Morning Star Fish Report
Fish Report 7/29/07
Fish Report 7/29/07
Hi All,
Still summer fishing though some of the weather has been oddly fall-like. Sea bass in the 6 to 12 keeper fish per-person range is 'it' with an occasional flounder. One flounder last week pushed the scale past 8 lbs. Nick just a few everyday seems like. Waiting for them to come on ~ perhaps in the same way the Peanuts character Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin each year. The bass side of the split pool usually goes to a fish north of 3 pounds - up to 4 1/2. Also got into the triggers one day real fine. Very nearly had a boat limit of 5 per person before moving on to some bass. But that was only one day ~ fun though. Tagged a few before leaving.
One gal asked "Why through them back?"
''I've learned the hard way that you have too..."
A week and a half ago I sez to my co-captain/mate Tucker, "Gee, we haven't lost a Saturday to weather since, what, early May ~ late April?" Ol' man Murphy -of Murphy's Law and the most powerful of fishing's lesser deities- well, t'was more than he could bear...
By Monday the wind had really hit it's stride ~ 30+ knots at 8 AM. By 10 o'clock seas were running 9 feet.
And Tuesday was as pretty a day as can be had. Really nice. Barely a swell. Caught 'em some dinner too.
Weather days mean maintenance days in this business. At least that opportunity was seized to it's fullest.
The half-day guys are trying to kick-start the croaker run. Nicking a few, just a handful for now. I'd certainly anticipate that will change for the better.
Rode up to Annapolis last week for the second MD DNR ARC (artificial reef committee) meeting. Steamrolling. The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative is moving ahead at a very fast clip.
I see great things coming of the initiative. Better fishing and more places to fish certainly, but in the Chesapeake -a body of water so vastly changed by the oyster's collapse that it is written about in texts around the world- there is opportunity to provide benefit to the whole watershed and all who live near it.
Several times I heard committe members say that they had found oysters -natural spat- growing on artificial reef built 3 to 20+ years ago. I heard that commercial oyster divers have targeted these manmade reefs. There must be some quantity of oysters to support commercial exploitation on these reefs.
It may be, as stated in a recent study, that oyster recovery programs (as they are) will not be able to affect any change in the Bays water quality.
I'd counter that the author lacked vision. It takes hard substrate to have oysters. All the natural oyster bars have been lost ~ a serious sustained effort of artificial reef construction over decades can make one heck of a lot of substrate. If, during that time, the commercial fishers switch to the more profitable aquaculture (but not as profitable as having most of your product seeded by public funds, I suppose) then there should be a gigantic increase in the Bay's oyster population. Disease resistant strains already exist; there can be no doubt that further research will find a solution for extending native oyster's lifespans.
When I first witnessed an artificial reef being scuttled, I didn't think much of it. It was just one more spot, a barge, to anchor on. That took place at the Queen site where the African Queen sank on December 30th, 1958. At the time of that reef deployment, 1989, there were approximately 250 angler trips annually in that area. Now, with the addition of a lot more substrate, that number would exceed 8,000 annual angler trips. Most of 'em catch some fish too. And all that substrate's growing coral...
I'd have never thought it in 1989. Never.
Putting hard substrate back -rebuilding what once was- will help the oyster recovery and fisheries in ways we can not foresee.
Glad to be part of it.
And, finally, we're going to City Council on August 6th to formally propose the NY railway cars project. We've got a letter from the EPA blessing them and, so I'm told, we'll also have a letter of support from the upper echelons of the DNR, perhaps even the Secretary himself.
These units are in wide use and are well documented to work.
Clear this hurdle, then we'll fund it!
The way I see artificial reef has changed since '89 ~ Seven hundred twenty railway cars are going to make a huge difference in the fishing off our coast...
Nicking a few sea bass. Makes a nice day if you're in town.
Regards,
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
posted by Monty # Sunday, July 29, 2007
Fish Report 7/25/07
Fish Report 7/29/07
Hi All,
Still summer fishing though some of the weather has been oddly fall-like. Sea bass in the 6 to 12 keeper fish per-person range is 'it' with an occasional flounder. One flounder last week pushed the scale past 8 lbs. Nick just a few everyday seems like. Waiting for them to come on ~ perhaps in the same way the Peanuts character Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin each year. The bass side of the split pool usually goes to a fish north of 3 pounds - up to 4 1/2. Also got into the triggers one day real fine. Very nearly had a boat limit of 5 per person before moving on to some bass. But that was only one day ~ fun though. Tagged a few before leaving.
