felt ban and how to resole your boots/waders with the new rubber compounds, please visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/pdfs/felt_sole_faq.pdf.

Fisheries Director Asking for Help to Support Open Spaces

Message from Tom O’Connell, Director of Maryland Fisheries Service
     I am asking for your help to prevent changes that will shrink funds used by the Department of Natural Resources to conserve natural land in our state. Program Open Space was created 41 years ago to buy land for open space and recreation at a pace equal to development. This program is funded by a tax on real estate sales.
     There has been a proposal from the Department of Legislative Services during this year’s legislative session to transfer Program Open Space funds to the General Fund and replace them with $50 million a year for the next several years. Land conservation ends up with less money under this proposal.
     Conservation of natural lands is needed to keep water healthy for Maryland’s fisheries. Fisheries decline or disappear entirely in developed areas and I am concerned about how loss of natural land will degrade the chances for future generations to enjoy fish and fishing. These losses are growing as Maryland becomes more developed. There is great potential for future losses of treasured resources such as brook trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, herring, shad, and yellow perch to development without sensible land use planning and full funding for land conservation through Program Open Space. These losses will not just impact fishermen and people that eat local seafood, but will affect animals that use fish for food or share their need for healthy water.
     We are asking Maryland’s fishermen and others who value our fisheries resources to tell their House and Senate representatives that Program Open Space funding based on real estate sales should not change. Land purchases that help keep our waters healthy for fish and fishing need to be fully funded as they are in the Governor’s budget. Letters may be emailed and should be addressed to:

Astfalk Wins Tourney at Yellow Perch Day

North East, MD -- More than 130 people attended the second annual Yellow Perch Appreciation Day, Saturday, March 5, and Mark Astfalk of Elkton won the top prize in the fishing tournament. The event, sponsored by the Coastal Conservation Association and its Upper Bay Chapter, is held to celebrate the restoration of the yellow perch fishery and brings together recreational anglers, parents fishing with their youngsters, and state officials.
  Astfalk took the top prize of $250 with a perch weighing 21.8 ounces. Others winning prizes were Mike Windell, Wilmington, DE; second place and $200, 20.5 ounces; Eric Braley, North East, third place and $150, 19.4 ounces; Jason Curry, Port Deposit, fourth place and $100, 18 ounces; and Micaela Rodgers, Elkton, fifth place, 17.65 ounces. As a new CCA member, Rodgers’ prize money of $50 was doubled to $100.
  The Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) is one of 17 state chapters of the Coastal Conservation Association, which has 100,000 members nationally. CCA MD is an organization of recreational anglers fighting for Maryland’s marine resources and believing the sustainability of the resource must be the priority in any fishery management decision.