One gal asked "Why through them back?"
''I've learned the hard way that you have too..."
A week and a half ago I sez to my co-captain/mate Tucker, "Gee, we haven't lost a Saturday to weather since, what, early May ~ late April?" Ol' man Murphy -of Murphy's Law and the most powerful of fishing's lesser deities- well, t'was more than he could bear...
By Monday the wind had really hit it's stride ~ 30+ knots at 8 AM. By 10 o'clock seas were running 9 feet.
And Tuesday was as pretty a day as can be had. Really nice. Barely a swell. Caught 'em some dinner too.
Weather days mean maintenance days in this business. At least that opportunity was seized to it's fullest.
The half-day guys are trying to kick-start the croaker run. Nicking a few, just a handful for now. I'd certainly anticipate that will change for the better.
Rode up to Annapolis last week for the second MD DNR ARC (artificial reef committee) meeting. Steamrolling. The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative is moving ahead at a very fast clip.
I see great things coming of the initiative. Better fishing and more places to fish certainly, but in the Chesapeake -a body of water so vastly changed by the oyster's collapse that it is written about in texts around the world- there is opportunity to provide benefit to the whole watershed and all who live near it.
Several times I heard committe members say that they had found oysters -natural spat- growing on artificial reef built 3 to 20+ years ago. I heard that commercial oyster divers have targeted these manmade reefs. There must be some quantity of oysters to support commercial exploitation on these reefs.
It may be, as stated in a recent study, that oyster recovery programs (as they are) will not be able to affect any change in the Bays water quality.
I'd counter that the author lacked vision. It takes hard substrate to have oysters. All the natural oyster bars have been lost ~ a serious sustained effort of artificial reef construction over decades can make one heck of a lot of substrate. If, during that time, the commercial fishers switch to the more profitable aquaculture (but not as profitable as having most of your product seeded by public funds, I suppose) then there should be a gigantic increase in the Bay's oyster population. Disease resistant strains already exist; there can be no doubt that further research will find a solution for extending native oyster's lifespans.
When I first witnessed an artificial reef being scuttled, I didn't think much of it. It was just one more spot, a barge, to anchor on. That took place at the Queen site where the African Queen sank on December 30th, 1958. At the time of that reef deployment, 1989, there were approximately 250 angler trips annually in that area. Now, with the addition of a lot more substrate, that number would exceed 8,000 annual angler trips. Most of 'em catch some fish too. And all that substrate's growing coral...
I'd have never thought it in 1989. Never.
Putting hard substrate back -rebuilding what once was- will help the oyster recovery and fisheries in ways we can not foresee.
Glad to be part of it.
And, finally, we're going to City Council on August 6th to formally propose the NY railway cars project. We've got a letter from the EPA blessing them and, so I'm told, we'll also have a letter of support from the upper echelons of the DNR, perhaps even the Secretary himself.
These units are in wide use and are well documented to work.
Clear this hurdle, then we'll fund it!
The way I see artificial reef has changed since '89 ~ Seven hundred twenty railway cars are going to make a huge difference in the fishing off our coast...
Nicking a few sea bass. Makes a nice day if you're in town.
Regards,
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
posted by Monty # Sunday, July 29, 2007
Fish Report 7/15/07
Fish Report 7/15/07
Finicky Bass & A Seasick TV Host
Do not read this report if you have delicate sensibilities... See above.
Hi All,
High summer now, just had the first couple mahi today ~ warm water for that. Still haven't picked up a tuna on our 'coming and going' trolling lines. Seems like everyone that's targeting 'em is doing fine though. No worries, just fun when it happens.
Sea Bass are making us work extra hard to get a decent catch most days. Then, today, we had something I've not seen in a while ~ a few limits of sea bass plus the very first limit of flounder this season.
Don't know if the flounder are going to 'come on' or not. Hope so. I certainly think the limits of cbass were a fluke.
Shouldn't be too long before there's a few croakers around too.
Had a local TV fishing show aboard back in May. Caught 'em some pretty bass, a handful of tog and a few of the inescapable spiney dogfish. The host, Scott, confessed to having 12 beers the night before and was, oddly enough, a tad under the weather. A bit bumpy that day ~ always helps to magnify the worst of a good hangover!
Derned if they didn't film -and use in the show- the inescapable conclusion of events. Takes guts to spill your guts on TV.
So, perhaps a few pointers...
Don't -Do Not- get hammered the night before you're going out fishing. Fugetaboutit! No known cure ~ just education. I don't refund 'missed the boat' tickets, but you're way better off eating the ticket if you've been ushered out of a local watering hole at closing time.
For regular ol' motion sickness there's plenty that can be done. Ginger, in any form, is amazing to me. The cook on the O.C. Princess, Dick Ray, had great success getting folks back up fishing with the candied variety. They had it on the show "MythBusters" this past winter and it was the only non-medicine to work ~ and it works well.
Get the kids to have a piece going out and a few during the day.
For the truly susceptible, the Scopolamine patch is king. Available by prescription - it works. Otherwise, regular Dramamine and Bonine do fine for most. Take half of one the night before and the other before you come aboard. If it's rough, take another half 'bout 10 o'clock.
Cheap insurance.
Had a Reef Foundation fund raiser aboard the O.C. Princess, sakes, pushing ten years ago. Tickets for the event were a lot higher than the regular fare and a couple guys who'd just happened by were undecided whether to go. The one fellow was as tall and thin as Abe Lincoln was said to be. The other was, well, lets just say he was a really big fish in this sea of humanity. When he heard that the fare included all you could eat a cold glint came in his eye ~ I think he was out to hurt the Foundation! Several times we saw him with a cheeseburger in each hand, two jumbo snickers ~ lots and lots of food.
Somehow, images of famous volcanoes come to mind; Mount St. Helens, Krakatoa, Vesuvius - You get the idea. Man, it was not pretty! And, like the guy that hit the sauce too hard the night before, there's no known cure...
A few simple precautions and you're good to go.
We'll go look for some hungry or dumb sea bass ~ for the smart ones we'll have to wait until they're hungry! Might -just might- see a few flounder too.
See you on the rail ~ preferably sober and unvolcanoe-like!
Regards,
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
posted by Monty # Saturday, July 14, 2007
Fish Report 7/1/07
Fish Report 7/1/07
Sea Bass, Oyster Reef & Management We Don't Have
Hi All,
Summer fishing.
We're catching some good sized sea bass but not a lot of 'em ~ at least not compared to a few years ago. Folks are mostly ending the day just getting into the teens or thereabouts. Workin' hard to get there too. Lots of reasons for that ~ stuff nobody's even thought of. For now ~ It is what it is...
Flounder are not making their presence known on the wrecks and reefs just yet. I think they're here, we've just not had the ideal water conditions ~ soon.
Charter boats are frequently returning with nice catches of tuna when they get out. As in any fishing though, that's never 100% of the time...
Been busy ~ even skipped a week of the fish report.
Found out that, despite numerous letters of support, I'd not been selected for the MAFMC seat. I thank all that wrote! There's next year!
Also drove to Annapolis and attended the first meeting of the Maryland Artificial Reef Committee. Odd that 2007 would be the first for anything but, judging by the sincerity of those present and the size of the check was approved to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge contractor, Maryland will get her reef program up and running.
Unlike an 'artificial flavor' or the quest for artificial intelligence; as things artificial go, reefs fit in with artificial limbs and organs.
According to Wikipedia, the first evidence we have for an artificial limb dates from 300 BC in Italy.
Over time, artificial limbs have progressed from the fabled 'peg-leg' and whatever Capt. Hook strapped on in the morning to today's modern miracles. Still not nearly as good as a natural appendage, but better by far than doing without.
I hold that Maryland's artificial reef system will one day be viewed not as an augmentation but as a vital replacement. Not as an elective surgery but as a biological necessity.
As a State we need to restore oysters in the Chesapeake ~ it's essential. It happens to be a good thing that you can usually nick a few fish for supper around an oyster reef...
Bet on this ~ those that, throughout history, destroyed the natural reefs will fight hard to prevent their restoration. Shipping and barge traffic will never be fond of any bottom growing more shallow and it's terribly difficult to drag a commercial oyster dredge through concrete rubble - impossible. All those millions spent thus far on 'oyster restoration' have been geared toward 'natural' shell bottom. You can dredge just fine on a shell bottom. But that's not oyster restoration ~ it's a huge government subsidy for a collapsed fishery. (and, lest you doubt that, please see http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-te.md.oysters01apr01,0,2505712.story?coll=bal-home-utility )
Oysters form natural reef just as corals do. It's the old growth -ancient- that lays the foundation for the new growth. By continually growing upward the reef avoids becoming covered in sand and remains in an oxygen rich layer where food is abundant.
Artificial reef will simply become the 'ancient' part of the reef ~ the substrate. Perhaps, almost undoubtedly, there will be substrates placed that have had oyster spat grown on them kick-starting the natural side of things. Mostly though, the oysters will have to do their own thing. Betcha.
Back on the seaside, one of the reef projects that I've long advocated is the building of reef near the tops of shoals. It goes back to the shallow water wrecks I remember ~ the acres of tropical spade fish looking for all the world like mammoth angelfish in a gigantic aquarium ~ the amberjack and jack crevalle in schools of hundreds and sometimes thousands ~ the sandtiger sharks up top 10 feet long giving folks a thrill as they cruised along the side of the boat ~ barn door skates -they're not named in jest- that laid just alongside the structure ~ and huge barracuda lying log-like beneath the surface. Oh, we caught jumbo sea bass and some of the biggest tog I ever laid eyes on, but it was those tropicals and summer residents that captured the imagination; all while avoiding being captured ~ at least then.
Further back in time still, it was this type of habitat where the porgy -scup- flourished. Though I've never had a catch, they once made up a great percentage of Maryland's recreational landings.
We are building on a few reefs sites that favor these southern migrants and overfished species. One brand new spot about 4 1/2 miles out already had a good shot of triggerfish and spadefish on it. Had anyway. They've been caught off. There was a set of buoys and an expensive pair of anchors that I'd set there so that we could accurately position more barge loads of material. They've been cut off.
I'd wager whoever cut 'em off wanted to keep the spot a secret. Sheesh...
I'll use some reef raffle money to get some more anchors, rope and buoys. Need a few more barge loads there before moving on to a new site.
There will come a day when folks ride out that short distance just to SEE all the fish ~ maybe nick a few for dinner too.
For now there's no regulation on most of the species I mentioned. The fed did take note that the sandtigers were near about wiped out and closed all fishing for them, but the others ~ you can still catch 'em like it was the 50's.
Below you'll see a piece I sent to MD DNR a few years ago. I'd previously tried other writings and bringing it up at meetings to no avail.
Because we are building the habitat for these fish it is irresponsible not to regulate them in some fashion. You'll find them tightly regulated on my boat!
The NY passenger rail cars reef project comes before the Ocean City Council this Tuesday. If that goes through -and we can scrape up the funding- it will nearly complete all our reef sites save the shallow water ones. We'll be able to focus on them then.
Nothing wrong with a 'drive-up' aquarium.
Perhaps I'll see you for some summer fishin'...
Regards,
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com
Suggested Species for Inclusion in Maryland's Coastal Regulations
Written by: Capt. Monty Hawkins 11/16/05 Some species that have been absent for decades in Maryland's coastal marine fisheries are just beginning to recolonize. This is often due to regulation by the Fishery Management Council in the core habitat area of the species.
In others, the population trends are more ominous.
With management that recognizes the efforts of the SAFMC and NEFMC we can help to ensure that a return to historical population levels along our coast is at least possible.
Additionally, spawning site fidelity is being found in a great number of species. Therefore, locally protected fish will likely benefit local fishers.
Artificial reef fish settlement would be positively enhanced by a number of these suggested regulations.
Each of the species below is worthy of consideration for regulation by the State of Maryland.
Northern Species
All the northern species management information is from the Status of Fisheries Resources off Northeastern United States website. Local population estimates are the author's.
Scup/Porgy - Stenotomus chrysops - 12 inch fork length / 10 fish daily limit.
The species made up approximately 1/2 the party boat landings for the first 30 years of Ocean City, Maryland's fishing history.
Estimated local population decline >99%. There is some sign of improvement.
In other words, one angler - fishing one day - aboard a party or charter boat at Fenwick Island Shoal in, say, 1955 caught more scup than the entire fleet caught in the last decade. Or two.
Scup are managed by the MAFMC
The italics below are from the NOAA website http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/og/scup/
Scup or porgy occur primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Bight from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Tagging studies have indicated the possibility of two stocks, one in Southern New England waters and the other extending south from New Jersey. However, because the separation of stocks is not well-defined spatially, this separation is not used here.
Scup or porgy occur primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Bight from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Tagging studies have indicated the possibility of two stocks, one in Southern New England waters and the other extending south from New Jersey. However, because the separation of stocks is not well-defined spatially, this separation is not used here.
Management of scup has been highly successful on the northern stock. The southern stock remains collapsed.
Red Hake - Urophycis Chuss - 10 fish daily limit.
No size limit as the fish are very weak natured and not releasable. A bag limit would help to prevent overexploitation should a segment of the stock's remnants be found.
Estimated local population decline from 1988 to present >99% and getting worse.
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/spsyn/pg/redhake/ Unmanaged species NEFMC. Landings chart looks like an airplane crash. Juvenile growth from initial settlement to ~5 inches occurs commensually within live scallops. Very likely an important prey species.
Atlantic Cod - Gadus morhua - 23 inch size limit / 2 fish daily limit.
As late as 1974 this species was the fishery in the winter for Maryland's recreational fishers. The Delmarva peninsula might be the only place on either side of the north Atlantic where you can catch unregulated codfish.
Estimated local population decline >99% with some signs of improvement.
Managed throughout its range around the northern Atlantic. In the US the NEFMC writes the management.
Pollock - Pollachius virens - 21 inches fork length ~ 3 fish daily limit.
Not known to have been overly abundant locally but the average size has diminished from 8 to 20 lbs in the early 80's to small juveniles of about a pound presently.
Managed throughout its range. In the US by NEFMC.
Southern Reef Species:
All species profiles from the SAFMC Website http://www.safmc.net/fishid/fmpro?-db=content&-format=default.html&-view
Greater Amberjack - Seriola dumerilli - 32 inches - one per boat per day.
As recently as 1987 schools of several hundred fish were frequently seen in the warm water months on local shipwrecks. More recently amberjack, if they are seen at all, are in small groups or solo. As is found in many species, a high degree of site fidelity at spawning is likely.
Estimated local population decline >95%.
This species is managed by the SAFMC and is regulated by every state south to Texas.
Jack Crevalle - Caranx hippos - and Lesser Amberjack - Seriola fasciata - Combined limit with greater amberjack.
While rarer to this region, both species do occur and are easily confused with greater amberjack by those unfamiliar with the species.
Local population - highly variable year to year.
Managed by the SAFMC.
Gray Triggerfish - Balistes capriscus - 12 inch fork length - 5 fish daily limit.
Local population trend - highly variable year to year.
In years of abundance the fish remain stationary over structure until waters cool. Local tagging efforts have shown that growth rates are 1 inch per month and site fidelity is nearly absolute in the over-summer period.
The highlighted section below is from the SAFMC http://www.safmc.net/fishid/fmpro?-db=content&-format=default.html&-view
Spawning occurs offshore during the spring and summer, when fish are 3 years old or about 12 inches long. Unlike most reef fish, triggerfish have demersal eggs that are deposited in guarded nests.
Atlantic Spadefish - Chaetodipterus faber - 13 inch fork length - 2 fish daily limit.
Estimated local population decline >95%.
Two decades ago schools of spadefish were commonly seen covering acres of water over shallow structure with numbers of mature fish in the thousands. Presently there are a few schools sighted annually with mostly juvenile fish numbering in the dozens. The fish are summer spawners.
Tag returns of 1 to 4 years at liberty indicate a return to the local region of release after winter migration. (personal com. Jon Lucy VIMS )
The fish is regulated by SAFMC. Regulations vary widely from state to state. The fish is regulated from Virginia south and throughout the Gulf.
Other Southern Species and Offshore Species
Cobia - Rachycentron canadum - 33 inch fork length - 1 per person or 4 per boat which ever is less.
Local population trend unknown but fishing pressure is increasing.
The species is regulated by the SAFMC. Regulations exist in every state from New York to Texas with the exception of Maryland and Delaware.
King mackerel - Scomberomorus cavalla - 24 inch fork length - 3 per person daily limit.
Local population variable year to year - Fishing pressure increasing.
Apparently, given the bullet point from the SAFMC web site below, the species is already regulated here! We just need to write it down...
http://www.safmc.net/fishid/fmpro?-db=content&-format=default.html&-view
Golden Tilefish - Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps - A daily limit of 3 per person.
Local population not known but recreational fishing pressure increasing sharply due to multiple recent magazine articles.
This tilefish and others are managed by the MAFMC and the SAFMC.
Blue Water Species - State follow suit with federal regs
Many regulations for species presently under management can not be enforced by MDDNRP.
Dolphin, Wahoo, Tuna and Billfish regs...
With management that recognizes the efforts of the SAFMC and NEFMC we can help to ensure that a return to historical population levels along our coast is at least possible.
Additionally, spawning site fidelity is being found in a great number of species. Therefore, locally protected fish will likely benefit local fishers.
Artificial reef fish settlement would be positively enhanced by a number of these suggested regulations.
posted by Monty # Sunday, July 01, 2007
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